Josh's Frogs Temperate Springtail (Collembola) Culture (32 oz) Review (2026)

Who this culture is for

Josh's Frogs built its reputation supplying live cleanup crews to dart frog and reptile keepers, and this 32 oz temperate springtail culture is aimed at anyone stocking more than one bioactive enclosure at the same time. Because one tub can seed two to four terrariums, it fits hobbyists setting up a new vivarium rack, breeders preparing several grow out tanks, or anyone who wants a backup culture on hand in case a tank's cleanup crew thins out. A single small enclosure does not need this much volume, so keepers with one tank are usually better served by an 8 oz culture and can save the larger size for when a second or third enclosure comes online.

What you actually get

The culture ships on a charcoal substrate inside a secure container along with a care sheet that covers storage and feeding technique. Springtails are tiny wingless arthropods that graze on mold, fungus and decaying plant matter, so they work as a living janitorial crew rather than a food item you dose once. Being a temperate strain, this culture is bred to hold up at cooler room temperatures, which makes it a reasonable match for enclosures that run cooler than a full tropical setup, such as many temperate frog, salamander or isopod tanks. It can be added straight into a terrarium or kept as a standalone culture outside the tank so you always have a reserve to restock from.

Getting it established

Some adult springtails are commonly lost in transit, so the practical step is to give a new culture a couple of weeks before judging it, allowing eggs time to hatch and the population to build back up. Once the tub arrives, cracking the lid slightly for airflow helps release built up carbon dioxide that can otherwise stress or kill the colony. Ongoing care is simple: feeding once or twice a week with a springtail food such as Josh's Frogs own Spring to Life keeps the culture productive, and a light misting keeps the substrate from drying out completely. Overfeeding or letting the tub dry out are the two most common ways a culture stalls, so keepers should watch moisture and food levels rather than set and forget it.

How it compares with other cleanup crew options

Against a smaller combo like the Dwarf Tropical White Isopods and Temperate Springtails bundle, this listing trades variety for sheer volume of one species, which matters if you specifically need springtails rather than a mixed isopod and springtail crew. Compared with a 16 oz breeding culture from a generic springtail seller, the extra volume here means less risk of running out mid setup, though it also means more culture to manage if you are not ready to split it right away. Being a temperate rather than tropical strain is the detail to check against your own enclosure temperatures, since a mismatch will leave the springtails sluggish even though they are alive and healthy.

Bottom line

For keepers building out a bioactive rack or starting more than one enclosure, this 32 oz temperate springtail culture from Josh's Frogs is an efficient way to buy in bulk from a supplier known for live arrival support, matching our score of 8.9 out of 10 for fit and value. Anyone with just a single small tank and a tight budget should look at an 8 oz culture instead, since a jumbo tub sitting mostly unused is more likely to crash than thrive. Keepers running warm tropical displays should also weigh a tropical springtail strain over this temperate one so the colony stays active at the enclosure's actual temperature.

Frequently asked questions