Springtails For Sale (8)

Snowflake Springtails are part of the Collembola class and Onychiuridae family. These springtails are particularly noted for their cleaning properties. They make an excellent cleaning crew for any terrarium or pet enclosure. Across the globe, Snowflake Springtails are sold in bulk as food for pets like poison dart frogs and reptiles. These springtails are great at consuming organic matter and keeping the surroundings clean. So, many customers are purchasing them for their cleaning properties, too. A Glimpse   Origin: No information available (discovered by isopod.steph on instagram)       Scientific Name: Snowflake Springtails Onychiurinae Sp.           Difficulty Level: Easy         Size: Upto 2 Millimeters        Rarity: Moderate          Favourite Foods: Animal and plant matter An Overview Snowflake Springtails are small insect-like creatures that prefer moist conditions and cold climates. Snowflakes liking for cooler temperatures are why steph called them snowflakes. These springtails maintain an omnivore diet, capable of surviving on both animal and plant matter. In morphology, Snowflakes are very similar to every other springtail. They have a segmented body with several appendages from some of the segments. Snowflake Springtails are celebrated globally as some of the best terrarium options. Their eye-catching white color makes it easy to locate them inside the enclosure. Many people grow Snowflake as a food source for other small pets like frogs, isopods, etc. Even though Snowflake Springtails are abundant in various parts of the world, their microscopic size makes it challenging to locate them quickly. So, purchasing a bunch of springtails is not cheap. Snowflakes are not an excellent option for people in the dry areas of the globe. Snowflake Springtails do not survive in a severely hot climate. If someone from a dry climate plans to purchase Snowflake Springtails, keeping the enclosure as moist and cold as possible so the springtails feel comfortable is advisable. Basic Care Despite their status as terrarium pets, Snowflake Springtails are essentially an invasive species. Experts in the category consider all springtail nuisance pests. If not given proper care or if they are ignorant about keeping them safe inside the enclosure, these springtails can damage other flora and fauna. So, providing proper basic care for these springtails is essential. ·       The key to caring for Snowflake Springtails is to always maintain moisture around them. These springtails cannot survive without enough moisture.   ·       Snowflake Springtails prefer decayed matter for food. The caregivers should give the springtails plant and animal matter alike. They are also very fond of algae, fungi, etc.   ·  Good airflow is not a necessity for the survival of Snowflake Springtails. Like Steph, I keep them in a sealed container and opening it to do feed and maintence ensure the air is replaced/refreshed.   ·      The substrate mix in the enclosure of Snowflake Springtails should not go dry at any cost. The caregiver should wet the surface whenever needed.   ·   Snowflakes are pretty active during the day. They tend to push themselves up in the air, causing a jump-like movement. As they tend to “jump” often, keeping the enclosure’s height at a reasonable height will be better. Feeding Snowflakes maintain a feeding habit similar to every other springtail. They are omnivores and detritivores. So, they consume everything, including animal matter, plant matter, decaying matter, etc. Some of the most common food items that the Snowflake Springtails consume are as follows. ·       Fungus   ·       Spores   ·       Pollen   ·       Plant material   ·       Animal remains   ·       Colloidal materials   ·       Bacteria   ·       Minerals They usually prefer nutritious meals. The caregiver should pay enough attention to include as many nutrients as possible in the springtails' daily diet. Leaf litter is a significant part of the springtail’s diet. Keeping leaf litter on the enclosure surface provides both shelter and food for the springtails. Appearance and Behavior Appearance These springtails are very small, usually growing around 2 millimeters long. They are white, hence the name. Snowflake Springtails are primarily found in cold climates, so their white color helps them blend with their surroundings. The highlight of a Snowflake Springtail's appearance is the fork-like appendage at the back end of its body. This part of its body helps it move. The sudden movements of the fork-like part help the springtails to jump into the air. Behavior Snowflake Springtails are pretty active creatures. However, they may act shy around unfamiliar surroundings. So, it is possible for them to not come out on the surface of the enclosure on the initial days. They also have certain concealed habits. If the surroundings are not moist enough, they are likely to remain under any shade or shelter, such as leaf litter. The jumping behavior of these springtails is quite exclusive. They use a fork-like part of their body to project themselves into the air, mimicking a jumping motion. The jumping motion and their characteristic white color make them an exciting addition to any enclosure. Habitat As mentioned, moisture is the most vital factor for the survival of Snowflake Springtails. So, when building a habitat or enclosure for them, the key consideration should be bringing maximum moisture into it. Snowflake Springtails do not enjoy low humidity. In fact, low humidity can make it hard for them to live in a place. So, keeping a reasonable humidity inside a Snowflake Springtail enclosure is advisable. Airing the enclosure is a must when rearing Snowflake Springtails. A fan inside the enclosure is advisable to help keep the air moving, and a dehumidifier is also helpful to create a comfortable environment for the springtails. Mulches, damp leaves, etc., will be a great addition to the surface of the Springtails enclosure. Windows at a reasonable height are a great choice to ensure maximum airflow inside the enclosure. Snowflake Springtails: Substrate Mix The substrate mix for a their enclosure should be capable of retaining as much moisture as possible. Coco fiber, mulch, and damp leaves are some excellent options to mix with the substrate mix for maximum benefits for the Snowflake Springtails. The caregiver should water the surface of the substrate mix pretty often. It is important for these springtails not to come in contact with any dry spots, so it is advisable to wet the entire substrate surface whenever there is a lack of moisture.

