Springtail trouble...

[AntsAntsAnts]

So I have a pot and that pot has springtails UNDER it. How can I collect them?

[Antloverhuman]

Springtails will seek a dark humid place under a brick or a pot. Its hard to just grab them in a container because they will just bounce away or the most u will catch is one or two. Try putting a sheet of thin paper or plastic which is placed near the pot and there is no space between the ground and the paper other wise they will hide under the paper. Place a brick on top so that they hide under the brick. Then remove the pot under which they were hiding. They will hide under the brick on the paper. Now you can just remove the brick and carefully pick up the paper and dump the springtails wherever u want. But I would suggest just buy a springtail colony from shop as it will be very hard to get them on paper and then you have to pick the paper and they might jump off

[AntsAntsAnts]

ok, I will try that. Also, should I place some watermelon slices to lure them?

[Antloverhuman]

You can try but if they are hiding they will not easily come out. They are not like ants that discover food and tell the colony. They will eat themselves so it will take some time

[antnest8]

I just put a water test-tube under the rock for a few hours. Then I quickly grabbed it and put my finger over the hole. Once you get a good amount (like 10 or so) that's all you need to get started.

You can also just dig up some soil near the area and you should get some

[Antloverhuman]

I just put a water test-tube under the rock for a few hours. Then I quickly grabbed it and put my finger over the hole. Once you get a good amount (like 10 or so) that's all you need to get started.

You can also just dig up some soil near the area and you should get some

I saw this method on YouTube and they also used rice and yeast to lure springtails. But they said that it's not good for catching them. It takes way too much time to catch wild springtails. As u said 10 around ten are actually the best you are gonna catch with most methods ( the one I suggested too) it is best to just buy them otherwise it will take too long to get a big colony that you could use in your terrarium

[AntsAntsAnts]

thx!