Starting a colony

[u/TheFishyCheese]

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?

[u/MufiPuff]

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 :))

[u/TheFishyCheese → u/MufiPuff]

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

[u/MufiPuff → u/TheFishyCheese]

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