If it is very fast-moving, it is probably a predatory mite. Those are keepers. If it is so slow as to be hardly moving, those are enemies and must be driven from these lands henceforth!

Pagan

Imontestella,

i pretty much picked it out with tweezers, I'm sure it's dead and I may have killed it, also here you go for the original plant I'm asking about, I grabbed a four inch pot from home depot since it looked like the roots were really packed in its old plastic pot it came in. I couldn't find a smaller pot, do I really need it?

IMO, that was overwatered when you bought it (looking at the photo posted). Plastic pots are just fine, maybe not so great looking and in some very hot & humid climate clay/terracotta could be better, and def. better looking anywhere, but if no suitable size in 'better-nicer' material is available, use plastic (I have almost all my plants, including non-succulents, close to 300 pots) in plastic.

When the soil is not-so-great draining, it is better to have less of it + smaller pot. More soil will take longer to dry up. Using mix that has more of inorganic ingredients would help.

I have recently had this visitor in many of my pots too. From my studies on these fora, as well as the internet, I've concluded that they are varieties of Springtails. Supposedly they are harmless, however in my case, they're a nuisance due to their numbers; they are turning up in pots with solely grit+turface, much to my surprise. I'm teetering on the brink of using systemic granules for the first time. I've held off so far, thinking perhaps not watering them for awhile would drive them off... needless to say, it has not.

Any thoughts!?

@ehh824, maybe you could try taking out the soil mix and letting it dry under the scorching sun on a baking sheet? That would probably kill them since no moisture and heat. I'm assuming this from what I've read so far also they don't live on the plant either it seems

EHH

Turface holds quite a bit of water so bugs are probably attracted by the moisture. You must have some other pots that contain enough organic matter or these bugs won't be there - they need something to feed on. Maybe there is water standing in saucers? Maybe there is plant debris around? All of these will contribute...I have almost 300 pots of plants that overwinter indoors and don't have such problem, and never used any systemic.

Thank you both zeba and Rina! That's very helpful... I've been at a loss for a reason why they're there. I've repotted all my indoor houseplants into gritty mix variations (depending on species) so finding these tiny creatures has been an interesting ordeal. Yes, sometimes I neglect to empty water saucers and have standing water for a little while which may certainly attract them; I've now stopped being lazy and always empty them.

I'm beginning to think the springtails originate from outside my house, entering inside from an attached deck which stays moist due to faulty gutter drainage. It's an old house with a number of similar quirks.

Watering less and using DE Dust appears to be helping. I'll keep everyone updated! Thanks again for the insights!

Yeah my parents have a vegetable garden so I think that's where mine are from. Although there are no more signs of springtails, I don't see any around the pot or plant, hopefully they're not in the soil. Thank you guys also for commenting I appreciate the help and insight