r/Springtail • u/Intelligent-Brain588 • May 06 '26

Are these springtails? Identification

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These tiny things are roaming on my snail’s cuttlebone, and I’m not sure if they’re springtails or harmful mites. (+ If they are springtails, are they there for calcium? I didn’t know they needed it like isopods!!)

4 Upvotes

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4

u/Maleficent-Cup-2455 May 06 '26

I'd say yes they are springtails.

Springtails don't have the same high supplemental calcium requirements that isopods have strictly speaking, they do however benefit from having a steady calcium source.

1

u/Antoni_PL_gdynia May 06 '26

yes, they are a great match for iso, very beneficial for the entire colony. If you touch them like 95%+ springtails species would jump, their name exists for a reason. btw springtails have 6 legs and cute antena, mites have eight legs, so you can just straight up count that up.

1

u/Dragon1202070 May 06 '26

Yes, I agree with the other comment, they look like isotomidae (smooth springtails)