[Youngherp420]

I just recieved my first springtales. I bought 32 oz Tropical Springtail Culture
and i put them in a 6 qt container. i put in uncooked pasta. I was waiting for a few days before putting in my tank because i wanted a culture as well. i checked them and they are not moving and im curious if the whole culture is dead? or is there any way they are just sleeping maybe from the CO2 gases or what?

 

[frogface]

Were they moving when you first got them? I'd try taking the lid off for a bit to see if it is CO2.

 

[PeanutbuttER]

Are springs prone to CO2 related failure?

 

[Youngherp420]

Were they moving when you first got them? I'd try taking the lid off for a bit to see if it is CO2.

barley. i heard to leave the lid of becasue of co2 . but i dont think i did it long enough

 

[mcaiger53]

I have heard of springs having issues with CO2. I personally have all my springs in sealed containers, and they usually sit unopened for a week or more at a time with no ill effects. I am not telling anyone to put them in sealed containers, just how I have luck with it.
if your springs aren't moving, try misting them. mine go crazy and jump all over the place when I blow/mist into the cultures.

 

[Hoodsquirrel]

Woah that's weird. :O I've never heard of this before. Are you sure they're dead?

 

[Ed]

I have heard of springs having issues with CO2. I personally have all my springs in sealed containers, and they usually sit unopened for a week or more at a time with no ill effects. I am not telling anyone to put them in sealed containers, just how I have luck with it.
if your springs aren't moving, try misting them. mine go crazy and jump all over the place when I blow/mist into the cultures.

The susceptiability of springtails to CO2 depends on the species/type. The temperate whites are very resistent but if you feed them heavily, you can get enough of a build up to eventually wipe them out if you don't ventilate the culture(s). Keep in mind that CO2 is heavier than air so simply opening the lid doesn't guarantee that you are going to remove a lot of the CO2. As noted above, I either blow gently into the culture (becareful about inhaling as there is one case of them colonizing a guys sinuses) or gently fan them with the lid. I try to do this every time I feed them.

Ed

 

[frogface]

As noted above, I either blow gently into the culture (becareful about inhaling as there is one case of them colonizing a guys sinuses) or gently fan them with the lid.
Ed

Oh my ....

 

[Youngherp420]

Woah that's weird. :O I've never heard of this before. Are you sure they're dead?

im not sure , this is the first time every getting them

 

[Youngherp420]

The susceptiability of springtails to CO2 depends on the species/type. The temperate whites are very resistent but if you feed them heavily, you can get enough of a build up to eventually wipe them out if you don't ventilate the culture(s). Keep in mind that CO2 is heavier than air so simply opening the lid doesn't guarantee that you are going to remove a lot of the CO2. As noted above, I either blow gently into the culture (becareful about inhaling as there is one case of them colonizing a guys sinuses) or gently fan them with the lid. I try to do this every time I feed them.

Ed

thats something to keep in mind

 

[Youngherp420]

can someone mind sharing a picture of what there culture looks like to help me

 

[zBrinks]

Here's a video showing how to put a springtail culture together, and what it should look like:

Give it time. Whenever I make a new culture, it looks pretty much empty for a bit. A few weeks later, I have more springs than I know what to do with.

 

[Youngherp420]

Here's a video showing how to put a springtail culture together, and what it should look like:

How to culture springtails - YouTube

Give it time. Whenever I make a new culture, it looks pretty much empty for a bit. A few weeks later, I have more springs than I know what to do with.

i seen this vidoe very helpful and thats what im hoping in a few weeks ill have alot

 

[Youngherp420]

so it has been a while since i first posted this post and today i went to check on my spring tails to see hows it looking and i notice some small clear almost looking worm. and wanted to know if that larve ot what?

 

[Ed]

so it has been a while since i first posted this post and today i went to check on my spring tails to see hows it looking and i notice some small clear almost looking worm. and wanted to know if that larve ot what?

No, juvenile springtails look very similar to the adults. It is probably some form of free living nematode or other worm.

Ed

 

[Youngherp420]

well today i check my culture and there is nothing . Im not sure what i did wrong im just going to have to buy a thriving culture from someone

 

[WONTON SALLY]

a few things i have noticed with the white springs, what ever size container you have them in-find the smallest drill bit you can. i used an 1/8th inch bit and drill 5-10 holes in it then you don't have to worry about CO2 buildup. also mushrooms work great as a food source and an egg laying site for new springs. I got a magnifying glass to see this more close up-where they were laying and breeding. also less water in the culture the better and don't move the culture around looking for new springs. if you use shrooms for food you will see tons of micro white dots on the shrooms and these are the new arrivals. hope this makes sense.

 

[Ed]

Live shrooms are a good source for mites and nematodes. If you want to use mushrooms and avoid those issues use dried mushrooms and rehydrate them before placing them into the culture.

Ed

 

[Youngherp420]

Live shrooms are a good source for mites and nematodes. If you want to use mushrooms and avoid those issues use dried mushrooms and rehydrate them before placing them into the culture.

Ed

thankyou about that .

 

[Youngherp420]

a few things i have noticed with the white springs, what ever size container you have them in-find the smallest drill bit you can. i used an 1/8th inch bit and drill 5-10 holes in it then you don't have to worry about CO2 buildup. also mushrooms work great as a food source and an egg laying site for new springs. I got a magnifying glass to see this more close up-where they were laying and breeding. also less water in the culture the better and don't move the culture around looking for new springs. if you use shrooms for food you will see tons of micro white dots on the shrooms and these are the new arrivals. hope this makes sense.

yeah. i just bought some new springs and hoping they will start producung after i make a new culture