Lilac Springtails or Purple Podura are some of the rare springtail species found. Due to their colour and ease of maintenance, this cleanup crew has captured the attention of various exotic pet lovers and admirers alike.  Lilac Springtails: Summary ●      Native Place: Thailand ●      Scientific Name: Ceratophysella sp. “Lilac” ●      Maintenance level: Easy ●      Temperature Range: 69℉-80℉ ●      Size: 2 mm ●      Rareness: High ●      Breeding Difficulty: easy ●      Humidity Range: Damp to semi-dry ●      Diet: Fish flakes, boiled rice, mushrooms ●      Substitute food: Powdered Springtail Diet ●      Supplements: Calcium powder, Limestone Lilac Springtails: Introduction Lilac springtails are tiny creatures that are native to Thailand. These creatures feed on leaves and are mostly found in damp areas. These small species play an important role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem. They consume dead and decaying plants that lie on the ground and then break them down into essential nutrients and give them back to the soil. They can be found in a wide range of places, from small gardens to large forests. They prefer to stay in an area that is moist in nature and where there are a lot of leaves and other stuff that are available to consume and hide inside. Due to these characteristics, they are also paired with isopods and reptile enclosures. Lilac Springtails: Characteristics ●      Has a distinctive purple shade on their body. Due to this striking color, they are a great addition to vivariums, terrariums, and dart frog enclosures. ●      The color varies depending on the color and the incidence of light of the substrate They show a light lilac shade, under certain light conditions. ●      The color of this springtail may vary depending on the diet and the age of these species. ●      In their natural habitat, these are found in damp soil and under rotting wood. ●      They help the ecosystem by feeding on detritus and aerating the soil. ●      These species, though they are smaller in size, adapt well in moist and semi-arid environments. ●      These springtails can jump to different heights with the help of the jumping fork in their bodies. This characteristic distinguishes them from other species. ●      These species reproduce pretty quickly and can be paired with isopods and other creatures. Lilac Springtails: Food Habits ●      The best way to provide the right feed to your pets is to include organic matter, just like what is available in the natural habitat. ●      They primarily feed on dead and decaying organic matter. But when culturing in an enclosure, it is important to feed them a wide variety of food. This helps to achieve balanced nutrition for these creatures. ●      Apart from adding veggies and fruits, include fish flakes, mushrooms, pure brewer yeast, and boiled rice to their diet. ●      The powdered Springtail Diet can also be used as a substitute for the springtails to achieve complete nutrition. ●      You can sprinkle the food onto the substrate, evenly covering all the areas inside the container. While feeding, it must be monitored carefully to ensure you are not overfeeding them. If you are placing extra food in the container, then it can attract pests as well as small insects, disturbing their ecosystem. ●      The feeding behavior has to be closely monitored, and the uneaten food must be removed from the container daily to avoid infestation by pests and insects. This will also keep the environment clean. Lilac Springtails: Basic Care Providing care to these species is not that difficult when compared to other isopods. The basic thing is to setup an environment which can mimic its original habitat by adopting certain techniques. If you are using a container to keep your springtails, then you have to ensure that the container has a good-securing lid to prevent the movement of your pets out of the container. The holes made for ventilation should be small to prevent the escape through the holes. You can also add a wire mesh to cover the ventilation outlets as they can help prevent these species from jailbreaking. You can fill the container with leaves and other substances like coconut coir, which can retain moisture inside. This will provide a comfortable environment for the springtails. While spraying the water into the substance placed inside the container, it is to ensure that it does not create water logging inside the container. Inside the container, you can create spots for hiding by using naturally available materials like bark and leaves. These hiding places will make them feel comfortable as they will use them to hide inside the container. You have to ensure that the container with your pets should be placed away from direct sunlight, as this will heat up the container. You can place the container in a cool place and should monitor the conditions inside the container. You can place a lot of decaying leaves and scraps of vegetables in the container on which your pets will feed. Lilac Springtails: Enclosure Setup Lilac Springtails are native to the wet and humid regions of Thailand. Though these species survive well in moist and semi arid soil conditions, they tend to prefer a high humid and moist environment. Due to this they can be paired well with humid loving isopods, dart frog enclosures and certain reptile enclosures. To replicate their natural environment, a plastic or glass enclosure is used. These species reproduce quickly and do very well on a calcium-clay substrate or in soil. Therefore, make sure to get a substrate mix that has soil or calcium clay mixed in the enclosure. If not available, you can create a DIY mix of soil, organic mulches, leaf litter, bark, and decaying wood for your Bioactive setup. You can add charcoal to the substrate as an optional element. To maintain high humidity, add sphagnum moss to the enclosure. It is also used as a snack for these species, so you have to add it periodically. When misting, ensure that the enclosure has the necessary moisture to avoid water logging. Also, maintain the ideal temperature for these species to thrive in the setting. In the end, add calcium supplements and fish pellets to the enclosure for nourishment.