Orange springtail (Bilobella braunerae)

Short answers

Orange springtail: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A breeding box or a closed culture container from ~1–2 l; also as a clean-up crew in a bioactive terrarium.

Orange springtail: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C (room temperature), at night 18–22 °C.

Orange springtail: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Orange springtail: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: an individual lives weeks to months; the colony sustains itself indefinitely.

Orange springtail: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C (room temperature)

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

high (humid, not wet) – substrate permanently damp

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

a breeding box or a closed culture container from ~1–2 l; also as a clean-up crew in a bioactive terrarium

Substrate

Damp coco humus with activated charcoal, leaf litter or moss, rotten wood

Feeding

Food

Detritus, mould and fungi, yeast, rice, decaying plant material

Feeding interval

a small pinch (baker's or nutritional yeast) every few days – avoid overfeeding (mould or collapse)

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 1–3 mm

Life expectancy

an individual lives weeks to months; the colony sustains itself indefinitely

Origin

The taxonomy is unclear (also traded in the hobby as Bilobella aurantiaca or Protanura sp.); cultured worldwide

Protection status

Not protected

Brumation

—

Cohabitation

Colony and group housing is the only sensible way to keep this species – a mass-culture animal with no individual behaviour, which can be safely combined with reptiles and amphibians in a bioactive vivarium as a clean-up crew.

Notes

Strikingly orange and therefore easy to see; an excellent detritus eater and mould consumer for bioactive setups. Note: the species name in the trade is often wrong or inconsistent (the taxonomy is uncertain). A prolific colony, easy to culture.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Orange springtail (Bilobella braunerae) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Pink springtail (Sinella curviseta) – Beginner
• Silver springtail (Tomocerus sp.) – Beginner
• Tropical springtail (Collembola sp.) – Beginner
• White springtail (Folsomia candida) – Beginner
• African giant mantis (Sphodromantis lineola) – Beginner
• African giant mantis (Sphodromantis viridis) – Beginner
• Giant African millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas) – Beginner
• Dubia roach (Blaptica dubia) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Orange springtail (Bilobella braunerae) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a breeding box or a closed culture container from ~1–2 l; also as a clean-up crew in a bioactive terrarium), substrate (Damp coco humus with activated charcoal, leaf litter or moss, rotten wood), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.