When I lifted up the whole clump to replace the sphagnum moss,

a swarm of gnats took off all at once, and I completely lost it.

I thought a thick layer of soft leaf litter would make a comfortable substrate, so I laid down nearly five liters of soil and sphagnum moss. As the temperature rose, it turned beautifully into a breeding ground for little flies.

Since this particular individual seems to naturally prefer drier conditions, I will take this opportunity to completely switch the bedding to Frog Soil.

I had named him “Oshinobi” — partly after the idea of a noble secretly slipping out unnoticed, and partly because he seemed stealthy — but I’ve realized he’s not actually very stealthy at all, so the name may need reconsideration. It felt less like something sneaking around, and more like a stone statue suddenly coming to life.

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