What Do Springtails Eat? Complete Feeding Guide

Springtails eat mould and other fungi, bacteria, algae and the fine decaying matter those microbes grow on. In an established bioactive enclosure they find most of that for themselves. A culture tub needs a little help: a light pinch of yeast, a few grains of dry rice or a sliver of mushroom whenever the last lot has gone, plus fish flake for protein-hungry species such as Thai Reds. When it comes to food, the usual mistake is giving too much, not too little.

Springtails may be tiny, but they have an important role in terrariums, vivariums, isopod enclosures, and other bioactive setups. These small hexapods live around damp substrate and organic matter, where they feed on fungi, mould, microorganisms, and decomposing material. This natural diet is one reason springtails make such an effective cleanup crew.

A dedicated springtail culture, however, may not have the same variety of food found inside an established bioactive enclosure. Supplemental food can help a colony establish itself, reproduce, and maintain a healthy population.

What do springtails eat?

Springtails primarily eat fungi, mould, microorganisms, algae, biofilm, and decomposing organic matter.

Rather than consuming large food scraps, they graze on microscopic material found around damp soil, leaf litter, decaying wood, and other organic matter.

Their diet can contain:

• Fungi, mould and fungal spores
• Bacteria and other microorganisms
• Biofilm
• Algae
• Decaying leaves and other decomposing plant matter
• Fine organic debris, including small amounts of animal waste
• Slime moulds, for some species

This feeding behaviour makes springtails particularly useful in humid bioactive environments, where fungi and decomposing organic matter naturally develop.

Springtails don't replace normal enclosure maintenance. Excess mould, large amounts of waste, or constantly waterlogged substrate may indicate problems with moisture, ventilation, or maintenance that need to be addressed separately.

What do springtails eat in the wild?

Wild springtails generally live in moist environments with plenty of decomposing organic matter. Depending on the species, you may find them in soil, leaf litter, beneath bark, around decaying wood, and across damp forest floors.

These environments continually produce food.

As dead leaves and wood decompose, fungi and bacteria colonise them. Biofilm develops across damp surfaces, while microorganisms become established throughout the substrate.

Springtails graze on this microscopic material.

This explains why you might see springtails concentrated around a decomposing leaf. They aren't necessarily consuming only the leaf itself. They may also be feeding on the fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms growing across its surface.

Not every species grazes, though. A few hunt nematodes and other tiny animals, and one family needs softer, protein-rich food, of which more below.

What should you feed a springtail culture?

A dedicated culture usually benefits from supplemental food because it doesn't always contain enough naturally occurring organic matter to support a growing colony.

Fortunately, feeding springtails is straightforward.

If you are setting one up from scratch, how to culture springtails at home covers the container, the substrate and the starting population.

1. Baker's or brewer's yeast

Yeast is one of the easiest foods to use for springtail cultures, and a well-tested one: laboratories have kept the temperate white springtail, Folsomia candida, on granulated baker's yeast for decades.

Sprinkle a very small amount across the culture surface. Springtails will often gather around it and gradually consume it.

Yeast works well because it is:

• Easy to find and store
• Simple to portion
• Suitable for small cultures
• Easy to distribute
• Readily consumed by springtails

The key is moderation. A tiny sprinkle is usually better than covering the entire culture surface.

If you need a supply, our brewer's yeast is sold in 50g bags, which goes a long way at this portion size.

2. Rice

Rice is another commonly used option.

Add a few grains of dry, uncooked rice to the culture. As they absorb moisture and begin to break down, fungal and microbial growth develops around them, creating food for springtails.

Avoid adding a large quantity. If rice remains for a long time or starts producing an unpleasant smell, remove the excess and reduce the amount next time.

3. Mushroom

A tiny piece of mushroom can provide another food source.

As mushroom tissue softens and decomposes, springtails can graze on it and the microorganisms that develop around it.

Again, portion size matters. A small springtail colony doesn't need a large chunk of mushroom.

4. Specialist springtail food

Prepared springtail foods can be useful if you maintain several cultures or prefer a product that's easy to measure and distribute.

These foods may contain yeast, grains, and other suitable ingredients in powdered or finely ground form.

Follow the product's feeding guidance, but also watch your colony. Population size and consumption rate should ultimately determine how much you provide.

5. Fish food

Small quantities of finely crushed fish flakes are the usual way to add protein.

For most springtails, use these more cautiously.

Protein-rich foods can spoil quickly in warm, humid cultures, and a flake left sitting is the classic start of a mite bloom. If you choose fish food, crush it finely and add only a tiny quantity.

The exception is Thai Reds, where fish flake is the staple rather than the extra (more on why below). If you need some, our Ultra Tropical fish flakes are an insect-based, high-protein flake.

Do different springtails need different food?

