Dart Den

Flood them. I may later throw some tree fern root panels in with yeast on top to collect also. But mainly flooding.

A reminder, for those using any grain based foods like pasta and fish flakes.
Grain mites do much better, and springs worse due to the large amounts of mites when fed grain based foods.

RichFrye Wrote:A reminder, for those using any grain based foods like pasta and fish flakes.
Grain mites do much better, and springs worse due to the large amounts of mites when fed grain based foods.

Good info here rich. We have loads of bakers yeast at work. Would that work or are you speaking of purely dry yeast?

dynekevin Wrote:

RichFrye Wrote:A reminder, for those using any grain based foods like pasta and fish flakes.
Grain mites do much better, and springs worse due to the large amounts of mites when fed grain based foods.

Good info here rich. We have loads of bakers yeast at work. Would that work or are you speaking of purely dry yeast?

I've not worked with liquid baker's yeast, only liquid brewer's yeast when brewing Belgian beers...
But I'd have to guess there would be a way to feed them liquid yeast. It all goes soft and somewhat liquid after the humidity gets to it.

thanks rich, i have about 6 springtail cultures now.. wouldnt want them to get mite infested lol otherwise i will be drop kicking them out the window lol

I now have them all on (boiled) 3/4" coco husk and they're doing great.

It took a few years, but what do you say, Phil? Something like "split a culture" :wink: These were started from 6.

yeah...I'd say you have the 'splitting' aspect of feeder insect culturing down, Glenn. heh

Philsuma Wrote:yeah...I'd say you have the 'splitting' aspect of feeder insect culturing down, Glenn. heh

Anyone can do it, Phil.

ahhhh...I wouldn't sell yourself short there. There is a LARGE percentage of the hobby that has problems even trying to culture normal feeder FF amounts. Hence the constant sales of FF from the bigger businesses.

And splitting is kinda like pruning a plant, repotting a plant - anyone can take a hack, but sometimes you just can't get the clippings to grow.

Good idea Rich, my charcoal cultures have been petering out, mainly my fault for not splitting them out. Can't stand the dirt pyramids from the springs cultured in substrate.

Philsuma Wrote:ahhhh...I wouldn't sell yourself short there. There is a LARGE percentage of the hobby that has problems even trying to culture normal feeder FF amounts. Hence the constant sales of FF from the bigger businesses.

And splitting is kinda like pruning a plant, repotting a plant - anyone can take a hack, but sometimes you just can't get the clippings to grow.

That's true. Just a little TLC is needed.

And a lot of people can't even get the TLC part right....

Anyone wash and 'recharge' their cowboy charcoal?

Nope. I've had the same springs on the same charcoal for a few years now and they are doing great. Just feeding brewers yeast mixed with dried shrooms ran through a food processor.