Tropical springtail (Collembola sp.)

Short answers

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

A breeding container from ~0.5–1 l; in a bioactive terrarium no tank of its own.

Tropical springtail: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, at night not critical, ~18–22 °C.

Tropical springtail: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: an individual lives a few months; the colony continues.

Tropical springtail: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Tropical springtail: Can several be kept together?

Colony-forming and suitable for groups – keep them as a mass culture or colony, with no cannibalism; an ideal clean-up crew alongside isopods.

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

not critical, ~18–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

high, permanently humid (~80–100 %), but no waterlogging

UVB

—

Enclosure

Minimum size

a breeding container from ~0.5–1 l; in a bioactive terrarium no tank of its own

Substrate

Damp coco humus with activated charcoal, leaf litter, moss

Feeding

Food

Yeast flakes, collembola food or fish flakes, mould films and biofilm, decaying plant material

Feeding interval

occasional small amounts (~1×/week); in a planted terrarium they largely feed themselves

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 1–3 mm

Life expectancy

an individual lives a few months; the colony continues

Origin

Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide (the Collembola species traded in the hobby as "tropical springtails")

Protection status

No protected status; not listed under CITES

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Colony-forming and suitable for groups – keep them as a mass culture or colony, with no cannibalism; an ideal clean-up crew alongside isopods

Notes

The most popular clean-up crew for humid, warm (bioactive) terrariums; more warmth-loving than Folsomia candida. A fresh culture needs about 2 months to get going; once the substrate is used up the population crashes → set up or transfer it again regularly. Mistakes: drying out or waterlogging. The species name is not definite ("sp.") → the exact origin is uncertain.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Tropical springtail (Collembola sp.) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Orange springtail (Bilobella braunerae) – Beginner
• Pink springtail (Sinella curviseta) – Beginner
• Silver springtail (Tomocerus 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 Tropical springtail (Collembola sp.) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a breeding container from ~0.5–1 l; in a bioactive terrarium no tank of its own), substrate (Damp coco humus with activated charcoal, leaf litter, 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.