Most of our range (the temperate and tropical whites, pinks, lilacs, yellows and snowflakes) does well on yeast, rice, mushroom or a prepared springtail food, with the odd pinch of fish flake. Orange, Thai Red and Santa Claus springtails are different.

All three belong to the Neanuridae, a family of chunky, slow springtails that feed by sucking rather than chewing. A 2015 laboratory study sets out why that matters: neanurids lack the grinding plate most springtails use on hard food, cannot digest fungal cell walls, and need protein-rich food as fluids or very fine particles. A European species in that study, Neanura muscorum, only matured and laid eggs on slime mould (Physarum polycephalum). Those given algae-covered bark instead grew to half the size and laid none.

In practice:

• Thai Reds are the ones keepers call unusually protein-hungry, which fits the research. Fish flake is their staple, sprinkled lightly every few days, with dried daphnia or a little mushroom alongside.
• Santa Claus springtails feed especially well on soft mould, so a little controlled mould in their tub is the food supply rather than a fault. Add a light sprinkle of brewer's yeast or crushed fish flake to build numbers.
• Orange springtails take yeast, springtail food, rice or mushroom, but they breed and eat more slowly than the whites, so keep portions smaller.

Slime mould has been getting attention in the hobby as a springtail food too. It is the same Physarum polycephalum I have been culturing for my own springtails.

Snowflakes need nothing special, but they live down in the substrate rather than on it, so you may never see them at the food. Judge them by whether it disappears and by their egg clusters.

Temperature changes appetite too. A culture kept below its comfortable range eats less, and the tropical species slow badly below about 18°C, so cut the portion in a cold spell.

How much should you feed springtails?

A useful rule for springtail feeding is: start small.

Springtails are only a few millimetres long, so even a healthy colony doesn't require large quantities of food.

Add a small portion and monitor how quickly it disappears.

If most of the food is consumed relatively quickly, you can provide another small feed. If food remains visible several days later, wait before adding more.

The amount required depends on:

• Colony size
• Population density
• Springtail species
• Temperature
• Moisture levels
• Type of food
• Age of the culture

A newly established colony may require far less food than a mature culture containing thousands of springtails.

How often should you feed springtails?

Feed again when the last lot has gone. For many established cultures that works out at once or twice a week, while a large, warm culture, or a tub of protein-hungry Thai Reds, may clear a light feed every few days.

Treat this as a starting point rather than a strict schedule.

Check the culture before every feed. If most of the previous food has disappeared, provide another small portion. If plenty remains, wait.

A large colony may consume food much faster than a new starter culture.

Environmental conditions matter too. Springtails kept within suitable temperature and moisture ranges may remain more active and reproduce faster, increasing their food requirements.

Let consumption guide your feeding schedule.

Can you overfeed springtails?

Yes. Overfeeding can cause more problems than underfeeding.

Springtails consume fungi and decomposing material, but they can only process a limited amount at once.

Excess food left inside a warm and humid container can decay faster than the colony can consume it.

Signs of overfeeding can include:

• Large quantities of uneaten food
• Heavy mould growth
• Sour or unpleasant smells
• Wet, decomposing food
• Rapid increases in mites
• Reduced springtail activity
• Colony decline

A small amount of fungal growth isn't necessarily a problem. Fungi form part of a springtail's natural diet.

Problems arise when decomposing food overwhelms the culture.

If you're unsure about portion size, provide less. You can always add another small feed later.

On mites: we culture our springtails on natural materials rather than bare charcoal, so a few soil mites may arrive with a culture, and there is no published evidence that they harm springtails. A sudden bloom of them on leftover food is the overfeeding signal. Feed less, lift out anything uneaten, and don't dry the culture out to fight them.

Do springtails eat mould?

Yes. Springtails consume many forms of mould, fungi, fungal spores, and associated microorganisms, and the light bloom of soft mould on a pinch of yeast is food rather than a problem.

They are choosier than they are often given credit for, though. Laboratory work on the temperate white, Folsomia candida, found it prefers fungi without chemical defences and breeds better on them, and soil studies have found that light grazing can stimulate fungal growth rather than hold it back. So springtails shouldn't be treated as a mould-control solution. What they do well is clear up leftover food before it sours.

Persistent mould should prompt you to check:

• Moisture levels
• Ventilation
• Uneaten food
• Oversaturated substrate
• Large quantities of decomposing material
• Newly introduced wood or leaf litter

Springtails can help maintain a balanced enclosure, but environmental conditions still need to be managed correctly.

Do springtails eat dead leaves?

Springtails contribute to the decomposition of dead plant material, although they don't necessarily consume whole leaves directly.

As leaves begin to decay, fungi, bacteria, and microbial films develop across them. Springtails feed on these microorganisms and fine decomposing material.

Leaf litter therefore provides both organic matter and useful grazing surfaces.

This makes it an important part of many naturalistic and bioactive setups, particularly when combined with other cleanup crew species.

What do springtails eat in a bioactive terrarium?

