Onychiuridae sp. “Snowflakes” – discreet white poduromorph springtails for bioactive terrariums

Onychiuridae sp. “Snowflakes” (often sold as “Onychiurinae Snowflakes”) is a beautiful white poduromorph springtail with a chunky body and a characteristic “snowy” look on the substrate. Unlike classic elongated tropical springtails, Snowflakes are soil-focused microfauna that stay close to the ground and move in dense clusters across the surface.

Although many hobby descriptions label them as “non-jumping”, in practice they can perform small, noticeable micro-jumps when startled – especially when you open the culture tub and hundreds react at once. However, they do not behave like strong jumpers such as Sinella or Coecobrya: they don’t shoot across the enclosure or climb all over the glass.

At Springtails.eu we maintain captive-bred cultures of Snowflakes, selected for stability and performance as a reliable bioactive cleanup crew.

Why choose Onychiuridae sp. “Snowflakes”?

• ❄️ Striking “snowflake” appearance – forms visible white patches on the substrate.

• 🧹 Excellent cleanup crew – feeds on mold, decaying organic matter and leftover food.

• 🌱 Soil-focused behaviour – stays on and in the substrate instead of constantly running on the glass.

• 🦗 Great for invertebrate and reptile enclosures – ideal in isopod, millipede or mixed bioactive setups.

• 🔁 Captive-bred cultures – no wild-collected “mystery mix”; you receive a clean, focused line.

Available in a range of pack sizes so you can seed a single terrarium or start multiple cultures.

Jumping behaviour – what to realistically expect

Based on hands-on observation:

• Snowflakes are poduromorph springtails, not classic elongated jumpers.

• They do not perform long, explosive jumps across the tub like tropical white springtails.

• When disturbed (for example when you open the lid), they can show small, short hops, just a few millimetres, as a startle response.

For practical purposes:

They behave as a “short jump” / low-jump species that stays on the substrate and is easy to manage, even if you see tiny hops when the whole group is startled.

This makes them an excellent choice if you want a visible cleanup crew that won’t constantly launch themselves around the enclosure.

Recommended use

Onychiuridae sp. “Snowflakes” are ideal for:

• Bioactive terrariums and vivariums (frogs, geckos, invertebrates, etc.)

• Isopod, millipede and beetle setups, where they help keep the substrate clean

• Mixed microfauna communities together with isopods and/or other springtails

• Keepers who want a visually obvious cleanup crew that still stays close to the soil

Their white colour and habit of clustering together make them easy to spot during maintenance and feeding.

Basic care guide

Snowflakes are relatively easy to keep if basic microfauna care is provided.

Temperature

• Comfortable at standard room temperatures.

• Ideal range: around 18–24 °C.

Humidity

• Prefer consistently high humidity.

• Keep the substrate moist but avoid flooding the culture.

Substrate

• Thrive on:

  • Fine coco fiber,

  • Coco mixed with leaf litter, and

  • Other soft, slightly compact substrates.

• Small pieces of bark, leaf litter or wood provide extra structure and micro-habitats.

Food

• Feed small amounts of:

  • Springtail/microfauna diets,

  • Yeast,

  • Powdered fish food,

  • Or other finely powdered foods.

• It’s better to dust lightly and regularly than to add large piles of food that might rot.

Introducing them into an enclosure

• Tip part of the culture into the terrarium, spreading substrate and Snowflakes in moist zones and leaf litter.

• Over time, they establish a self-sustaining population, as long as humidity and food remain available.

Pack information

Onychiuridae sp. “Snowflakes” from Springtails.eu are supplied as:

• A live culture in a ventilated tub,

• Containing Snowflakes plus their working substrate,

• Available in different pack sizes so you can start small or seed multiple setups.

Larger packs are great if you want to:

• Seed several enclosures at once, or

• Build your own breeding system with multiple culture tubs.

Shipping & live arrival

• Carefully packed to protect the culture during transit.

• Shipped from within the EU to reduce transit times and customs issues for most European customers.

• During extreme heat or cold, we recommend choosing suitable shipping options to give your Snowflakes the best chance of arriving in top condition.

FAQ

Q: Do Snowflakes jump?
A: They do not behave like classic strong-jumping springtails. However, they can perform small, short hops when startled, especially when you open the tub and disturb the whole surface at once. In normal conditions they stay on the substrate and move slowly.

Q: Are they good for bioactive terrariums?
A: Yes. They are an excellent bioactive cleanup crew, feeding on mold, decaying matter and food residues in the substrate.

Q: Can they be kept with isopods and other microfauna?
A: Absolutely. Snowflakes work very well in mixed microfauna communities, coexisting with isopods, other springtails and decomposers.

Q: How long do they take to establish?
A: Under stable humidity and with regular light feeding, the population steadily increases over the first weeks and months, eventually forming dense white “snowy” patches on the substrate.