Culturing Springtails 😊 How To Keep Them Happy

Culturing Springtails | How To Keep Them Happy
Springtails do such a great job in our terrariums; add them early and they can stay on top of small mold outbreaks preventing them from becoming larger. Folsomia candida (tropical white springtail) is the most popular species in the hobby and in this video I'll show you my favourite way to culture them so you never run out!
Huge thank you to Micro Exotics for sending me the springtails.
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My springtails climbed out and took over my home, but also, my heart 🥰

[@_warenk443]

What?

@@_warenk443 watch the video, listen and you'll get the joke.

[@diegovalencia9443]

Please bro this isn’t funny a springtail climbed out and killed my family in cold blood he’s still at large

[@swayback7375]

@@diegovalencia9443ironically he’s “at large” at the same time that he’s very tiny too. What a world

[@jaysoncolbert6187]

My springtails are currently in a regime change. The great rebellion of 2023 is well underway

[@HelloEla1]

You’re such an inspiration, you inspired me to start my first terrarium last month. you’ve made it so incredibly easy for me and less scary. I can’t thank you enough. I love how detailed you are in your videos they are also athletically pleasing and calming. If I may ask? 🥰 can you Please do a coffin terrarium for halloween! Make it spooky and use odd looking plants 🥰💜 thanks for this video💜 te lo agradezco mucho💜 Love, your silent subscriber✨

[@jonathanschutz8563]

Instructions were unclear, now I'm a springtail

[@yinayserranomonteagudo1751]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge...

[@user-qu3cf6rt2w]

I often watch your videos. Very useful information. I recently started making terrariums with moss. There are no specialists nearby who can answer questions. There are difficulties with the identification of moss species. Your videos are inspiring. You have a pleasant voice 🤗 I wish you health and good luck in your work.🤗👍

[@Cool-lc2fi]

What is a good temperature to keep them at? I was wondering if it would be safe if left in a garage/shed.

[@tidalleaf]

Wonderful video! I love all the macro shots of the various springtail species (especially the bright orange ones at 1:21 - such beautiful little creatures).

[@engelickkern1394]

eres increible te admiro demasiado💖

[@spoonsVSforks]

Amazing video such small little creatures that have a big impact on our ecosystem!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video...👍

[@darrenhurrell]

Another excellent video.

[@Bigliever]

I love you sharing your fantasy when kid that brocoli reminded you to trees. =) My best friends have got a small terrarium from me. I give them (my)life waranty to keep them healty and, term from Sherpa Designs, "crispy". So we can always keep connection whatever the realtion. Thank you for sharing all your video's and experience. "no spring is left behind"🥰 Grtz from Brussels

[@malupeluchi6118]

Amazing man 🎉

[@madeonearth3429]

Man you could narrate every video in the world with that voice

[@Bookwriterspress]

I just put them on my christmas list

[@vencagek]

When the terrarium is sealed, how do springtails and other critters gain oxygen? Is the oxygen produced by plants inside enough? Or should there be holes in the cover of the terrarium? Thank you

[@miralaubscher3717]

Those orange springtails are amazing. The orange and the black are both much cuter than the white springtails. None of them look like globular springtails, so I'm wondering what the difference between them is (other than appearance, of course). Their body shapes are similar, but there is still a noticeable difference. Black & orange (only ever seen orange ones on this video) seem to have bodies that are more worm-like, in a way. White ones seem to be more hairy. I'm very curious; if you can tell me anything about the difference between the white and black springtails, I'd appreciate it very much. I'm struggling to find an answer online. Any info you can give me is welcome, but here are some specific questions: 1. Why do people always specifically keep the *white* springtails for/in vivariums? 2. Why is it that black springtails form clumps on random water surfaces after rain, but white springtails don't? I barely find any white springtails in my garden - catching 20 of them would take me ~2-3 hours (I've tried a wide variety of methods, such as traps and putting soil in the bottom of a bucket, covering it with mesh, and adding water to make the springtails float to the top) - but I could easily catch 40 black ones in ~15-20 minutes. I've ordered a culture of white springtails online, but I like the way the black ones look. 3. I need to know if they would be as good as the white ones when it comes to mold control. 4. I also need to know if I can keep them the same way as the white ones (water & charcoal with some rice). 5. I'm just curious - where did you get the orange springtails? I'm in South Africa, and I wish I could get a hold of some, but, as I said, I've never even seen them or heard of them before I watched this video. Thanks in advance

