Springtail Wiki

Reading level

Changes how much detail each statement shows. Saved on this device.

Theme

Units

Stops animation and uses still drawings.

Entomobryomorpha · Tomoceridae

Tomocerus vulgaris

A large scaled springtail. Sellers sometimes mix it up with Tomocerus minor.A large scaled springtail sold as the Common Bull or Giant Silver Springtail. Stock sold under this name is sometimes Tomocerus minor. Anecdotal 1

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 Tomocerus vulgaris, 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.

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

At a glance

Difficulty
Moderate Anecdotal 2
Growth
Slow Anecdotal 2
Best enclosures
Open tropical terrarium, Isopod tub, Semi-arid terrarium 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
Probable Stable How sure we are

Not recorded yet: Size, Temperature, Air humidity.

Identification

Warning Some stock sold as Tomocerus vulgaris is really Tomocerus minor. Ask the seller how it was identified.Hobby stock sold as Tomocerus vulgaris is sometimes Tomocerus minor, and cultures exist with both the right and the wrong identification. Tomocerus minor has tridentate dental spines and Tomocerus vulgaris does not. The seller recommends buying only stock traced back to microscopy. Anecdotal 1

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. Inherited: Tomoceridae 3 Naked eye
Scales Scales present The body is covered in flat scales that give a shimmer or a tiled look. Inherited: Tomoceridae 3 Hand loupe
Antenna length Half the body to the whole body The antennae are between half the body length and about as long as the body. / Longer than the body The antennae are clearly longer than the whole body. Varies Inherited: Tomoceridae 3 Phone macro
Antenna segments Divided into rings At least one segment is split into small rings, which makes the antenna look jointed. Inherited: Tomoceridae 3 Stereo microscope
Eyes Eyes present Dark eye patches sit on both sides of the head. Inherited: Tomoceridae 3 Phone macro
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
Jumping organ Long A long furca reaches forward under the body, and the animal springs when disturbed. Inherited: Tomoceridae 3 Hand loupe
5 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
  • Eye count

Identify an animal you have

Answer in any order, with the kit you have.

Husbandry and breeding

  • Difficulty Moderate
  • Growth Slow
  • Yield Low
Airflow
Medium Anecdotal 2
Moisture gradient
Keep about 25% of the substrate dry. Anecdotal 2

Foods

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

Substrates

  • Peat-based soil Good 2

The evidence in detail

Springtails US rates it Intermediate level. Anecdotal 2
Model assumption Springtails US scores its reproduction rate 4 out of 10. The site reads that as slow growth and a low yield. Anecdotal 2
Springtails US cultures it on soil. It advises a moisture gradient with about 25% of the substrate dry, plus ventilation on the dry side. 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
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 Good fit
  • Sellers culture it with about 25% of the substrate dry, which suits a substrate that stays damp.
  • Airflow is medium, which is what this species is kept with.
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 Good fit
  • Sellers culture it with about 25% of the substrate dry, which suits a substrate that stays damp.
  • Airflow is medium, which is what this species is kept with.
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 Good fit
  • Sellers culture it with about 25% of the substrate dry, which suits a substrate that stays mostly dry.
  • Airflow is medium, which is what this species is kept with.
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 Good fit
  • Sellers culture it with about 25% of the substrate dry, which suits a substrate that stays damp.
  • Airflow is high. This species is usually kept with medium airflow.
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 Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with about 25% of the substrate dry. A substrate that stays wet is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is medium, which is what this species is kept with.
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 Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with about 25% of the substrate dry. A substrate that stays wet is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is low. This species is usually kept with medium 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 Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with about 25% of the substrate dry. A substrate that stays dry is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is high. This species is usually kept with medium airflow.

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

How sure the name is

Name type
Exact name The name has been matched against the published description.
Confidence
Probable More likely than not, with gaps left.
Evidence for the name
Body form, checked by an expert
Stability
Stable Sources agree and the name has not moved in years.
Review
Reviewed by a curator

GBIF lists Tomocerus vulgaris (Tullberg, 1871). 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
Common Bull Springtail Common name Likely
Giant Runner Springtail Common name Possible
Giant Silver Bullet Springtail Trade name Possible
Giant Silver Springtail Common name Likely
Tomocerus vulgaris Trade name Probable

Names used

Name Relationship Author Note
Giant Silver Springtail Trade alias 1
Common Bull Springtail Trade alias 1

Open questions and sources

Open questions

  • How much hobby stock sold as *Tomocerus vulgaris* is really *Tomocerus minor*?

    Trade names Needs a voucher specimen

    Why it matters. A seller reports cultures of both species under the vulgaris name and recommends buying only stock traced to microscopy.

    What would help. Dental spine counts from slide-mounted adults of several cultures.

  • 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 hobby name list, Tomocerus vulgaris Common Bull Springtail; hobby name list, Tomocerus minor Giant Runner Springtail.

  2. 2

    Springtail Care Sheet

    Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Tomocerus vulgaris 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.

Spotted a mistake or know a better source?

Page data reviewed Oct 22, 2026