An established bioactive terrarium can provide springtails with a continuous natural food supply: fungal growth and mould, biofilm, microorganisms, decaying leaf litter, dead plant material, fine organic debris and small amounts of animal waste.

Springtails help process fine organic matter, while other cleanup crew species such as isopods can deal with larger pieces of decaying plant material and debris.

If you're setting up a new bioactive enclosure and need an appropriate starter colony, you can explore springtails for sale UK and compare species suited to different terrarium conditions.

Once established, springtail populations often adjust according to available food, moisture, temperature, and available habitat.

Should you feed springtails in a terrarium?

You don't always need to.

A mature bioactive enclosure may naturally provide enough fungi, microorganisms, leaf litter, and decomposing material to maintain a springtail population.

Supplemental feeding may help when:

• You've recently introduced springtails
• The enclosure is newly established
• There's very little organic matter
• You want to encourage colony growth
• Springtail numbers appear low

Place a tiny amount of food in a damp area where springtails are active.

Avoid spreading large quantities throughout the enclosure. Uneaten food may encourage excessive mould, mites, fungus gnats, and other unwanted organisms.

What should you avoid feeding springtails?

Springtails aren't demanding eaters, but not every type of food belongs in their culture.

Large quantities of food

Large portions may decompose faster than springtails can consume them.

Sugary foods

Fruit and sugary foods can ferment quickly and attract unwanted pests. They're generally unnecessary when simpler options such as yeast are available.

Oily or fatty foods

These can break down poorly inside small, humid cultures and provide little practical benefit.

Seasoned human food

Avoid foods containing salt, spices, sauces, oils, or preservatives.

Excess animal food

Springtails may help process tiny residues of reptile, amphibian, or fish food, but they shouldn't be expected to dispose of substantial leftovers. Remove larger pieces manually.

How can you tell if your springtails are getting enough food?

Your colony will usually provide clues.

Signs of a healthy culture can include:

• Springtails gathering around fresh food
• Food disappearing between feeds
• Consistent activity
• New springtails appearing
• Gradual population growth
• No persistent unpleasant smell

Try placing a small amount of yeast in one area and checking it later. An active colony will often gather around the food, though snowflakes feed out of sight.

If you don't see many springtails, don't immediately assume they need more food. They may have moved deeper into the substrate.

Check moisture, temperature, and general culture conditions before increasing the amount you feed.

Food isn't the only requirement for healthy springtails

A healthy springtail colony depends on more than diet.

Maintain moisture

Springtails prefer humid environments. Allowing a culture to dry excessively can cause the population to decline.

Keep suitable temperatures

Temperature preferences vary between species. Choose springtails suited to the conditions inside your intended enclosure.

Avoid excess food

Provide enough food to support the colony without leaving large quantities of decomposing material behind.

Good environmental conditions combined with controlled feeding will generally produce better results than simply providing more food.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best food for springtails?

For most cultures, baker's or brewer's yeast, which is easy to portion and readily eaten. Rice, mushroom and specialist springtail foods also work, and crushed fish flake is the staple for protein-hungry Thai Reds.

How often should I feed springtails?

Whenever the previous food has gone: for many cultures that is once or twice a week, and every few days for a large, warm culture.

Can springtails eat rice?

Yes. A few grains of dry, uncooked rice can provide food as they soften and develop microbial and fungal growth.

Do springtails eat algae?

Yes. Algae is part of the natural diet of many springtails, alongside fungi and bacteria. On its own it is thin fare for the neanurids, though: in the slime mould study above, the animals fed only algae-covered bark grew to half the size and never laid eggs.

What do you feed isopods and springtails together?

Feed the isopods as normal. The springtails work the mould and fine crumbs that form around the leftovers, so a shared tub rarely needs separate springtail food, though a tiny pinch of yeast in a damp corner helps if you want their numbers up.

Will springtails eat healthy plants?

Springtails in bioactive setups generally concentrate on fungi, microorganisms, and decaying organic matter rather than healthy plants. The plant-damaging springtails you may read about are a few field-crop pests, such as the lucerne flea.

Why aren't my springtails eating?

Check the moisture, temperature, food type, and overall condition of the culture. Springtails may also be consuming microorganisms already present instead of gathering around supplemental food, and snowflakes feed out of sight in the substrate.

Keep springtail feeding simple

Springtails don't need a complicated diet.

Small amounts of yeast, rice, mushroom, specialist springtail food, or another suitable food source can support a dedicated culture, with fish flake for the protein-hungry species. Inside an established bioactive enclosure, fungi, microorganisms, biofilm, leaf litter, and decomposing organic matter provide much of their natural diet.

The most common feeding mistake is simply providing too much.

Start with a small amount, watch how quickly the colony consumes it, and only add more when needed. Pair controlled feeding with stable moisture and suitable temperatures, and your springtail colony should have the conditions it needs to establish and reproduce.