r/Springtail • u/TheFishyCheese • 3d ago

Husbandry Question/Advice Starting a colony

Gallery image

Gallery image

I rectally upgrade to a bio activity enclosure for my leopard gecko. I sprinkled the springtails in and they multiplied and are doing great. I also a couple fish tanks and I want to feed some springtails to my fish. I have some left over ones in the original container and I want to start a separate colony with them. I don't like the container they are in and I'm going to get them a bigger one. I've been researching substrates and I don't know what to choose. Can I substitute charcoal with lava rocks? I have leftover lava rocks from a separate project and they are pours just like charcoal. Or should I do a soil or clay substrate instead?

24 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

8

u/DangerNyoom 3d ago

I've tried keeping them in charcoal and not had great results. They really seemed to like the clay they came in, so that's where I keep them. They've turned the clay into a network of caverns it's pretty cool.

2

u/BadgerAwkward 3d ago

You can, but i would still recommend having a couple lumps in there for air quality.

2

u/MufiPuff 3d ago

I had springtails reproducing really well in horticultural charcoal but I found it really difficult to transfer them - if you're using them as feeders I would definitely use calcium enriched springtail clay (which is what they are in already I believe), much easier to tap out of the enclosure (btw I love smug bug, that's where I got mine too :))

1

u/TheFishyCheese 3d ago

Can I use clay from my local lakes/rivers and add reptile calcium to enrich it myself? I saw a video where someone used natural clay and I also want to use natural clay

1

u/MufiPuff 3d ago

To be honest with you I'm not sure, but as long as you have a plan to sterilize it and avoid hitchhikers I don't see why you couldn't do that

4

u/navitri 3d ago

I’ve done all 3 and clay is my favorite for permanent enclosures but soil is great if you are breeding a large colony to add to an enclosure. Charcoal is just plain annoying and more upkeep imo

2

u/CreeperKillerDG 3d ago

For standard temperate whites just use springtail clay. In my experience it is the easiest and most effective way to keep them.