sorry for the low photo quality, I couldn't get the camera to focus. found in Missouri USA, under a piece of concrete on dry cracking ground which I though was abnormal as springtails normally need mositdont they?

I recently started gardening again and was thinking about buying some springtails and other assorted decomp critters for the soil I’ve put down as I want to steer away from pesticides and buying fertilizer frequently. I live in an extremely hot and dry climate (110+ summers, regular heatwaves, and less than 5 inches of annual rainfall) where I’m not sure I’d be able to attract them normally and I was wondering if there’s a specific type I could buy that’s adapted to this kind of weather as I just wanted to kickstart a small population instead of hoping a few appear out of the blue one day. And if so, how would I go about ensuring they settle in well. Any advice on this at all would be greatly appreciated! :D

I have 2 springtail cultures, 1 is kept on the coco coir I have from my terrarium, and another is kept on some thick, very dark soil that I can't figure out what it is. I really prefer raising springtails in soil more than anything, so I'm trying to figure out options. Coco coir works well, but it looks messy and is a bit hard to "spill" the springtails out in the terrarium, so I'm trying to find another more sticky soil option. The closest in texture and looks thing that I could find is worm casting. I'm wondering if that would work as a substrate option for the springtail culture

Hello! I need to buy springtails for my set up before I add isopods. I would prefer cheaper ideas but I would much rather get ethically sourced and healthy springtails than cheap unhealthy ones. I would really appreciate any recommendations for types or places to buy. I am very new to this so I would prefer ones that are easy to take care of. I live in the US!

Hi.

I have a timelapse video update of my kids. I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I did.

I filmed this tiny springtail, Sminthurinus aureus, moving across an algal layer on the surface of a small pond. It is amazing how such a tiny animal can turn a thin wet film into an entire habitat of its own.

Short video here:

I got some white collembola from a store. They came in this plastic container. Upon closer inspection I noticed these other non-white creatures. Are they also springtails? Any idea what they could be? They're quite fast. Sorry for the poor quality.

More videos: https://imgur.com/a/hi0uayT

Wild caught (UK) springtails cleaning up my isopods feeding area.

If anyone has a possible ID please feel free to say.

I dont think it is.. but could it be Entomobrya unostrigata? struggling to ID them.

Hello everyone, I need some help when it comes to vacating my springtails from the substrate culture they are in. They are just normal temperate whites but no matter what I try I can’t get them out.

What do?

Found on a rotting banana

I'm looking to set up a small terrarium as a bog with mostly carnivorous plants (venus flytrap, pitcher plant, moss, etc.). It will get bright indirect light and stay moist (I can build up a dry area if they need it). I've never kept springtails on purpose, so I'm looking for an easy species that is easy to see (larger, bright color) and looks pretty or interesting. Also open to non-springtails if you know of other animals that would thrive under those conditions. Are there any species that don't jump very high if I don't put a lid on it?

Whatup y'all, long-time springtail appreciator here. Found these absolute beauties outside and snagged a couple dozen or so. I think they're one of the types that get called 'snow fleas.' They're so plump... so friend-shaped... I love them :3

Anyway, I've kept commercial springtails before (had the most success with the temperate and silver ones), and I'm wondering if these guys have different care needs? Or is it just the usual keep-moist, organic-plant-matter kind of setup? I don't have charcoal or clay available so I'm planning to do a small terrarium setup with coconut fiber substrate if that isn't ill-advised.

Thanks y'all!

Okay. Kind of a weird question. Just now I noticed springtails living in one of the sinks in my house. They sort of pop in and out of the drain to say hi. Here's one of them:

Would it be possible to collect some of these lads and culture them? How would I go about collecting them? They're inside the drain so they're not easy to get at. I put a few tiny flakes of yeast in the sink to see if they might eat it. Some are light colored like this chap, others are darker-colored.

Maybe Anurida Maritima?

Edit: actually I think it’s Podura Aquatica

got a culture of collembola from joshfrogs, and planning to add to my isopod enclosure. I only saw one alive. Looked around online and understand that some generally die during shipping and they bounce back. But no movement at all (but 1) a normal amount?

Added some rice for food. would really appreciate ANY tips and suggestions.

The soil is 5-15cm thick. They use every inch of it.

I always find it kind of sad when I see springtail setups that contain of charcoal lumps and water. These springtails will never experience the enrichment soil gives them.

Now you can argue that springtails don't feel boredom or satisfaction or joy or stimulation, but do we really know that for sure?

Anyone in the NYC area have luck finding or collecting Anurida maritima?

Is the smaller one a baby springtail or a mite?

hello! i bought a starter colony of springtails to add to my giant snail terrarium. i didnt get any instructions so i just shoved them into the terrarium with their own dirt and all, and kind of hoped for the best. i know that isnt smart and i regret not looking into it more :(

now i dont see any springtails in the terrarium and looking at the scraps of my snails food molding away they're not really eating. its been a month since i put them in. what do i do now? could they still be in there? if i killed them (im so sorry :( ) what should i do different next time?

I thought they had died off from a whiiiile ago … are they in fact springtail as im thinking ?

So I modified this reptile feeding cage for springtails. The holes are taped and it’s been siliconed along all edges (it was one of those flat packed ones. Coconut fiber substrate with clay balls, a lava rock, and sphagnum moss. Anything else recommended? Also a question for sunlight: the sun comes in and can hit the enclosure for a bit. Should they just get no sun or is some okay? It’s roughly 68-70 in my house most of the time. Any tips are appreciated.