Silver springtail (Tomocerus sp.)

Short answers

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

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

Silver springtail: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 15–22 °C (temperate, cooler preferred), at night 12–20 °C.

Silver springtail: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Silver springtail: How long do they live?

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

Silver springtail: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

15–22 °C (temperate, cooler preferred)

Night temperature

12–20 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

high (humid, well ventilated, no waterlogging)

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

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

Substrate

Damp leaf litter, rotten wood, coco humus with activated charcoal; a humidity gradient

Feeding

Food

Leaf litter, detritus, mould and fungi, occasionally yeast

Feeding interval

mostly leaf litter and detritus, with an occasional pinch of yeast

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 2–6 mm (a large, clearly visible springtail)

Life expectancy

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

Origin

Temperate holarctic (Europe / North America), often collected from leaf litter

Protection status

Not protected

Brumation

— (temperate, cold-tolerant)

Cohabitation

Colony and group housing is the only sensible way to keep this species – a mass-culture animal with no individual behaviour, suitable as a clean-up crew in a temperate bioactive vivarium.

Notes

A genus-level entry (Tomocerus sp.) – the figures vary slightly with the particular species (T. vulgaris for example). Markedly larger and silvery, and clearly visible, but a slower and less dense culture than Sinella or Folsomia. Less warmth-tolerant – it needs good ventilation, and should not be kept in sealed wet tubs.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

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