I want to write again and thank you for the sensible explanation. I haven't found a guide like this anywhere else. Three weeks have passed since I made a similar jar. The colony is thriving. Below, where there is water, there are always small and large bugs on the surface of the water. I don't know what they are doing there, but everything is going well. Recently I added a little more sphagnum moss on top and when I put food there, a lot of large and very small springtails come to the top. They are very interesting to look at through a magnifying glass. Thank you! It seems, they don't like light.
@@alternateaquatics Do you think they have enough calcium in their food? Maybe I should also add eggshells or calcium tablets intended for humans? I don't really want to buy calcium separately.
Hi I follow your steps and did the same but i never open the containers because of travelling for few days and came back see all deads 😅 any advice pls ?
Hmm 🤔 I’m not sure i open mine every few days to feed them some fish food. Maybe you could plant a small fern or something in there so that it produces oxygen for them
You maybe put them in direct sunlight, it will get too hot if you do that. If that is not the case I simply have no clue I did follow these steps and it worked perfectly
Do the walls of the jar fog up from water? Do you ventilate the jar? I made a similar colony, but as soon as I close the jar, after a short time the walls fog up. Is this normal? Should I add some moss or charcoal? Or reduce the water from below?
I’ll sometimes get a little fog. It could be the temp is too high. Usually when it fogs up after a couple days the water will condense enough to form water droplets that will run down the side of the glass. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Just open the jar every 3-4 days and sprinkle in some high quality fish food flakes! You’ll be good! 👍🏻
@@alternateaquatics Thank you very much for the answer! Now it fogs up less, but I open the jar often and try to see my bugs, but, unfortunately, they like to hide. I have fish food, but I heard that they feed it a mixture of nutritional yeast and dried ground mushrooms (1:1). There is enough protein and vitamins, and this mixture does not become moldy. I will try two options. How long does it take to reproduce? Some bugs are still small and need to grow. Doesn't mold grow if you put in too much fish food?
Just sprinkle in enough for them to eat in about a day. They’ll come out of the soil to eat it, do you have a drainage layer? If you see them bunched up on top of the water it means they’re reproducing. They grow up in about 2 weeks
@@alternateaquatics I see a pair of bugs in three places on the surface of the water. One is large, the second is slightly smaller. They are moving. Sometimes the small one climbs onto the big one. Sometimes, one seems to be glued to the other's backside. Sometimes the movements are erratic or unnoticeable. It’s not clear if this is a female and a male or a female and a baby? Why are there two of them everywhere? And what are they doing there? I'm scared that they will drown, maybe they can't get out? This happened about 4-5 days after the colony was added to the jar.
I want to write again and thank you for the sensible explanation. I haven't found a guide like this anywhere else. Three weeks have passed since I made a similar jar. The colony is thriving. Below, where there is water, there are always small and large bugs on the surface of the water. I don't know what they are doing there, but everything is going well. Recently I added a little more sphagnum moss on top and when I put food there, a lot of large and very small springtails come to the top. They are very interesting to look at through a magnifying glass. Thank you! It seems, they don't like light.
That’s awesome!!! I’m really glad to hear it is working out so well for you! They use the surface of the water to mate
@@alternateaquatics Do you think they have enough calcium in their food? Maybe I should also add eggshells or calcium tablets intended for humans? I don't really want to buy calcium separately.
Yes I eggshells would be just fine
This guy is goated he teaches us how to make a terrarium
You’re too kind :)
I stopped the people who stop people who say first all jokes aside w video
Not all hero’s wear capes 👊🏻
Thanks very much for this, just got 20 orange spring tails I am trying to culture :)
Just make sure you open it once in a while and sprinkle in a little fish food once in a while
@@alternateaquatics will do thanks! :) I wondered why you don't put vent holes in? I think I read that they don't jump but do they crawl out?
Oh idk the jar was just more convenient
"But my lord, there IS no such force..."
1 month later:
Lmao yeah we’re coming for helms deep
does the colony need light?
Yeah but you don’t want direct sunlight from a window. Could cook them haha
Do you notice much difference between the white ones and the orange ones?
they look pretty damn cool!
Yes the orange ones get a lot bigger!
They also consume more protein over plant matter so they’re good for cleaning up the frog waste
@@alternateaquatics Might be handy for my crabs as well! I always assumed it was just a cosmetic thing.
Cosmetic definitely yes! But they also serve their purposes
@@alternateaquatics Time to track some down!
@IndoorEcosystem I got mine from Amazon! I put a link in the description but I’m not sure if they mail to Australia
Nice
Thank you! 🙏🏻
Hi I follow your steps and did the same but i never open the containers because of travelling for few days and came back see all deads 😅 any advice pls ?
Hmm 🤔
I’m not sure i open mine every few days to feed them some fish food. Maybe you could plant a small fern or something in there so that it produces oxygen for them
You maybe put them in direct sunlight, it will get too hot if you do that. If that is not the case I simply have no clue
I did follow these steps and it worked perfectly
The direct sunlight might be an issue
I want some of these guys. Your video has helped me to know how to care for them. Thank you!😊
Glad I could help! Thanks for your comment! 😊
Do the walls of the jar fog up from water? Do you ventilate the jar? I made a similar colony, but as soon as I close the jar, after a short time the walls fog up. Is this normal? Should I add some moss or charcoal? Or reduce the water from below?
I’ll sometimes get a little fog. It could be the temp is too high. Usually when it fogs up after a couple days the water will condense enough to form water droplets that will run down the side of the glass. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Just open the jar every 3-4 days and sprinkle in some high quality fish food flakes! You’ll be good! 👍🏻
@@alternateaquatics Thank you very much for the answer! Now it fogs up less, but I open the jar often and try to see my bugs, but, unfortunately, they like to hide. I have fish food, but I heard that they feed it a mixture of nutritional yeast and dried ground mushrooms (1:1). There is enough protein and vitamins, and this mixture does not become moldy. I will try two options. How long does it take to reproduce? Some bugs are still small and need to grow. Doesn't mold grow if you put in too much fish food?
Just sprinkle in enough for them to eat in about a day. They’ll come out of the soil to eat it, do you have a drainage layer? If you see them bunched up on top of the water it means they’re reproducing. They grow up in about 2 weeks
@@alternateaquatics A have a drainage layer, but don't have the patience to wait) Thank you for your response!
@@alternateaquatics I see a pair of bugs in three places on the surface of the water. One is large, the second is slightly smaller. They are moving. Sometimes the small one climbs onto the big one. Sometimes, one seems to be glued to the other's backside. Sometimes the movements are erratic or unnoticeable. It’s not clear if this is a female and a male or a female and a baby? Why are there two of them everywhere? And what are they doing there? I'm scared that they will drown, maybe they can't get out? This happened about 4-5 days after the colony was added to the jar.
oh wow i didnt know that there are orange springtails!
Yeah there’s a few other colors as well!
It is always a great day whenever you upload my guy!!
I appreciate that! I’ll need to upload more then!