Temperate White Springtail Care

Description

The most common springtail a beginner is likely to start with, Folsomia candida also goes by the name "Common White Springtail". Folsomia candida is a voracious and fast breeding springtail ideal for use in humid environments such as amphibian enclosures, closed terrariums, crab enclosures, isopod or millipede cultures, etc. Temperate springtails spend much of their time belowground so despite high numbers they are not likely to be a nuisance. They tend not to roam dry ground so are best used in only moist environments or alongside a springtail that will roam the dry areas of an enclosure.

Folsomia candida is also extremely popular in the lab, being used for study in a range of fields from soil health to genome sequencing.

Appearance

Temperate springtails reach 2-3mm in length. They are elongated, white, and lacking eyes.

Reproduction

Temperate springtails reproduce extremely fast. They mature quickly if provided with ample food and adults lay large egg clusters.

Care

Level: Easy. Temperate springtails tolerate a range of temperatures and as long as the culture is moist and humid will reproduce quickly.

Shopping List

Required:

• 8 to 32oz Airtight Deli Cup (or gasket sealed bin such as Mainstays brand)
• Substrate (Multiple options, listed most to least accessible)
  • Option One: Soil
    • Can be topsoil, coir, compost, potting soil, etc. Avoid soils with artificial fertilizers.
  • Option Two: Charcoal
    • 100% natural lump charcoal or horticultural charcoal are acceptable.
  • Option Three: Clay
    • Can be specialized springtail clays or any natural animal safe clay.
  • Option Four: Plaster/Carbon Blend
    • 9 parts plaster of paris to 1 part activated charcoal by volume.
• Animal safe water such as RO, distilled, or treated tap water.
• One or more food source such as:
  • Baking yeast
  • Brewer's yeast
  • Raw white rice

Recommended:

• Mesh rated 35 microns or finer
• Hot glue
• Spray or misting bottle
• Optional charcoal or bark hides

Enclosure

Features

The enclosure should include:

• Moist substrate
• Optional hides for springtails to gather on and under
• Small ventilation hole with 35 micron or finer mesh glued over

Substrate (Multiple Options)

• Soil Substrate:
  • Bake soil at 220F until evenly heated to eliminate pests
  • Put 1 to 4in of soil into culture container
  • Optional charcoal or bark hides
  • Springtails gather on hides, remove and shake off hides to harvest the springtails
• Charcoal Substrate
  • 1in water pool at bottom to keep culture moist
  • 2 to 4in charcoal layer
  • Remove and shake off individual pieces of charcoal or add water and pour out the springtails, which float, to harvest the springtails
• Clay Substrate
  • 0.5 to 1cm thick layer of moist clay spread throughout culture container
  • Simply tilt and tap the culture to harvest the springtails
• Plaster/Carbon Blend Substrate
  • Mix water and plaster/carbon blend into thick mixture
  • Pour 0.5 to 1cm into bottom of culture container
  • Let solidify for one hour or until fully solid
  • Rehydrate with small amounts of water at a time until fully moist
  • Simply tilt and tap the culture to harvest springtails

Temperature

Temperature should remain at room temp, roughly between 60-80°F (15-26°C).

Humidity

Maintain humidity levels near 100%. This can be achieved by keeping the substrate moist, misting as needed, and keeping vent holes at a small size.

Hides

Bark and larger pieces of charcoal make ideal hides but are only recommended for soil substrate cultures.

Feeding & Supplementation

Diet

Feed once or twice a week, enough for the springtails to finish between feedings without the food spoiling.

A diet of yeast such as baker's, brewer's, or nutritional yeast is common and sufficient. Dry raw white rice or fish foods are also sufficient. Optionally mixes could be used with the listed foods as well as mushroom powders, spirulina, and other food powders.

Supplementation

No supplementation is necessary but a varied diet may be helpful.