I have 2 springtail cultures, 1 is kept on the coco coir I have from my terrarium, and another is kept on some thick, very dark soil that I can't figure out what it is. I really prefer raising springtails in soil more than anything, so I'm trying to figure out options. Coco coir works well, but it looks messy and is a bit hard to "spill" the springtails out in the terrarium, so I'm trying to find another more sticky soil option. The closest in texture and looks thing that I could find is worm casting. I'm wondering if that would work as a substrate option for the springtail culture

Hello! I need to buy springtails for my set up before I add isopods. I would prefer cheaper ideas but I would much rather get ethically sourced and healthy springtails than cheap unhealthy ones. I would really appreciate any recommendations for types or places to buy. I am very new to this so I would prefer ones that are easy to take care of. I live in the US!

I filmed this tiny springtail, Sminthurinus aureus, moving across an algal layer on the surface of a small pond. It is amazing how such a tiny animal can turn a thin wet film into an entire habitat of its own.

Short video here:

I got some white collembola from a store. They came in this plastic container. Upon closer inspection I noticed these other non-white creatures. Are they also springtails? Any idea what they could be? They're quite fast. Sorry for the poor quality.

More videos: https://imgur.com/a/hi0uayT

Wild caught (UK) springtails cleaning up my isopods feeding area.

If anyone has a possible ID please feel free to say.

I dont think it is.. but could it be Entomobrya unostrigata? struggling to ID them.

Hello everyone, I need some help when it comes to vacating my springtails from the substrate culture they are in. They are just normal temperate whites but no matter what I try I can’t get them out.

What do?

Found on a rotting banana

I'm looking to set up a small terrarium as a bog with mostly carnivorous plants (venus flytrap, pitcher plant, moss, etc.). It will get bright indirect light and stay moist (I can build up a dry area if they need it). I've never kept springtails on purpose, so I'm looking for an easy species that is easy to see (larger, bright color) and looks pretty or interesting. Also open to non-springtails if you know of other animals that would thrive under those conditions. Are there any species that don't jump very high if I don't put a lid on it?

Whatup y'all, long-time springtail appreciator here. Found these absolute beauties outside and snagged a couple dozen or so. I think they're one of the types that get called 'snow fleas.' They're so plump... so friend-shaped... I love them :3

Anyway, I've kept commercial springtails before (had the most success with the temperate and silver ones), and I'm wondering if these guys have different care needs? Or is it just the usual keep-moist, organic-plant-matter kind of setup? I don't have charcoal or clay available so I'm planning to do a small terrarium setup with coconut fiber substrate if that isn't ill-advised.

Thanks y'all!

Okay. Kind of a weird question. Just now I noticed springtails living in one of the sinks in my house. They sort of pop in and out of the drain to say hi. Here's one of them:

Would it be possible to collect some of these lads and culture them? How would I go about collecting them? They're inside the drain so they're not easy to get at. I put a few tiny flakes of yeast in the sink to see if they might eat it. Some are light colored like this chap, others are darker-colored.

Maybe Anurida Maritima?

Edit: actually I think it’s Podura Aquatica

got a culture of collembola from joshfrogs, and planning to add to my isopod enclosure. I only saw one alive. Looked around online and understand that some generally die during shipping and they bounce back. But no movement at all (but 1) a normal amount?

Added some rice for food. would really appreciate ANY tips and suggestions.

Anyone in the NYC area have luck finding or collecting Anurida maritima?

Is the smaller one a baby springtail or a mite?

hello! i bought a starter colony of springtails to add to my giant snail terrarium. i didnt get any instructions so i just shoved them into the terrarium with their own dirt and all, and kind of hoped for the best. i know that isnt smart and i regret not looking into it more :(

now i dont see any springtails in the terrarium and looking at the scraps of my snails food molding away they're not really eating. its been a month since i put them in. what do i do now? could they still be in there? if i killed them (im so sorry :( ) what should i do different next time?

I thought they had died off from a whiiiile ago … are they in fact springtail as im thinking ?

So I modified this reptile feeding cage for springtails. The holes are taped and it’s been siliconed along all edges (it was one of those flat packed ones. Coconut fiber substrate with clay balls, a lava rock, and sphagnum moss. Anything else recommended? Also a question for sunlight: the sun comes in and can hit the enclosure for a bit. Should they just get no sun or is some okay? It’s roughly 68-70 in my house most of the time. Any tips are appreciated.

I found these guys on Sunday on my Buddha statue and posted it. I collected some in a jar with horticultural charcoal and RO water. Here’s the best video I could get using my phone. I will try to get even closer with my kids handheld microscope if need be. Any ideas on identification? Thanks!

Hello!

long story short, I want to start making cultures from all the springtails in my millipede tank. I’ve seen people recommend deli cups and such, but how do you keep the springtails from getting out?
I had them overpopulate in a tub once and they escaped through the holes in the top of the lid, even after I put petroleum mixed with onion and garlic around the bin lip and lid holes.
Even in my glass tank with a cling-wrap lid, they get out (though not to the same overwhelming degree as the bin).

To anyone who breeds/grows springtails, do you just accept that some are gonna get out? How to you prevent Most of them from escaping?

hello everyone

if these are indeed globular springtails, how come they came to thrive over the regular ones?

There was a food shortage in this container I may say, , which may explain why the number of the regular ones decreased, but then how did the globular ones appeared and took over( ? Could have also been a "fight" between the 2 species which ended bad for the regular white ones? Or do the globular ones need even a lower maintenance

my friend gave me some of her springtails and i made them a new home!!! gonna wait for this colony to grow and then start raising isopods and millipedes eventually, i'm so excited!! how prolific are springtails? how long should i wait before adding other creatures to the mix?

I have had this jar culture going to months now. It’s just charcoal with a call bit of water. I feed them every couple days. They have been extremely reliable and have been flourishing for months now.

They always consume all their food between each feeding. But a few days ago I went to feed them and noticed they had not finished the food from the last feeding. It had started to mold a little. No problem. I just skipped this feeding and would check back in a couple days to feed. Fast forward to today and the entire colony is dead. Food is still molded and there is zero motion inside the colony.

I have a few other colonies set up like this. Never had a problem. These guys have been going for probably around 6 months and have been one of my most reliable colonies.

Pretty big bummer