Springtail Cultures
SKU:
CA$8.75
CA$8.75
per item
Springtail Cultures, Tropical White or Tropical Pink
These cultures come in a 16 oz. deli container with hardwood lump charcoal, and thousands of springtails!
Our cultures also come with a small packet of springtail food, (nutritional yeast.)
Established Cultures.
Sold out
Springtails are an easy to culture and pet-safe cleaner that work in a variety of settings.
These tiny beneficial bugs eat a range of molds, yeast, leftover food, detritus and animal waste.. we keep springtails in all of our isopod bins and bioactive enclosures.
They are safe to consume, but they're small enough that most animals ignore them.
Culture Care:
Our cultures do not have any air holes, (this helps prevent any mites or pests from getting in,) because of this they do need to be opened every day or two, to allow fresh air in.
If you open them every couple of days, keep them out of direct sunlight/at room temperature, feed & mist when needed, and regularly harvest springtails from them-- these cultures can last a year.
Harvesting:
With clean hands or tongs, grab a lump of charcoal out of the culture, hold over an enclosure or container, and gently tap.
Most springtails will drop directly down when doing this.
(You can also blow the springtails off the charcoal if you find it easier.)
Tropical White Springtails vs. Tropical Pink Springtails:
Both species of springtail can be cultured, kept, and used in the same ways.
Tropical Pink Springtails are a bit bigger and we do find them to be an excellent addition to isopod bins, as they quickly establish themselves in substrate and readily consume any leftovers, they're also very active on the surface compared to the Tropical Whites and remain active in drier conditions.. Tropical White Springtails are more burrowers, though they will cluster in damp areas and on found food sources.
Though they're both equally good a preventing mold & pests, we've found the Tropical Whites to be a bit better when adding to remove mold that's already there.
These tiny beneficial bugs eat a range of molds, yeast, leftover food, detritus and animal waste.. we keep springtails in all of our isopod bins and bioactive enclosures.
They are safe to consume, but they're small enough that most animals ignore them.
Culture Care:
Our cultures do not have any air holes, (this helps prevent any mites or pests from getting in,) because of this they do need to be opened every day or two, to allow fresh air in.
If you open them every couple of days, keep them out of direct sunlight/at room temperature, feed & mist when needed, and regularly harvest springtails from them-- these cultures can last a year.
Harvesting:
With clean hands or tongs, grab a lump of charcoal out of the culture, hold over an enclosure or container, and gently tap.
Most springtails will drop directly down when doing this.
(You can also blow the springtails off the charcoal if you find it easier.)
Tropical White Springtails vs. Tropical Pink Springtails:
Both species of springtail can be cultured, kept, and used in the same ways.
Tropical Pink Springtails are a bit bigger and we do find them to be an excellent addition to isopod bins, as they quickly establish themselves in substrate and readily consume any leftovers, they're also very active on the surface compared to the Tropical Whites and remain active in drier conditions.. Tropical White Springtails are more burrowers, though they will cluster in damp areas and on found food sources.
Though they're both equally good a preventing mold & pests, we've found the Tropical Whites to be a bit better when adding to remove mold that's already there.