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   DIR Return to: Springtails
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       #Post#: 20--------------------------------------------------
       General Springtail Care
   DIR By: PonerineCat
       Date: January 15, 2020, 10:57 pm
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       Springtails are extremely variable, and are hard to generalize,
       but here are some simplifications.
       Water: All springtails require some amount of humidity. The best
       time to go collecting is during wet months. Add some sort of
       substrate, compacted dirt is best, to absorb moisture and create
       a gradual release system to avoid drownings.
       Food: Most springtails eat decaying organic matter, but there
       are exceptions. In general, provide springtails with some sort
       of decaying plant material. Yeast will also work as a direct
       food source. Food is variable depending on some species, as some
       like wood, mold, meat, or even prey better than plants. Try to
       research your springtails diet and study their environment.
       Emulate the natural diet as best as possible.
       Environment: While the most commonly seen springtail habitat is
       a box of charcoal, this does not work for most species. The
       charcoal does not absorb water, and most springtails drown. Many
       springtails also need a very specific environment. Emulate the
       springtail habitat at collection. If found on wood, use wood. If
       found on pavement, use a flat surface. If found on water, use a
       thin layer of water with some objects sticking out. Keep the
       environment moist, but do not oversaturate substrate. Keep your
       springtails in an enclosure with an airtight lid. Springtails do
       not require a lot of oxygen unless a large population is
       present.
       Example setups:
       Dirt with leaf litter: A classic and reliable setup, this simply
       involves a thin layer of packed dirt covered with leaf litter,
       hardwood or conifer, depending on species. Keep substrate damp.
       Wood setup: Good setups for species found on the underside of
       logs. Lay down a layer of packed dirt and cover with layers of
       rotting wood. If springtails were observed feeding on mold,
       transplant a segment of the food mold to the setup.
       Water dish: Rarely used, this is best for springtails collected
       on water or at the shoreline. Create a slope of sand, and pour
       in water until just the top of the sand slope is left. Leave
       some space for springtails to walk on.
       Dirt box: An unsightly but highly effective method for culturing
       subterranean springtails. Fill a container almost to the top
       with loose soil, preferably large grained. Add decaying plant
       matter on the surface for food. Fruits work well. Surprisingly,
       also works well for aquatic springtails.
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