Springtail Starter Culture

Springtails are one of the most beneficial additions you can make to a bioactive enclosure. These tiny clean-up crew members feed on decaying organic matter, fungi, leftover food, and many types of mold, helping create a cleaner and more balanced environment.

Our starter cultures are shipped on a custom blend of moist Calcium Clay and are designed to be used in two ways: directly seed an enclosure or continue growing the starter culture so you can seed additional enclosures later.

How to Seed Your Enclosure

1. Open the springtail culture.
2. Add a small amount of room-temperature water to the culture if needed.
3. Gently swirl or tilt the cup to move springtails into the water.
4. Pour the water and springtails into the desired enclosure.
5. Repeat as needed until you have transferred the amount you want.

You do not need to empty the entire culture.

Leaving springtails behind allows the starter culture to continue reproducing for future use.

After Seeding

Once you have poured springtails from the culture:

1. Add one small piece of uncooked raw rice to the culture.
2. Lightly mist the Calcium Clay with room-temperature water if needed.
3. Keep the clay moist, but do not leave the culture flooded.
4. Close the lid.
5. Keep the culture at room temperature and away from direct sunlight.

Springtail cultures often contain large numbers of microscopic babies that may be difficult to see. Even when a culture appears lightly populated, a new generation may already be developing.

Continue feeding and maintaining moisture, and the population should replenish over time.

Starting a Master Culture

If you plan to maintain several bioactive enclosures or regularly need springtails, we recommend keeping a separate master culture.

Instead of repeatedly using your entire starter culture, allow a portion of the population to reproduce undisturbed. Once the culture becomes well established, springtails can be harvested from the master culture to start additional cultures or seed multiple enclosures.

A healthy master culture can provide springtails for a long time when properly maintained.

Feeding

For now, we recommend uncooked raw rice.

A very small amount is all that is needed. Overfeeding can encourage unwanted mold growth or cause food to spoil before the springtails consume it.

Add another small piece of rice after the previous piece has mostly been consumed.

Moisture

Springtails need moisture to thrive.

The Calcium Clay should remain damp throughout the culture, but the cup does not need to remain flooded. Lightly mist with room-temperature water whenever the clay begins to dry.

Avoid allowing the culture to completely dry out.

Where to Use Springtails

Springtails are commonly used in:

• Bioactive terrariums
• Vivariums
• Isopod enclosures
• Reptile enclosures
• Amphibian and dart frog enclosures
• Planted terrariums
• Other moist bioactive habitats

When used with isopods and other clean-up crew organisms, springtails help break down organic material and support a naturally functioning enclosure.

Important: Our springtails are captive bred.