[@Ayudado]

Not an expert, but I'll try to help with what I know. So first of all the difference in color, body shape and behavior is what will tell you that these are indeed different types of springtails and can be found in different ways. The white ones usually populate the substrate (not deep) just where they can hide between the decaying matter which serves as cover and food because they feed on fungi (I don't know what type of fungi) so basically they will be in places where it is damp enough for them to be comfortable and for fungi to appear and decompose the decaying matter around (basically leaves). I have personally found red/orange/pinkish springtails on the scales of the hardened skin of pines in my area and I was delighted to discover it. I found it literally on the pine tree bark/scales. And that should be because these pine trees were covered by lichen and they would probably feed on them because lichen are a combination of algae+fungi mostly. I personally don't know about the black ones although everytime I read about them I hear about them floating on the water so that should tell you something. Maybe they will populate around ponds, lakes? Because they aren't bothered by the presence of so much water. I don't really know Hope that helps at least a bit

[@user-ud7xo3hq7b]

​@@Ayudadois 100 pcs of orange springtails enough to build a colony? I just bought yesterday

[@tobiramsay4654]

How do you get declorinated water I saw that you have a big tub but when I searched it up it says I can boil it then it’s fine

[@origamiboy1032]

hi just got some substrate from soilninja is this good?

[@TheSwiftCreek2]

I've heard springtails make great fish food. Can be cultured with decaying leaves and/or java moss plus food. I'm betting charcoal plus food is best, but they don't seem to be super picky.

[@user-ud7xo3hq7b]

Just bought orange springtails. Around 100pcs of them. Can they populate with that number?

[@Pricklesthebedbug]

I have two jars I'm working on one I'm never opening and the other one with a slightly bigger jar that. I noticed a lot of the movement in the soil. I found out later they were called springtails. And there's a ton of them in there. It's funny I didn't have to do any of this. I just got very lucky with the dirt I put in lol. (From a forest nearby) anyways I dropped two grains of rice in there for them as a treat even though they seem to be surviving and thriving on their own quite well it's organic and hopefully it'll get the number high. But plenty of babies :) they just have to be careful of the tiny spider that's in there too

[@duckilama832]

At one point, you said that you don’t need water in the bottom, but in the next shot, you talk about topping up the water. And then you also pour in a bunch of water with the compost. Am confused 😅

[@fwerfad5285]

Bit late, but it's to migrate them from starting container with cheap compost into self-made container.

[@eszterkovacs6381]

Can I leave them in the box you showd for some days? I just received them by post today and have no this big coal at home. My box is very similar what you showed in the beginning of the video, with the same looking compost in it. I gave them 4-5 piece of rice, should I give them a little destilled water too to make the rice mold and to give them humadity? (more terrarium-like environment till I can by coal 2-3 days later)

[@JayDillDrums]

They’re very beneficial in live soil for my cannabis!!

[@moditorplayz]

👁️👄👁️

[@JayDillDrums]

@@moditorplayz lol what does that mean?

[@moditorplayz]

@@JayDillDrums weed funny lol

[@JayDillDrums]

@@moditorplayz umm ok

[@magnussamuelsson8443]

What if i use tap water? Will they survive? And what about the charcoal is it the same i use for my barbecue party or is this charcoal different? I cant tell the difference

[@marthaminerva]

I have been trying to search but cannot seem to find an answer anywhere. Do you know if there are any mosses that can grow in low/medium humidity and that also do not add humidity? I am trying to create a vivarium and maintain humidity at 50%-60%. I love the look of moss but do not want to increase humidity. Thanks for any help or advice.

[@AnuragShuklaAC]

does the airflow from the little holes is enough to keep the springtails Alive ? because most KZbinrs say that you have to open the lid every other day please answer

[@Blue_cheese.]

You don’t need holes you can just open it every few days to prevent carbon build up I open mine every other day and it works well enough

[@daviddawdy3023]

Is the soul purpose of springtails just to have for your terrarium, or do you breed them for money some how. Or do they make interesting pets to watch.

