Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me how to culture Springtails? THANKS

They are easy to culture. Ed's Fly Meat culture kits come with a container (flat plastic food container box with lid), some large flat pieces of charcoal, and yeast. You put about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of the container, add the charcoal, sprinkle it with yeast, add the spingtails, cover it (no airholes) and let them grow. I've amended this by putting an inch or so of wet organic compost in the bottom with the water layer, then after the culture gets going, add a sprinkle of raw brown rice-- not much just a few dozen grains. Add more yeast about once a week and more rice when it is no longer evident, and water as needed, of course. I've had the same culture going for nearly a year now and just blow off the springtails that are swarming on the charcoal into the frog tanks.
-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus

You put the compost in the water? Is it totally submerged? I ask because springtails don't swim.

I have always wanted to try leaves (as compost) in with my springtails, but haven't yet. I need to do it.
-----
Josh Willard
www.joshsfrogs.com

Josh--These do swim--or at least "swarm" on top of the water/compost mixture, as well as climb all over the charcoal as they mature. The entire top of the water layer will be covered with the tiny, developing springtails. I assume it is the surface tension of the water that keeps them from drowning, so I guess this is not technically "swimming."

These are the little white fellows that Ed's sells. I don't recall which specie these are, or if he even gives the specie name. There are 2000 different springtail species, (314 of them in the US.), a few of which are found on the surface of freshwater ponds and the seashore, according to my rather limited insect references. Perhaps if one collected another type from leaf litter, one might have to modify the culturing of them, somewhat. Some live on molds, which I assume is the function of the yeast in this case.
-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus