When you think of a clean up crew you might immediately think about isopods and springtails, and there are good reasons for that. Together they’re a powerhouse in terms of breaking down organic waste and allowing the bacteria and other microorganisms to do the job of returning it completely to soil as a part of your substrate. Creating that ideal cycling to allow you to work with nature to improve everything for your creatures.
Like isopods springtails are not insects. Unlike isopods they tend to have much more specialised diets depending on the species. They help to break up organic matter and allow fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms to further decompose the unwanted materials.
Many smaller species that we keep as pets will hunt springtails. In that sort of set up it’s crucial to have a strong supply of springtails so that they don’t all get eaten.
As a part of a clean up crew
Assuming that you are keeping springtails with other things, including amphibians, reptiles, alongside isopods, or even other crustaceans, then as long as you choose a species suitable for the habitat then you shouldn’t have any issues.
Humidity
Just like isopods springtails need humidity to survive. They can last weeks without food, but a dry area will cause all sorts of problems.
Escaping
They can escape and they will, so it’s well worth adding a fine mesh to the ventilation holes on your enclosure. A fair number of vivs have ventilation low down at the back, so be aware that these can lead to escapees. They’re only tiny so they can’t cause any damage, and the dryness of the average carpet means they’re not likely to thrive. But it’s not something you want to be happening.
Food
They will thrive on all the micro flora and fauna of your enclosure, including fungi, yeasts, and other similar things. But if you are concerned then adding a bot of brewers yeast to their diet isn’t going to do any harm.
Having a separate culture
It’s well worth having a separate culture from the ones in the vivs or other enclosures, especially if you are using them as a food source. Take away or similar containers are great for this. It depends on the species as to what substrate they need, so do your research into that.
Having this backup population is a great idea if something is likely to be eating them in the enclosure. You can harvest them by adding some water. They are so small that they can’t break the waters surface tension and so they float.
Mites
A true nightmare for any keeper of isopods, mites are almost impossible to remove from a springtail culture. If they do get into your springtail groups the best option is to start again. If you have them in your viv you might have to put up with them, but depending on the species of springtails, and the other inhabitants you might be able to lower the humidity temporarily to reduce the numbers of mites to a minimum.
Species of springtail for beginners
Snowflake springtails Onychiuridae sp
Get to 2mm these are a slightly larger springtail, often used for feeding dart frogs, and a part of a clean up crew.
Lilac And Yellow springtails Ceratophysella Sp
A rarer species of Springtail, these tiny creatures have a lillac tint to them, making them a touch more unusual. They will thrive in a more humid setup, and will love living with many amphibians, or reptiles that need a more humid set up. Various species of turtle will also benefit from having these on the land areas of their enclosures. Unlike other clean up crews they can’t drown under normal circumstances as they are two small to break the surface tension of the water.
Yellow springtails (albino) Ceratophysella Sp
The albino form of the lillac and yellow springtails above these are easier to see on the darker substrates, and can be a wonderful visual adition to a more humid setup.
Temperate Springtails (Folsomnia Candida)
If you want to delve into the science of springtails, this is the species to take you there. Able to live in mines and caves with mucher higher than normal levels of carbon dioxide for weeks at a time. Just as interestingly we have no idea where they originally come from as they have been transported all over the world in the soil and on the roots of plants.
Also they are all female, reproducing via parthenogenesis, so that’s good to know. They are highly valued as they eat many of the pests that plague plants.
Orange Springtails "Bilobella braunerae"
These tiny little springs are still easy to see thanks to their bright orange colour. When they’re gathered on food or in a small area it can look like someone has spilled seed beads across the substrate.
These are definitely more of a challenge needing the humidity and temperature to be maintained in a narrower range. But if you have all of that sorted out for the vivs other inhabitants then you are good to go.
As well as their stunning colours there is another thing, these are springless springtails, less able to leap about in the enclosure, and will thrive in even the smallest viv.