[@cristianodesade680]

Thank you for great information. I was looking through your videos but couldn't find anything about the small white warms. They had appeared out of nothing in terrarium which was presented to me. Can you please tell us, if you had any experience with them and if they are good? Some youtube videos are describing them but they are not experts. Cheers from Australia:-)

[@SezArrow]

Hi, I'm in Australia too, if you have very small white larvae in your terrarium soil they could be fungus gnat lavae. I've read that these live in the soil and are white with a black head, I think.

[@cristianodesade680]

@@SezArrow Thank you SezArrow. Happy and joyfull 2023 to you and your familly

[@Blue_cheese.]

They might be pot worms

[@AmandaSoto-dc8bs]

How do you get rid of Gnats without hurting your Springtails?

[@MRCaboom]

What charcoal is that

[@ruhsexperimentsgliesperimentid]

I don't know where to find the springtails for to start my colonies

[@bigdognuniff]

We just have these guys living in our streptocarpus's and string of turtles

[@Amocles]

What did you do about your mites? Can you make a video about that how to avoid them how to deal with them when to care about them?

[@sxrry.8206]

Grain mites are common and easy to introduce, One of my Isopod bins has an unfortunate number of them

[@Amocles]

@@sxrry.8206 I suggest keeping a bin mostly dry with a slight damp area or a mostly damp area if needed and having a ventilation hole covered with the recommendations of the streamer or some 3M transpose tape.

[@Amocles]

I think he said snake bags and those handy vent lids... And cheesecloth

[@sxrry.8206]

@@Amocles every time I try and lower the humidity in my acylic tank, my clown isopods have molting issues, I may try closing the holes with micropore tape (transpose) as you suggested to help keep some of the humidity in the air

[@Amocles]

@@sxrry.8206 yeah totally works great I thought about using some proto putty to make like a cool lid and then I would cut a hole in the middle of it and put the transpose tape and then I would build another tier on top of that lid with another hole with two layers of transpose tape. I don't know why I thought of two layers I just thought it would be kind of cool I know it also hide the transpose tape which isn't very pretty especially for like a decorative item. I think I'll always use transpose tape it's super easy and super cheap

[@Amocles]

I like to use an old t-shirt to break up the charcoal It doesn't rip like the plastic

[@tifftaffy6062]

Can I tame the ones behind my walls

[@AraneaRegnum]

Can I use natural mineral water? why it needs to be destilled water?

[@Blue_cheese.]

Because the mineral water will add harmful minerals to the terrarium and springtails. It will be to hard for them and they’ll die, trust me I tried it and they all died within a few days

[@Becky-1360]

haah iused bbq briquettes and the same ikea bag to smash them ;)

[@zec4800]

Is it normal for springtails (inside their culture container) to climb the walls and go to the roof of the lid? I can’t find any info about this behaviour. A lot of the cultures I see online they all sit on the charcoal or water

[@hargobindkhalsa1783]

I read somewhere that means there is not enough food and so they are looking for it on the walls and roof

[@hoold01]

Why charcoal?

[@sherylo994]

can I put them in my slings enclosure will my slings eat them?

[@tedlasso686]

My sling isn't eating them and the sling is tiny.

[@weepingcamel1]

Dear sir, great guide, I have 1 issue, I live in a desert country, I have a better chance of finding ET than Springtails, any suggestions?

[@Mikeys_Wrld]

Whats ET?

[@weepingcamel1]

@@Mikeys_Wrld Aliens/bad joke

[@InTheMIDL]

If you can get tropical plants from a nursery, they may be present in the soil.

[@lindseylarsen1983]

Maybe it’s because I’m American but his accent is so fancy lol

[@Photron52]

If you are not the person then disreguard. Someone said that they had found that they didn't get much different results from special plant bulbs(lights) than when they used regular bulbs. If that was you can you give the K number of the bulbs that you use ? Like 3,400 K or 6,500K ? I am just starting a new build after my first build didn't work out well. The new one will be in a 29G aquarium for much more room than that first one in a 10G tank.

[@sharonincognito1764]

Hi, have no idea what you are talking about? It wasn't me.

[@Photron52]

@@sharonincognito1764 I'll blame this one on You Tube. I was supposed to be writing to the person who made this video.

[@Hustis1]

The great springtail loss of 2021😂

[@elmaskostak7686]

First

[@Luncher100]

Agh. Background musak. Totally unnecessary anyway, distracting and much too loud. I couldn't listen.