Pink springtail (Sinella curviseta)

Short answers

Pink 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.

Pink springtail: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–30 °C (tropical, heat-tolerant; also breeds at cooler temperatures), at night 18–24 °C.

Pink springtail: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Pink springtail: How long do they live?

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

Pink springtail: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–30 °C (tropical, heat-tolerant; also breeds at cooler temperatures)

Night temperature

18–24 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

high (humid, not wet)

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 (beech or oak), moss

Feeding

Food

Yeast, mould and fungi, detritus, fine organic material

Feeding interval

a small pinch of yeast every few days – avoid overfeeding

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 1.5–3 mm

Life expectancy

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

Origin

Cosmopolitan (originally East Asia); cultured worldwide as a clean-up crew

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

A very fast and densely breeding tropical species (ideal for large populations and feeder cultures), and it takes warmth up to about 30 °C. It eats mould and biofilm and stabilises bioactive setups. In the trade also as "Tropical Pink/White".

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Pink springtail (Sinella curviseta) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Orange springtail (Bilobella braunerae) – 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 Pink springtail (Sinella curviseta) 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 (beech or oak), moss), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.