Quick answer: Add both springtails and isopods to every bioactive build. Springtails handle mould and tiny waste. Isopods break down larger waste, leaf litter and dead plant matter. Choose temperate tropical springtails for most builds, plus an isopod species matched to your enclosure: dwarf whites or powder isopods for tropical builds, and powder orange or Armadillidium for drier builds. Add them during setup, give them leaf litter, cork hides and a calcium source, and they'll maintain themselves.
What does a clean-up crew do?
- Eat waste: animal droppings, shed skin and dead feeders.
- Control mould: springtails graze on fungi and biofilm.
- Recycle nutrients: they break organic matter into forms plants can use.
- Aerate soil: isopods tunnel and mix the top layers.
- Feed microfauna-eating species: dart frogs and small geckos snack on springtails.
Springtails
Springtails (Collembola) are tiny (1–3 mm), white or grey hexapods that jump using a tail-like appendage. They thrive in moist soil and reproduce quickly.
| Type | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temperate white springtails | Most tropical and room-temperature builds | The standard choice; very adaptable |
| Tropical white / pink springtails | Warm tropical vivariums | Tolerate higher temperatures |
| Silver / giant springtails | Larger builds | Bigger; visible in leaf litter |
| Arid-tolerant species | Desert builds (lower moist layers) | Need a damp microhabitat to survive |
Springtails stay in the moist zone. In desert builds, they survive in the damper lower soil and around plant roots.
Isopods
Isopods are land crustaceans, related to shrimp and crabs. They breathe with gill-like structures and need some humidity. Hundreds of species and colour morphs are kept by Canadian hobbyists.
| Species | Size | Humidity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarf white (Trichorhina tomentosa) | ~3–5 mm | High | Dart frogs, small vivariums. Small, harmless, burrowing |
| Dwarf purple / striped (Trichorhina spp.) | ~5 mm | High | Tropical vivariums |
| Powder orange / blue (Porcellionides pruinosus) | ~10 mm | Medium | Geckos, tarantulas, semi-arid builds. Fast breeding |
| Porcellio laevis (dairy cow, orange) | ~15–20 mm | Medium | Large enclosures. Very active, voracious eaters |
| Armadillidium vulgare and morphs | ~12–18 mm | Medium-low | Semi-arid and temperate builds. Roll into a ball |
| Cubaris species ('Rubber Ducky', etc.) | ~10–20 mm | High | Showpiece builds; slower breeding, pricey |
Match size to animal. Very large, active isopods can stress small frogs or nibble moulting inverts. Dwarf species suit dart frog vivariums and small enclosures.
Note on local species: some isopods common in Canada outdoors (e.g. Porcellio scaber, Oniscus asellus) are sometimes used. Wild-collected animals can carry parasites and pesticides, though, so cultured stock is safer.
Choosing a crew by build type
| Build | Springtails | Isopods |
|---|---|---|
| Dart frog vivarium | Temperate or tropical whites (lots) | Dwarf whites or dwarf purples |
| Crested gecko / tree frog | Temperate whites | Dwarf whites + powder orange or blue |
| Leopard gecko / bearded dragon | In lower moist layers | Powder orange, Armadillidium |
| Tarantula / scorpion | Temperate whites | Dwarf whites (small, unlikely to bother moulting inverts) |
| Ball python / boa | Temperate whites | Powder orange, Porcellio laevis |
| Closed jar | Small pinch of springtails | Usually none |
How many to add
- Springtails: a full culture (a small container) for a 45 × 45 cm floor. They multiply quickly.
- Isopods: 10–20 for a standard enclosure, more for large builds or slow breeders. Adding them during the grow-in period lets them establish before your animal arrives.
Habitat: what the crew needs
- Moist, organic soil. Canadian-made Jurassic ABG Terrarium Mix, Semi-Arid Blend or Tarantula Mix from Jurassic Reptile Products, depending on your build.
- Leaf litter. This is their main long-term food and shelter. Use a mix such as red oak, magnolia, almond, jackfruit and mango. Compare them in best leaf litter for isopods.
- Hides. A cork flat or cork round on the soil gives isopods a refuge from your animal.
- Calcium. Cuttlebone or crushed eggshell for healthy moulting.
- A humid zone, even in desert builds.
Feeding the crew
In an established enclosure with an animal, the crew mostly feeds itself. Supplement when:
- the enclosure is new and has no waste yet;
- the animal is small and produces little waste;
- crew numbers are dropping.
Good supplements include fish flakes, dried yeast or springtail food (springtails), and small pieces of vegetables, fish food, dried shrimp or isopod food (isopods). Offer small amounts and remove leftovers after 24–48 hours.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Isopods disappearing | Eaten by the animal, or too dry | Add more cork hides and leaf litter; keep a moist corner |
| Springtails gone | Soil too dry | Mist more; reseed from a culture |
| Population explosion | Excess food | Feed less; numbers self-regulate over time |
| Mites appear | Overfeeding wet food | Remove leftovers; mites usually decline on their own |
| Isopods eating plants | Not enough leaf litter or calcium | Top up litter; add cuttlebone |
FAQ
Can isopods and springtails live together?
Yes, and they complement each other.
Will my reptile eat the clean-up crew?
Some will be eaten, which is fine. Hides and a strong breeding population keep the colony going.
Do I need to keep cultures outside the enclosure?
It's a great backup. A small tub of springtails in charcoal or soil lets you reseed any time.