Keeping cultures
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.
Pick a species
Two easy species with a page here
- Folsomia candida Common White Springtail A pale, eyeless springtail with a long jumping organ. It is the standard laboratory species for soil toxicity tests and the most common starter culture for bioactive tanks.
- Coecobrya tenebricosa Tropical Pink Springtail The Tropical Pink and Tropical White springtail of the hobby, a pale, fast-breeding species long sold under the wrong name Sinella curviseta.
Choose a medium
| Medium | How you harvest | What sellers say |
|---|---|---|
| Clay | Tilt the cup and tap the springtails out. | Easiest to harvest. Keep it damp, not wet. |
| Charcoal | Lift pieces with tongs, or add water and pour. | The most common and simple method. Needs standing water. |
| Soil | Lift hides with tongs, or use an aspirator. | Needed by species that do poorly on other media. |
| Plaster | Tilt and tap, best with a retainer. | Lasts 6 months to a year or more. |
Container and air
Feed lightly
What to watch for
Sources for this guide
- 1
Springtail Care & Breeding Information
New England Herpetoculture
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Springtail Culture Care; Setting Up A Breeding Culture.
- 2
Temperate Springtails Care Guide (Folsomia candida)
PostPods
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Title and introduction.
- 3
How To: Starting a White Springtail Feeder Culture on Clay
MI Beneficials
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Introduction; Containers; Air exchange; Maintenance; Food.
- 4
Calcium Clay Springtail Cultures FAQ and Care
Frog and Frond
Link works · Retailer
Cited at What kind of springtails are these?; Feeding out; What is the advantage of clay springtail cultures; How do I feed the cultures and how often?; What if there is mold in the springtail culture?.
- 5
Springtails US
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Folsomia candida and Coecobrya tenebricosa entries; Folsomia candida entry, ventilation.
- 6
- 7
Springtail Charcoal Care Guide
Springtails US
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Care and Harvesting; Introduction.
- 8
Springtails US
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Care and Harvesting; Introduction; Setup Instructions.
- 9
Plaster Springtail Culture Guide
Springtails US
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Introduction; Setup Instructions.
- 10
Pavy R. 2023. Springtails US
Link works · Retailer
Cited at Conclusion.
Reviewed Oct 22, 2026