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Entomobryomorpha · Entomobryidae

Sinella curviseta

This name is mostly a past label. The common Tropical culture is Coecobrya tenebricosa.A name that was used for years for the hobby Tropical Pink springtail, which turned out to be Coecobrya tenebricosa. It still appears on one care sheet. Anecdotal 1, 2

Also sold or known as

This page is partly filled in

Some sections have little or no evidence yet. Each gap says so rather than guessing.

Side view drawing of Sinella curviseta, drawn from sourced body proportions. It is a drawing, not a photograph.
Drawing
Schematic plate drawn from the group and the keeper colour name. Proportions and eye count are not measured from a specimen. Colour is not recorded.

No size is recorded for this species yet, so true size is not available.

At a glance

Difficulty
Easy Anecdotal 2
Growth
Fast Anecdotal 2
Best enclosures
Closed tropical terrarium, Temperate woodland vivarium A model estimate from the ranges on this page. See every enclosure type
In trade
Regularly available As of Oct 22, 2026. Anecdotal 2
Identification
Unresolved Classifications conflict How sure we are

Not recorded yet: Size, Temperature, Air humidity.

Identification

Characters to check

These are the features recorded for this species. Each row says what kit you need to read it.

Character What it looks like Needs
Body form Long and slim The body is long and slim with clearly visible segments, long antennae and long legs. / Slim tube The body is a smooth tube with segments you can see, and shorter antennae and legs. Varies Inherited: Entomobryomorpha 3 Naked eye
Antenna segments Four plain segments The antenna has four clear segments and none is divided into rings. / Divided into rings At least one segment is split into small rings, which makes the antenna look jointed. Varies Inherited: Collembola 4 Stereo microscope
Mouth shape Blunt mouth The mouth is blunt and the head is rounded in front. Inherited: Entomobryomorpha 3 Hand loupe
Spines on the tail end No spines The last abdominal segment has no spines. Inherited: Entomobryomorpha 3 Stereo microscope
9 characters have no record yet

Nobody has recorded these for this species, so the key treats them as unknown and never guesses.

  • Body length
  • Main colour
  • Colour pattern
  • Surface texture
  • Scales
  • Antenna length
  • Eyes
  • Eye count
  • Jumping organ

Identify an animal you have

Answer in any order, with the kit you have.

Husbandry and breeding

  • Difficulty Easy
  • Growth Fast
  • Yield High
Airflow
Low Anecdotal 2

Foods

  • Commercial springtail mix Good 2
  • Dry yeast Good 2
  • Fish flakes Occasional 2

Substrates

  • Peat-based soil Excellent 2
  • Calcium clay Good 2
  • Plain plaster Good 2

The evidence in detail

Springtails US rates it Beginner level. Anecdotal 2
Model assumption Springtails US scores its reproduction rate 7 out of 10. The site reads that as fast growth and a high yield. Anecdotal 2
Springtails US cultures it on soil, clay or plaster. It advises moist substrate with minimal ventilation, and soil for the highest reproduction rate. Anecdotal 2
Feed once or twice a week with a springtail food mix, brewer's yeast, another yeast or fish food. Anecdotal 2

Tools

Print a care card

Key numbers and a QR code back to this page.

Bioactive compatibility

Fit by enclosure type

A model estimate from the climate each enclosure type holds and the ranges recorded for this species. It is not a measurement.

