Springtails: How Do They Help To Clean The Terrarium?
Springtails (subclass Collembola ) are animals belonging to the order of hexapods, that is, they share a taxon with insects. The main difference between them is that insects develop wings while springtails do not, but the latter also have three pairs of legs.
These tiny creatures make excellent terrarium cleaners. They are easy to breed and will help the artificial ecosystem stay cleaner and therefore the animals that live in it, such as reptiles or amphibians, are kept healthier. In the following lines, we will show how these small arthropods can keep the terrarium clean.
Why do springtails keep the terrarium clean?
In the wild, springtails colonized the entire world, including Antarctica. There are over 7000 known species, so there is a wide variety that can fit well into different types of terrariums.
Hardly a person would maintain a terrarium installed in a frozen ecosystem. However, for the most common types of terrariums, such as tropical, temperate and dry, there is a wide variety of springtails that act as a natural cleaning group.
Whatever the type of terrarium, these animals occupy a very specific place in the food chain, the detritivorous part. The diet of these arthropods is based on dead organic matter, among which we find the following elements:
- Remains of food that were wasted by reptiles or amphibians, whether of plant or animal origin.
- Leaves, branches and dead roots inside the terrarium that started the degradation process.
- Feces of animals that live in the terrarium.
By feeding these debris to the springtail colony, the appearance of decomposing bacteria, harmful to animals, as well as the presence of other pathogens, such as terrestrial hematophagous mites, will be avoided.
Lastly, springtails also feed on fungi. In temperate terrariums – but especially in humid ones – many fungi proliferate that can become a serious problem for the health of animals. These tiny invertebrates are avid fungus eaters and will keep them at bay, so the terrarium will need less frequent cleaning.
When there aren’t enough fungi to feed on, springtails base their diet on mold. Mold can appear in any terrarium and can sometimes cause respiratory illness in pets, so it is essential to eliminate it.
How to create terrarium cleaners?
Breeding springtails is easy, as they reproduce quickly and have few needs other than a damp place to hide if need be. Even so, it should be taken into account that these arthropods can be a pest to house plants. Tightly seal your growing facilities and terrariums where you will add them.
Springtails are easily available in specialty stores and on the internet. When they arrive, they can be introduced directly into the terrarium together with a piece of damp cardboard or charcoal with which they are usually transported.
Once inside the terrarium, springtails usually need a few days of acclimatization, but they immediately begin to look for food in the substrate and get rid of mold and waste from domestic animals.
It pays to feed springtails sporadically. Sometimes, the amount of waste is not enough to feed the colony, therefore , put some 100% pure yeast is a good idea.
Other people decide to acquire a culture and develop the colony in a separate facility. This is as simple as putting solid charcoal in a container with holes in the lid for ventilation and filling it halfway with water. Charcoal provides springtails with the necessary organic matter, while water from evaporation provides a moist environment.
How to remove springtails from the terrarium?
Sometimes, the environment in the terrarium is so favorable that springtails grow a lot and can pose a problem for the balance of the ecosystem. At this point it is very difficult – or almost impossible – to remove the animals manually.
Therefore, if this problem arises, different actions can be taken:
- Stop giving the springtails extra food.
- Empty the terrarium (including decoration and animal). Then add some water and turn the terrarium over so that all the water accumulates in one corner. Springtails float, so it’s easy to catch them that way.
As you’ve seen, springtails are great for keeping your terrarium free of fungus or mold pests, as well as for eliminating pet waste. Remember that before introducing any new species into a terrarium, you must be well informed about the new relationships that will be created within the ecosystem.
