Springtails

$18.50

Springtails are nature’s clean-up bugs! In a terrarium they will eat mold and mildew – the scourge of all enclosed terrariums. They have been a game-changer for our own terrariums and now we add them to every enclosed terrarium made here at Botanista.

Springtails are recommended for enclosed or humid terrariums. They will not survive in a large open, or dry, desert-style terrarium.

NOTE: not for shipping to WA, NT and TAS.

How to use springtails:

This tub of tropical white springtails is bred here at Botanista. Each tub of springtails is filled with clean coco peat which means you can transfer the peat directly into a terrarium. If you are wanting to achieve a bio-active terrarium, springtails are the perfect addition. Just spoon in springtails and coco peat directly from the tub.

What’s in the tub:

Springtails are shipped in tubs as shown, with a healthy population of 50-100 springtails. Your tub will contain a mix of adult and juvenile springtails. Please note that adult springtails are only 1-2mm long and juveniles can be difficult to see.

Storage and care of springtails:

Springtails are not harmed by shipping and can stay in their tubs indefinitely as long as they have a source of food and their container is opened once or twice weekly to allow for air exchange. Each tub comes with a small bag of food so that you can keep your springtail population healthy for an extended period should you not be using them immediately. Just add a small pinch of food (nutritional yeast) to the tub – feed again only when the food has disappeared. Make sure to keep your springtail tub out of direct sun and in a dry place not subject to intense temperature changes.

Springtail cultures in terrariums are self-regulating, meaning the colony will grow if there is food such as mold and decomposing plant matter available. When there is a lack of food the springtail population will naturally decline.

Springtails can also be used as live food for frogs.

Springtails are not a pest but as they are shipped in coco peat, they cannot be sent to soil quarantine states including WA, TAS and NT.