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Below is a list of every springtail species we have experience with and which care guides we have proven to work for them + additional notes such as dietary preferences when applicable. Photo examples are provide in each guide.
The care guide list under each species is in the order of best to worst for use with the individual species. For instance, if they do very well on clay or charcoal then it will rank above soil because clay and charcoal are easier to harvest from.
This list will be constantly growing and improving following further experimentation and is by no means definitive. For information on culturing wild springtails, proper feeding methods, and a list of all species in the hobby see our Articles section.
The "Soil Care Guide (Special)" is for species who need care similar to the "Soil Care Guide" but added ventilation and other options are helpful. The "Species Specific Care Guides" will describe the care of species who do not fit into the other care guides although is currently blank.
Arrhopalites caecus "Globular Cave Springtails"
-Soil Care Guide -Clay Care Guide
Note: When kept on soil this species prefers it deep as they will utilize all layers of the soil. When kept on clay they seem to to better with the clay more dry than usual.
Ceratophysella sp "Lilac Springtails" "Yellow Albino Springtails" "F1 Springtails" "White Albino Springtails"
-Clay Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Note: When kept on soil this species prefers it deep as they will utilize all layers of the soil.
cf. Willowsia sp "Kota Kinabalu" (Malaysian Silver Scaly Springtail)
-Arid Care Guide
Coecobrya cf. tenebricosa "Tropical Pink Springtails"
-Soil Care Guide -Clay Care Guide -Charcoal Care Guide
Note: This species does very well on any culture medium. Soil maximizes reproduction/population density and clay is the easiest to harvest from.
Cyphoderus similis "White Ant Springtail"
-Soil Care Guide -Clay Care Guide
Note: When kept on soil this species prefers it deep as they will utilize all layers of the soil.
Desoria trispinata "Blue Velvet Springtails"
-Soil Care Guide
Entomobrya atrocincta "Dimorphic Springtails"
-Arid Care Guide
Note: This species especially enjoys bee pollen as a food source. This species can be very sensitive to high humidity so the appropriate moisture gradient should be established prior to adding them to the enclosure.
Entomobrya confusa "Varicolored Springtails"
-Soil Care Guide -Clay Care Guide
Note: This species can do well in semi-arid or arid setups as well and seems to benefit from extra ventilation.
Entomobrya griseoolivata "Olive Springtail"/"Grizzled Springtail"
-Semi-Arid Care Guide
Entomobrya multifasciata "Little Tiger Springtail"
-Arid Care Guide
Note: This species especially enjoys bee pollen as a food source. This species can be very sensitive to high humidity so the appropriate moisture gradient should be established prior to adding them to the enclosure.
Entomobrya sp "Wood Runner Springtails"
-Arid Care Guide
Note: This species particularly enjoys having bark in the enclosure for them to gather under; they were originally collected from under the bark of fallen trees.
Entomobyra unostrigata "Cotton Springtails"
-Arid Care Guide
Folsomia candida "Common White Springtails"
-Clay Care Guide -Charcoal Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Note: When kept on soil this species prefers it deep as they will utilize all layers of the soil.
Homidia socia "Three-Lined Springtails"
-Arid Care Guide
Hypogastruridae sp "Tiny Blue Springtails" (Lake Keystone, OK)
-Clay Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Isotoma delta
-Soil Care Guide (Special)
Isotomurus retardatus "Green Water Springtail"
-Clay Care Guide
Note: This species can jump extremely high and should be kept in tall enclosures such as 16-32oz deli cups. This species has been proven on standard lab plaster/carbon setups as well though other substrates are not yet tested.
Lepidocyrtus sp "Pearlescent Springtails"
-Clay Care Guide -Semi-Arid Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Note: This species does appreciate the extra ventilation of a semi-arid setup but it is not necessary.
Lepidocyrtus sp "Micro Gold Springtails"
-Clay Care Guide -Semi-Arid Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Note: This species does appreciate the extra ventilation of a semi-arid setup but it is not necessary.
Lepidocyrtus sp "Silver Springtails"
-Semi-Arid Care Guide
Lepidocyrtus violaceus "Blacklight"
-Semi-Arid Care Guide
Lobella sp "Thai Red Springtail"
-Soil Care Guide
Note: This species benefits from additional protein in their diet (fish flakes, freeze dried minnows, etc.) and deep soil as they like to burrow. They also seem to do best with temperatures in the low 80F range.
Neanura growae "Florida Orange Springtails"
-Soil Care Guide
Note: This species benefits from additional protein in their diet (fish flakes, freeze dried minnows, etc.) and deep soil as they like to burrow. Some report success culturing on clay and to a lesser degree charcoal but results vary heavily and it is widely recommended to culture on soil over other mediums.
Onychiurinae sp "Little Soil Springtails" (LSS)
-Clay Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Orchesella ainsliei
-Arid Care Guide
Note: This species is so far untested in other culturing methods although they are likely to do well with the "Soil Care Guide (Special)" type setup as well.
Orchesella cincta "Belted Springtail"
-Soil Care Guide (Special) -Arid Care Guide
Note: This species benefits greatly from increased airflow and clutter to explore. If following the arid care guide then only a 25% dry side is needed. They also greatly appreciate lichen covered bark or twigs to graze on.
Orchesella villosa "Woolly Mammoth Springtail"
-Soil Care Guide (Special) -Arid Care Guide
Note: This species benefits greatly from increased airflow and clutter to explore. If following the arid care guide then only a 25% dry side is needed. They also greatly appreciate lichen covered bark or twigs to graze on.
Pogonognathellus dubius "Giant Silver Bullet Springtails" (GSB)
-Soil Care Guide (Special)
Note: This species benefits greatly from increased airflow and clutter to explore.
Proisotoma minuta "Blue Podura Springtails"
-Clay Care Guide -Charcoal Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Pseudosinella rolfsi "Runner Springtails"
-Clay Care Guide -Soil Care Guide
Note: When kept on soil this species prefers it deep as they will utilize all layers of the soil.
Pseudosinella violenta "Bylas Ant Springtail"
-Clay Care Guide -Soil Care Guide -Charcoal Care Guide
Note: This species does very well on any culture medium. Soil maximizes reproduction/population density and clay is the easiest to harvest from.
Seira #13
-Arid Care Guide
Note: This species may spend much of their time underground and out of sight until populations get up in numbers.
Seira bipunctata
-Arid Care Guide
Seira dowlingi
-Arid Care Guide
Note: This species may spend much of their time underground and out of sight until populations get up in numbers.
Tomocerus minor "Giant Runner Springtail"
-Soil Care Guide (Special)
Note: This species benefits greatly from increased airflow and clutter to explore.
Tomocerus vulgaris
-Soil Care Guide (Special)
Note: This species benefits greatly from increased airflow and clutter to explore.
Vertagopus sp "Sombré Springtails"
-Soil Care Guide
Willowsia buski "Damp Grain Springtail"
-Arid Care Guide
Willowsia neonigromaculata/W. nigromaculata
-Arid Care Guide
Yuukianura aphoruroides "Orange Springtail"
-Soil Care Guide
Note: This species benefits from additional protein in their diet (fish flakes, freeze dried minnows, etc.) and deep soil as they like to burrow. Some report success culturing on clay and to a lesser degree charcoal but results vary heavily and it is widely recommended to culture on soil over other mediums.
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