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Good to know

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.

5 min read · For Beginner, Keeper, Specialist

The moldy rice misconception

Springtails US reports that springtails prefer fresh food when cultured. They clean up mold blooms in terrariums, but given the choice they eat fresh dry rice or yeast rather than the mold that appears when a culture is overfed. Anecdotal 1
Springtails eat hard dry rice by rasping, scraping off the starch with their mouthparts. When rice is overtaken by mold they cannot reach the starch easily, and if the mold is not edible to them reproduction slows sharply. Anecdotal 1

Foods sellers use

Foods named by sellers
FoodWho names itNote
Brewer's yeastSpringtails US, NEHERP, MI BeneficialsSpringtails US finds it the most preferred type of yeast.
Baker's (active dry) yeastFrog and FrondFound at least as good as anything else.
Rice flour or dry riceSpringtails US, MI BeneficialsFlour is eaten faster and molds less.
Mushroom powdersSpringtails USEaten much faster than other foods when offered side by side.
Fish flakesSpringtails USSuits the orange and red springtails.
Bee pollenSpringtails USSuits arid, pollinator type species.

1–5

Keep the food clean

Sterilize springtail food to keep grain mites out, by baking it at or above boiling point until all of it has reached the desired temperature. Anecdotal 5
MI Beneficials recommends storing springtail food in an airtight bag in the freezer, and says its own mix cuts the risk of bringing harmful pathogens into delicate cultures. Anecdotal 4
Warning Too much yeast left in a culture for too long causes mold. In the worst case it can kill the culture by raising the carbon dioxide concentration. Anecdotal 2

Sources for this guide

  1. 1

    The Moldy Rice Misconception

    Pavy R. 2023. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at The fact is that springtails prefer fresh food; How do springtails eat hard dry rice?; Conclusion; What is the best springtail food?; Is rice even a good choice of food for feeding springtails?.

  2. 2

    Calcium Clay Springtail Cultures FAQ and Care

    Frog and Frond

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at How do I feed the cultures and how often?; What do I feed the clay springtail cultures?.

  3. 3

    Springtail Care & Breeding Information

    New England Herpetoculture

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Ingredients For A Springtail Breeder Culture.

  4. 4

    How To: Starting a White Springtail Feeder Culture on Clay

    MI Beneficials

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Food.

  5. 5

    How to find, collect, and culture wild springtails

    Pavy R. 2023. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Food.

Reviewed Oct 22, 2026