Isopod Cultures
A distinct moisture gradient (one wet side, one dry side).
Go with the Straightforward Choice for a simple cleanup crew or the Advanced Ecosystem suggestions to take your bioactive ecosystem to the next level!
Straightforward Choice: Springtails
Pseudosinella violenta (Bylas Ant Springtails) - The best cleanup crew springtail for most scenarios. Very fast breeding and surface active cleaners.
Advanced Ecosystem: Springtails
Maximize biodiversity: Use moisture-lovers for the moist side like Arrhopalites caecus, Desoria trispinate, Proisotoma minuta, etc. Pair with springtails that will roam dry ground like Lepidocyrtus sp, Entomobyra assuta var nov, etc. See the full species information list for picking additional springtails and to learn which environmental niche each species specializes in.
Straightforward Choice: Isopods
N/A
Advanced Ecosystem: Isopods
N/A
Quantity
For most isopod cultures (6 to 12qt), 50-100 springtails is sufficient to seed the culture. 200-300+ springtails can be added for more immediate establishment and for fast-breeding isopods like Porcellio laevis and Porcellionides pruinosus.
Crucial Information
Pseudosinella violenta can grow into very high populations and may stress out sensitive isopods. Coecobrya tenebricosa is a slower breeding alternative for a one-species cleanup crew solution.
Additional Information
I use P. violenta in all of my isopod cultures without issue. They are especially effective with fast breeding isopods like P. laevis and P. pruinosus.