^^What he said, but yeah, they're grey and oval with lotsa legs (around 14).

Yeah they look like they trilobytes (think thats what theyre called) from way back when millions of years ago jyst look under slabs, stones n old logs etc.

isopods are the "scientific" name. a lot of gardening stores carry them.

gonna check this video out, but so far it sounds quality. just dont chuck something bloody and messy like a pinky in there and not expect to do some clean up.

im actually in the process of finding other helpful symbiotic critters (maybe some sort of snail?) for scorpions. so far isopods are the best. keep some rotten (mold free) wood in the enclosure and they should breed at a decent rate.

Is it possible to do this with a desert vivarium?

Then it would be a "self-sustaining desert enclosure."

Honestly though, desert enclosures are fairly low-maintenance. Cleaners are useful in humid tanks because the humidity promotes decay (plant matter, dead feeders, etc.); in desert enclosures waste simply dries up.

Yea sure, but it still needs to be cleaned of food waste doesnt it? Particularly if keeping dangerous species, might it not be useful to have some tiny inhabitants to clean up biological waste?

Sorry if i am being stupid. This is an interesting thread and line of thought and i cant find an easy on-line source for the bottom end of the desert food chain. I just wonder what insects would happily do the job without becoming lunch?

I guess some more thurough research will answer the question but always worth putting it out there to see if anyone has any experience.

nah it all dries up pretty quickly and anything you add to clean up will most likely become dinner or dehydrate.

ok cheers