Guides
Step by step guides for starting, feeding and renewing cultures, adding springtails to a terrarium and collecting them in the wild. Each step says where it comes from.
Keeping cultures
Pick a species and a medium, then keep the colony going.
- Culture arid and semi-arid springtails Arid and semi-arid springtails need a ventilated dry side and a wet side. This guide gives the two set-ups and where they differ.
- Start your first springtail culture Pick a species, a medium and a container, then feed lightly and keep the culture damp. This guide compares the four common media and points to a full set-up guide for each.
Step by step set-ups
One method, from an empty container to the first harvest.
- Culture springtails on charcoal Fill a bin with rinsed charcoal, add a little water and seed it. Harvest by lifting pieces or by pouring, because springtails float.
- Culture springtails on clay Spread damp clay in a cup, seed it, feed lightly and tap springtails out when you need them. Clay is the easiest medium to harvest from.
- Culture springtails on plaster Set plaster in the bottom of a cup, rehydrate it and seed it. A retainer lets you tilt the cup and tap springtails out.
- Culture springtails on soil Soil suits species that do poorly on other media and is the usual starting point for newly collected springtails. Keep it moist, not sopping.
- Add springtails to a terrarium or isopod tub Seed springtails before the animals go in, spread the culture through the substrate and match the species to how wet the enclosure is.
- Make a springtail climbing barrier A thin dry coat of hydrophobic fumed silica in alcohol stops springtails from walking up to the lid. Wear a dust mask while you mix it.
Breeding and renewing
Split, refresh and expand what you already have.
Collecting in the wild
Where to look, how to collect, and which species stay hard.
Good to know
Feeding, house springtails and other questions that come up often.
- What to feed springtails and why not moldy rice Fresh food in small amounts beats moldy food. This guide covers the common foods, what sellers say about them and why overfeeding hurts a culture.
- Springtails in the house or yard Springtails are harmless to people and pets and show up where it is damp. This guide says how to check what you have, why they came and what reduces them.
Something going wrong?
Answer a few questions about what you see and get a likely cause and what to do.