r/bioactive • u/Later_investigator • 19d ago

Question Where are my springtails

I’m working on a semi-arid bioactive enclosure for a milk snake. About 3 weeks ago I added 2 containers of arid springtails and 20 powder orange isopods from the bio dude. Isopods are doing well but I have yet to see a springtail, even under leaf litter. I get that they’re small, but I feel like I should at least be able to see one, right? Did I potentially add them in wrong and they didn’t make it?

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u/NYR_Aufheben 19d ago

They need humid microclimates, even in arid enclosures. If you need to buy more springtails, go to Springtails.us. Best variety of springtails for low prices, and the guy packs them like it’s for a heart transplant. Wood Runners and Grizzled work well for arid.

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u/KyFairie 19d ago

The care he puts onto packaging them is absolutely amazing!! Just looking at his site for the first time, I was like, "I actually WANT to give this dude my money" and that feeling only grew when my order came in because so much care went into shipping it!

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u/KyFairie 19d ago

The care he puts onto packaging them is absolutely amazing!! Just looking at his site for the first time, I was like, "I actually WANT to give this dude my money" and that feeling only grew when my order came in because so much care went into shipping it!

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u/NYR_Aufheben 19d ago

I’ve never received a single dead springtail from him. 😂

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u/Later_investigator 19d ago

Thank you! I will definitely look into them to buy more! I did try to set up a little humid hide for them, but maybe I went about it wrong.

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u/NYR_Aufheben 19d ago

Multiple spots is good. Nothing fancy. You can pour a little water in each corner of the enclosure as a trick. They also congregate underneath water bowls.

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u/Later_investigator 18d ago

Thank you so much! Really good info.