Runner Springtail (Pseudosinella rolfsi) Fast-moving soil cleaner ideal for terrariums and vivariums. Great for bioactive setups.

$13.85

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Add speed and efficiency to your clean-up crew with the Runner Springtail (Pseudosinella rolfsi)—a slender, fast-moving soil-dwelling arthropod that plays a vital role in healthy terrarium ecosystems. Known for their agility and impressive ability to navigate soil and substrate, these springtails are an excellent addition to bioactive terrariums, vivariums, isopod habitats, and dart frog tanks.

🔍 About the Species

Runner springtails are wingless hexapods from the family Entomobryidae. Unlike slower springtail species, they actively dart through moist substrate, breaking down organic waste, mold, fungi, and decaying plant matter with ease. Their rapid mobility and high reproductive rate make them an efficient, self-sustaining microfauna species.

🌿 Native Range & Habitat

Native to the eastern United States, Pseudosinella rolfsi thrives in moist leaf litter, rotting logs, and forest soils. These springtails prefer a humid, dark environment, replicating forest floors and natural microhabitats. Their adaptability makes them ideal for enclosed ecosystems where natural waste must be recycled effectively.

🏡 Ideal for Home Use In:

  • Bioactive vivariums

  • Dart frog and tree frog tanks

  • Isopod and millipede enclosures

  • Terrariums with mosses, leaf litter, and tropical plants

  • Paludariums and planted aquaria (in above-water zones)

What They’re Good For:

  • Breaking down mold, fungi, and detritus

  • Promoting healthy soil microbiomes

  • Supporting the nitrogen cycle

  • Providing supplemental food for small amphibians

  • Reducing the risk of rot or pest outbreaks


🧪 How to Add & Care for Runner Springtails

To introduce to a habitat:

  1. Gently shake or scoop the colony (soil, charcoal, or clay medium) directly onto your substrate, leaf litter, or into a corner of the tank.

  2. Lightly mist the area to help them settle in.

  3. Avoid placing them directly under heat lamps or bright light.

To establish a culture:

  • Place the springtails in a well-ventilated container with moist substrate (charcoal or coconut coir).

  • Feed with small amounts of brewers yeast, cooked rice, or powdered fungi weekly.

  • Keep humidity high (80–100%) and avoid letting the substrate dry out.

General care tips:

  • Mist weekly or as needed to maintain moisture.

  • Avoid overcrowding with other aggressive invertebrates.

  • No cleaning required—springtails self-regulate and recycle waste!


Eco-friendly, self-sustaining, and efficient—Runner Springtails are the natural janitors your bioactive habitat needs. Add a colony today and let nature do the cleaning.