How to Culture Springtails

Springtails (Colembolla) are not only a great live food to culture for small aquarium fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, they are an important part of a bioactive cleanup crew in bioactive vivariums. If you want to culture springtails for live food or as a cleanup crew in your bioactive vivarium, this video will help you raise lots of springtails easily.
LINKS to springtail foods and supplies:
Here are the ingredients I use for DIY springtail food:

[jilliancrawford]

I've found that you can cut a big hole on the lid and glue a thin sheet of muslin or disposable coffee filter over it to allow for air without leaving the culture vulnerable to mites. It might technically be easier to open the lid every day, but I don't trust myself to have the memory to do that so it was worth the effort in my opinion.

[Svedkadog]

This is the only video on Youtube I can find that is actually informative and not... vague

I appreciate that. THANK YOU!

[aquaticma]

I've ventilated cultures by putting holes at the top and putting filter floss or cotton over the holes. Allows ventilation and keeps stuff from getting in or out 👍 thanks for sharing!

[meganma]

Thank you for answering my question! This was an extremely informative video that I definitely needed.

I thought that I should add this in because I believe it is worth mentioning; for anyone who is considering buying isopods or springtails (or any other pets) from Rus, he makes it very convenient to order and consistently follows up when necessary. My post office has been rejecting my mail for some reason lately and Rus has been a big help in making sure I receive my isopods safely — this has got to be the best customer service I've ever experienced and he's got a lot on his plate, as you can see with the amount of time and effort he puts into these informative videos. He deserves a lot more recognition for doing what he does!

[leftyguyiam]

I feel confident to try my hand at Springtail culture thanks to your perfect video. Thanks a million!

[Crystalspets]

I added springtails with my isopods nice project rus

[permanax_patb]

Great video!!!! Everyone with animal enclosures need to watch this video!!! Springtails are a must!

[nikkibegg]

I'm new to the vivarium hobby and these videos have been so helpful. Thank you so much for putting all this information out there!

[rodkirt]

Very interesting and informative. Obtained all of the information for my first culture. I have them in from the seller and will be following your advice: simple, easy.

[Stankfinger]

I recently subbed your channel. Great information that is straight and to the point, you’re well spoken and no background music to interfere. Excellent work sir.

[hexdiagonal]

That was a really good video! I learned alot. I have just started on isopods, another aquarium is not an option, no room for it. Isopods is very interesting, yes Im a total noob but I try my best to make exciting terrariums and they seem to like it, I harvest fallen leaves every day in my garden for them, fungus is allways an issue so spring tails is very important. I just love a green terrarium, but my wife insist in animals in it.

[Frogmandb]

Really helpful video, no one seems to sell springtails on charcoal and I really want to start using them as an additional feeder for my frogs :)

[SupremeGecko]

Excellent video. Your best point is about 'seeding' a new culture with some of the existing culture. Well done Rus.

[MoultrieGeek]

You answered all my questions about springtails but one: Will they reproduce in a dairy cow enclosure or is it best to keep a separate sprintail culture?

[PpyUTT]

I found all of your tips super helpful! How you suggested to just set the deli cup in the new larger container, great idea will be doing it later today. Thanks :)

[Lostcity_b]

I bought a container from the store I use them for my tarantula enclosure.
Then I found on video about keeping them they feed dry yeast i try it with what little bit I had left a couple of weeks later I have more babies then what I bought

[Helveteshit]

@Aquarimax, you should see if you cannot make a tutorial on how to capture different beneficial insects from the wild so you can culture them like springtails. Isopods are easy, talking smaller lifeforms like springtails. Beneficial Mites etcetera.

[wanz]

Can i catch wild springtail or isopod for breeding and how to catch it? I know some menthod to catch but need pro explain to me. Sorry for my bad english

[Dana-cbvk]

I have a giant culture going in a critter keeper- with some reptisoil/garden soil from my garden on top, and live plants/moss/etc. Pretty much exactly how I would set up a bioactive- but this one is specifically for the good critters like worms/springtails/mini millipedes/'rolly pollys' (as the kiddos call them)- to have not only their own home...but a set up that they will fully recognize, in a way, when transferring into other tanks. Plus its fun, and a skillset to grow Michigan forest/marsh moss in jts own right! LOL

[porkchopnews]

I didn't even try to breed them, i just added some dirt from my backyard in a jar and added some water to see what would happen. Since then they have been reproducing none stop