Best way to keep springtails thriving?

[u/Justsumhuman20]

Just picked up some springtails as my terrarium is starting to get some mold growth and I’m tired of having to pull out decaying leaves. Any tips to make sure these guys thrive?

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[u/One-plankton-]

Make sure they are actually alive in there first

[u/Justsumhuman20 → u/One-plankton-]

They are, I sat and checked every container and this one had 10+ moving around. Heard a lot of other people complaining about them being filled with dead ones

[u/WeirdStorms → u/Justsumhuman20]

Oh yeah, that petco bs is terrible, I highly recommend eBay, for almost the same price you get a container with hundred of them obviously in there, same with isopods too.

[u/cgvet9702 → u/WeirdStorms]

You can order directly from this company online.

[u/One-plankton- → u/cgvet9702]

Josh’s frogs has seriously declined in quality, I wouldn’t recommend ordering anything live from them

[u/SuccotashSalt1906 → u/One-plankton-]

I order 3 containers of cuc and all were dead, they had no problem replacing and shipping but 1 of the 3 replacements was still dead. I just called around to local reptile store and found some, going to keep my own colony separate from viv now so I don't struggle to find them anymore 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/HazonkuTheCat → u/One-plankton-]

Yeah, mine were dead AF.

[u/Wild_Replacement5880 → u/One-plankton-]

Really? I've had nothing but good dealings with them, but it's been 6 months since then. Good to know. It's a shame

[u/WeirdStorms → u/cgvet9702]

I would not recommend ordering from Josh’s Frogs, you’re much better off going to eBay imo https://ebay.us/m/TN3AFq more bang for your buck, lots of options

[u/Wild_Replacement5880 → u/WeirdStorms]

Josh's Frogs is a solid supplier. I buy stuff from their site all the time. Do they even sell stuff at petco?

[u/glitchfit → u/Wild_Replacement5880]

They do and is one of the bigger reasons why they should not be supported.

[u/Bae_Victis → u/Justsumhuman20]

Just add them and they will thrive.

Any small business reptile, or terrarium supplies /plant shop would be a better option in the future. There’s a terrarium supply and exotic plant store in my city and they sell colonies of springtails in little to-go salsa containers and they are all from the owners private collection and there’s a billion crawling around in them. I just wouldn’t trust anything that needs to be shipped in from some out of state manufacturer/ nursery which is what all of those corporate big box stores carry. If anything, it’s 2026 and I’d say there’s people selling them in just about every major metro area in the US on Facebook marketplace or OfferUp from their home.

[u/deepfriedmammal]

I’ve had a colony for over five years that I use to seed new terrariums and pet enclosures. They live in a Tupperware container full of lump wood charcoal and a little water. I feed them a few grains of rice every couple weeks. They’re not very picky.

[u/Outrageous-Yak-3741]

If your enclosure is healthy they will thrive so no need to worry. Im from the UK but ive never heard anything good about that brand. Springtails ive ordered before they are not sealed like that. If you have water and food (mold or dead leaves) they should be fine

[u/mmmporcupine]

I just add some white rice, spritz a little water on the charcoal they came with and ive had my little guys for almost a year in there container adding to my terrarium every week to 2 weeks.

[u/Mental_Plankton7902]

I have one of those glass food storage jars from Walmart’s canning section. I have wet charcoal in it and sprinkle some yeast in it every week or so. They been going good for over a year.

[u/Chikkk_nnnuugg]

I bought springtails and then some day a random new variety appeared and outcompeted my original colony 🤷‍♀️ I find as long as humidity is upkeep they will be fine

[u/Ck1ngK1LLER]

You don’t need to do anything special for springtails. Just make sure they have food and they’ll do the rest.

[u/unknownpoltroon]

Damp charcoal gravel bits, sprinkle in some brown rice and let it grow fungus.  I have also herd fish food let it grow fungus.  Fuckers love wet charcoal and mold. 

[u/_wheels_21 → u/unknownpoltroon]

Could also do fruit peels too. Those already have mold spores on them and will mold up in hours after peeling. Noticed that when I peeled an orange about 9 hours ago.

Just about anything will work tbh

[u/unknownpoltroon → u/_wheels_21]

I did read that bread fungus could be bad because of reasons. 

[u/Own_Shower_6000]

if you have an established terrarium they'll thrive for sure, i've seen people breed them in containers of charcoal and water and they'll use either nutritional yeast or a single grain of rice to feed them

[u/Blackautumn05]

I have mine in charcoal and water in a plastic shoe box. I feed them about a quarter of a baby carrot and throw it out and replace it if it's looking like it's going bad, usually about a week.

[u/whenuleavethestoveon → u/Blackautumn05]

The shoebox or the carrot?

[u/OrneryStorm2659 → u/whenuleavethestoveon]

The shoe.

[u/Ansiau]

I have mine in a container with clay. Every week I make sure to mist it down and feed them with nutritional yeast. Others are giving good advice too with the charcoal, though.

[u/iamnotfemale_]

I have a colony living in my bathroom you should be fine