Temperate springtails here. Now what?

[reptoman]

Anyone have advice on the best way to put them into my Pygmy terrariums? Thanks in advance!

 

[coldbloodedAL]

All i did was bury the colony in the substrate and they took off from there in my terrariums

 

[reptoman]

The tub I got from mantis place is pretty big. Can I keep that colony going as is and just put some of the dirt in my terrariums? If i put the whole thing they sent me that would be a lot of extra dirt. Figured I would check to see if I was missing a step. Thank Al!

 

[pssh]

Yes you can. I usually just put about 4-8oz of the culture per 10-20ish gallon terrarium and keep whatever I want to start a new culture. Be careful that no mites get in there and ruin the whole thing.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

The tub I got from mantis place is pretty big. Can I keep that colony going as is and just put some of the dirt in my terrariums? If i put the whole thing they sent me that would be a lot of extra dirt. Figured I would check to see if I was missing a step. Thank Al!

Welcome And as Kara said, you can just put a small amount in there and it will do just fine.

 

[sandrachameleon]

if you fill the container they came in with water, the majority of the springtails will come to the surface. You can then either pour them into the terrarium, or, you can gentle blow on the surface (careful, they float easily into the air so aim to make sure they are going into the terrarium)

Pour out the extra water. Enough springtails will remain (unharmed) for you to keep the colony going in the original container. Add a few leaves, a pinch of brewers yeast. Occassionally add more yeast and a bit of slightly rotting vegetable (cucumber is good) and/or a piece of mushroom, or a bit of Baby rice cereal, or the occassion flake of fish food. And occassionally sprinkle a little of your supplement ontop too. Add more leaves once the originals are near gone.