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How to Culture Springtails
Different Methods for Culturing Springtails
There are a variety of methods for culturing springtails with the oldest methodology being charcoal culturing, a newer method being on clay ( Calcium Clay has been commonly used but is not necessary ), and the newest methodology using other materials such as soil ( such as Flake Soil ) and Felt.
Here are the basic steps to culture springtails:
- Obtain a culture of springtails: You can purchase a culture of springtails from a pet store or online (such as from us at Houston Frogs) , or you can collect them from the wild. If you collect them from the wild, make sure to do so ethically and sustainably, and avoid collecting from areas with heavy pollution or pesticide use.
- Prepare the culture container: Springtails need a damp environment to thrive. You can use a plastic container with a lid or a glass jar with a breathable lid. Fill the container with a substrate that is moist but not saturated as they need a moist surface to lay eggs upon, but cannot lay them in the water, so inundated areas are not usable. Adding a vent such as our .2mm pore vents (available on our online store) will ensure your culture does not die out from CO2 poisoning from overfeeding (live yeast and food breaking down creates CO2) or from overpopulation.
- Add food: Springtails feed on organic matter, such as decaying plant material or fungi. You can add a small amount of powdered fish food, yeast, rice or a premade springtail food (such as the springtail food we provide at Houston Frogs) to the substrate to provide food for the springtails. Alternatively, you can add a small piece of fruit or vegetable to the substrate as a food source. Ensure that you add just enough that they can consume in a few days. Over feeding is more likely to cause a colony crash than under feeding.
- Add the springtails: Once the container is prepared and the food is added, you can add the springtails to the container. Make sure to handle them gently and avoid crushing them.
- Maintain the culture: To maintain the culture, keep the container in a cool, semi-humid location, and mist the substrate with water as needed to keep it moist. The springtails will reproduce and feed on the organic matter provided to them.
- Harvest the springtails: When you need to feed your pets, you can harvest the springtails by placing a small piece of fruit or vegetable or a leaf with some live yeast (mist the yeast to activate it) in the container and waiting for the springtails to gather on it. Then, you can transfer the springtails to your pet's enclosure. With clay cultures, you can turn the entire culture upside down and tap it into the enclosure.
Remember to maintain the culture by regularly adding food and water, and keep an eye out for any signs of pests such as mites and maggots, which can harm the springtails. With proper care, your springtail culture can provide a nutritious and sustainable food source for your pets.
Tips and Tricks of Springtail Culturing plus techniques
Some General Tips and Tricks:
- Use a very tight fitting lid to prevent infestation by mites, scavenger flies, fruit flies, and even other springtails if you keep multiple types
- Use a vent such as the 2um pore vents we provide, which will allow for gas exchange but will also keep out pests
- Do not flood your springtail culture as the springtails cannot lay eggs in the water, so this is wasted space
- Do not let your springtail culture get warmer than 78 degrees for most species. Some species cannot survive temperatures above 70F
- Do not keep your springtail cultures near fruit fly cultures as this can easily lead to mite infestations
- Keep your springtails in a cool, dark place--they do not do well in sunny locations
- Some species of springtails can only be cultured on soil. Some will Not do well on charcoal. There are arid springtails which must be kept drier than others. Some rare springtails such as the red springtails from Thailand need more ventilation than others. Make sure to research each particular species to ensure you meet their needs
- Do not introduce any unsterilized items to your culture as this can introduce predatory mites that can easily destroy your culture
Culturing Springtails on Charcoal
Charcoal culturing is one of the oldest methods in the hobby but really only works well for "temperate" and "tropical" springtails. You can use lump charcoal from just about any grocery store (not briquettes!). Soak it in water overnight, then put into your desired container and add food and springtails. These cultures are simple and effective. Do not flood the cultures as this flooded area cannot be used by the springtails.
Culturing Springtails on Clay
Hobbyists first started culturing springtails on clay in Europe, with clay culturing later catching on in the US. Calcium Clay recipes meant to increase calcium uptake by Oophaga frogs were later repurposed for springtail culturing. We have now found that springtails thrive on almost any clay recipe and that excess calcium in some recipes can actually inhibit colony growth. The added calcium has no percievable benefit for the springtails themselves.
Start with a commercially available clay or make your own using what is available to you. Mix powdered clay with water until it is a thick peanut butter consistency. Spread in over the entirety of the container. The thicker the clay is, the slower it will dry out, but this is the only benefit of using more clay. Ensure it is not "sticky" to the touch or the springtails may not be able to walk on it, especially larger species. The more surface area you have, the larger of a colony the container can support. Do not let the clay dry out as it can shrink and crack.
Culturing Springtails on Organic Substrate
Soil cultures can be difficult to harvest from (use the yeast on a leaf method), but otherwise are relatively stable and will often allow for the growth of fungi, which will act as an additional food source for the springtails. Some species can only be grown on this medium due to the live food provided via fungal growth and the variable moisture levels provided by the soil strata. It is important to sterilize your substrate before using it and to use a substrate with a relatively neutral PH and high in organics (such as flake soil). ABG substrate can be used, but so can home recipes with soil free of fertilizers and salts.
Culturing Springtails on Leaf Mold
Naturally springtails are very abundant in leaf mold, which is just essentially many layers of leaves that naturally compost via fungi and bacteria over time. You can simulate this artificially by boiling leaves, straining them until their surface is dry to the touch (but they are still hydrated), layering them in a container about 1-2" deep, and seeding with springtails. The leaves will naturally grow fungi that the springtails can eat, providing a self-sustaining food source for your colony.
Culturing Springtails on Inorganic Mediums such as Felt
Many species that can be cultured on clay or charcoal can additionally be cultured on novel mediums such as felt (real wool or synthetic), which will easily soak up water and remain moist, or turface/calcined clay/crushed terra cotta. These materials will provide a moist and porous laying surface for culturing most common species of springtails successfully.
What to Feed Springtails
A variety of food can be used to feed springtails. The most nutritious foods are live fungi (mushrooms or just the mycelium such as in our springtail snacks). Live fungi also includes live yeast, such as that used for baking which is easily found in the grocery story---just sprinkle and spray with water to activate. You can even use spent mushroom blocks (fruit one of our mushroom kits at home, then feed the kit to your springtails once you're done using it!).
You can also use:
Rice Flour
Brewers Yeast
Spirulina algae
Chlorella Algae
Mushroom Powders
Pea Powder
Fish Flakes/Dog Food (but be careful of mites with these!)
Potatoe Flakes
Decaying leaves
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