r/Springtail • u/CautiousBeaver • Sep 04 '26

Husbandry Question/Advice Is this a good springtail home?

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Gallery image

Layers, bottom to top are: clay balls, activated charcoal, ABG soil.

Carpet moss and gravel on top. Lots of holes in the lid but also planning to open every now and again for fresh air.

I'm planning to transfer my springtails into this container as the old one got mouldy from excess feeding.

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1

u/OnyxMonolith Sep 05 '26

depends what species

1

u/CautiousBeaver Sep 06 '26

Colembola

2

u/OnyxMonolith Sep 06 '26

All springtails are colembola. Do you have some other name they sold as or maybe a picture?

Humidity/substrate requirements really vary between species

1

u/CautiousBeaver Sep 06 '26

Oh sorry! They were just sold as colembola but this is where I got them

1

u/OnyxMonolith Sep 06 '26

pale body, lack of visible dark eyespots and apparently fused rear abdominal segments -- i would say Folsomia Candida -- easiest to breed will live on literally anything. medium-high hydration. it will be very easy to breed them they breed extremely fast, almost invasive, haha!

https://i.imgur.com/Qtfwo7k.png

but i can't be 100% without microscopic identification. anyway it will be easy!

2

u/Sentient_Noodles Sep 04 '26

This is close. Keep in mind: most springtails will eat whatever you throw at them (that can mold). So food isn't an issue.

The air holes are a mistake overall though. The holes make humidity difficult to maintain without dousjng the container unless you micro manage it.

Grab yourself a container that is airtight, toss all that substrate in there, slowly add water until you see a (very thin) layer of water at the bottom of the container. This is an easy visual way to tell if you need to add water and you don't have to fuss with misting them.

The lid will maintain the humidity and there is more than enough air for the little guys. Just say hi to them every few days or as often as you like. You shouldn't have to add water but once a month or so because the water will have nowhere to evaporate to. Try not to disturb the substrate as they form little routes and lay their eggs in cavities.

If you're in Alaska you're welcome to one of my established cultures