Enclosure type Fit Why
Closed tropical terrarium A glass terrarium with a lid and little ventilation, misted often, kept for dart frogs and other animals from humid forest. See where it ranks Good fit
  • Sellers culture it damp all the way through, which suits a substrate that stays wet.
  • Airflow is low, which is what this species is kept with.
Temperate woodland vivarium A cool, damp vivarium with leaf litter, bark and a moisture gradient, kept for fire salamanders and similar woodland amphibians. See where it ranks Good fit
  • Sellers culture it damp all the way through, which suits a substrate that stays wet.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with low airflow.
Open tropical terrarium A tall terrarium with mesh ventilation and daily misting that dries out between sprays, kept for crested geckos and similar climbers. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it damp all the way through. A substrate that stays damp is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with low airflow.
Isopod tub A ventilated tub of organic substrate and leaf litter with a damp end and a dry end, kept for isopod colonies. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it damp all the way through. A substrate that stays damp is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with low airflow.
Potted plant A houseplant pot with an open top, watered on a schedule so the soil dries a little between waterings. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it damp all the way through. A substrate that stays damp is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is high. This species is usually kept with low airflow, which is a big difference.
Semi-arid terrarium A mostly dry terrarium with a damp hide and a warm spot, kept for leopard geckos and similar grassland or scrub animals. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it damp all the way through, so a substrate that stays mostly dry is a poor match.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with low airflow.
Arid terrarium A dry, well ventilated desert terrarium with a hot basking spot, kept for bearded dragons and similar animals. See where it ranks Poor fit
  • Sellers culture it damp all the way through, so a substrate that stays dry is a poor match.
  • Airflow is high. This species is usually kept with low airflow, which is a big difference.

Animals that eat springtails mean the springtails need topping up. The explorer shows which species keep up with the animals in your enclosure. Open the compatibility explorer

Natural history and distribution

In trade
Regularly available in North America. As of Oct 22, 2026. Anecdotal 2
Springtails US listed it as in stock on 22 October 2026. Anecdotal 2

Taxonomy and naming history

The Tropical White and Tropical Pink springtails were sold for years as Sinella curviseta. A collembologist determined them to be Coecobrya tenebricosa. The seller says Sinella curviseta is not the proper name of the widespread species in the hobby. Anecdotal 1
The care sheet still lists Sinella curviseta as its own species. Whether that entry is a different culture or an old label for Coecobrya tenebricosa is not stated. Unknown Open question What does the care sheet entry *Sinella curviseta* refer to?

How sure the name is

Name type
Exact name The name has been matched against the published description.
Confidence
Unresolved There is not enough evidence to name it.
Evidence for the name
Trade label only
Stability
Classifications conflict Sources place this animal differently.
Review
Reviewed by a curator

GBIF lists Sinella curviseta Brook, 1882. Checked Oct 22, 2026.

Classification

Trade and hobby names

Trade names are not taxonomy. Each one is a label that sellers use, with its own page.

Name Kind How likely
Sinella curviseta Historical label Unlikely
Tropical Pink Springtail Common name Unlikely
Sinella curviseta Historical label Tentative

Open questions and sources

Open questions

  • What does the care sheet entry *Sinella curviseta* refer to?

    Trade names Open

    Why it matters. The seller says the widespread Sinella curviseta of the hobby is Coecobrya tenebricosa, yet the care sheet still lists Sinella curviseta as its own species.

    What would help. A statement from the seller on whether the entry is an old label or a different culture, and a voucher if it is a different culture.

  • Which species is this culture, checked by a specialist?

    Identification Needs a voucher specimen

    Why it matters. Hobby cultures are mostly named from a seller's label or a photograph. A wrong name spreads from seller to keeper and then into care advice.

    What would help. Preserved vouchers from the culture in 80 to 95 percent ethanol, mounted specimens examined by a springtail specialist, and a DNA barcode where a reference exists. Deposit the voucher with a museum or a university collection.

Sources

  1. 1

    Springtail Identification and Common Name Resource

    Pavy R. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Tropical Pink White Springtails.

  2. 2

    Springtail Care Sheet

    Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Sinella curviseta entry.

  3. 3

    Biology of the Springtails (Insecta: Collembola)

    Hopkin SP. 1997. Oxford University Press

    Verified against a registry · Specialist monograph

    Cited at chapter on external morphology.

  4. 4

    Checklist of the Collembola of the World

    Bellinger PF, Christiansen KA, Janssens F

    Link works · Authoritative database

    Cited at Introduction, external anatomy and morphology.

Spotted a mistake or know a better source?

Page data reviewed Oct 22, 2026