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See my Care Guides for information on culturing springtails and isopods. Cultures provide a backup for your bioactive environments and are an effective way to keep costs down. You can breed your own springtails and isopods to add as many as needed to your larger enclosures without incurring high expenses.

Scroll for guides for common animals/ecosystems and full species information lists

Ball Pythons, Boas, Tegus, and Blue Tongue Skinks

Moderate to high humidity. Large inhabitants that compress soil and produce a lot of waste. Environment could contain many micro-niches for hosting a larger range of springtail/isopod biodiversity.

Crested Geckos, Tree Frogs, Chameleons, and Anoles

Moist soil with higher, drier climbing branches. Moderate to high humidity. Environment could contain many micro-niches for hosting a larger range of springtail/isopod biodiversity.

Pacman Frogs & Salamanders

Wet with small, sensitive inhabitants. High humidity.

Leopard Geckos and African Fat-Tailed Geckos

Low to moderate humidity. Environment could contain many micro-niches for hosting a larger range of springtail/isopod biodiversity.

Bearded Dragons, Uromastyx, and Arid Reptiles

Very dry and hot. Low humidity. Possible to have a diverse cleanup crew with careful planning.

Dart Frogs

Very wet with tiny, sensitive inhabitants. High humidity.

Isopod Cultures

A distinct moisture gradient (one wet side, one dry side).

Snails

High humidity, high waste load.

Hermit Crabs

High humidity, deep substrate.

Millipedes

Deep substrate, high to moderate humidity, detritus-heavy environment.

Additional information for sourcing your cleanup crew: ' Springtails US is a one-person business, so I'm limited in how much I can keep in stock. I typically restock springtails and isopods every Saturday night (not always every species) but unfortunately I don't have enough space or time to provide everybody with the species and quantities they need every week. There's many other reputable businesses to order from, and social media springtail/isopod groups can help you find them. When ordering cleanup crews from Springtails US, be sure to check the FAQ for information on packaging and how to remove the springtails and isopods from their shipping cups. I aim with my packaging to make it as effortless as possible to seed your enclosures with their cleanup crew. Shipping medium is outlined on the product pages for springtails, and springtails which ship on clay can be cultured in their shipping containers. When ordering springtails elsewhere, many businesses sell 'cultures' or 'starter cultures' of springtails so you may not know the exact quantity you're receiving. It's always best to order your animals well in advance when setting up a bioactive enclosure, and making your own springtail and isopod cultures is a great way to ensure that you have enough for your needs. You can start with 50 or less springtails and 10 or less isopods. See the Care Guides for more information.

Don't see your animal or environment listed?

Wish to dig deeper into understanding your cleanup crew?

Check the full species information lists below to dig deeper.

Isopods

An expansive list of the isopods stocked at Springtails US and more with descriptions for each species' use case.

Springtails

An expansive list of the springtails stocked at Springtails US and more with descriptions for each species' use case.

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