catching my own vivarium janitors

[eric048]

I live in fort worth texas, by dallas, I was wondering since i'm sick of calling like 100 pet and specialty shops in the area is there anywhere or is it safe to find and capture my own wood lice (pill bugs), spring tails, etc and how would I go about doing this

[Inigo]

Just make sure you capture then in a chemical free area such as pest control chemicals and such,wood lice or pill bugs can be found living under most dead wood or damp places and usually do well in a viv,with cleaning and then becoming food themselves.

[eric048]

what about sringtails?

[Inigo]

I baufgt a bag of Moss Peat to use as substrate for one of my T,s a few years back and it was full of springtails,ever since then ive always had them i dont know how to catch them though sorry

[eric048]

that happend to a friend of mine who breeds tortoises, she bought a bag of moss filled with springtails

[ViperJr]

I my experience, you'll get springtails either you like it or not, eventually (if we're talking a tropical terrarium)
You've probably heard this before, but Josh's Frogs sells (and ships) springtails.

[kueluck]

Well if you can wait until May, we'll be in Ft Worth for a wedding. I wonder if TSA will let me bring pill bugs on the plane.

I live in fort worth texas, by dallas, I was wondering since i'm sick of calling like 100 pet and specialty shops in the area is there anywhere or is it safe to find and capture my own wood lice (pill bugs), spring tails, etc and how would I go about doing this

[eric048]

im going to the herp show in arlington today there might be some there...

[kueluck]

I'm sure you'll find what you need........and some. Have a fun!!

[eric048]

it is so crowded, i cant even move

[Reggie]

The NARBC show was great in Arlington, Tx. ! I saw alot of springtail starter kits as well as other micro bugs. If you want pill bugs , they are easy to find, just go flipping logs and debris in wooded/forest areas or fields right after a rain. Or an easier way is if you have a flower bed or garden , lay a few pieces of cardboard or wood on the dirt , come back to it in a few weeks or a month and you 'll find lots of pill bugs. I believe they eat rotting debris , I have them in my european nightcrawler bin so and I think they are snacking on egg shells , corn meal , oats and damp newspaper.

[eric048]

there were a few starter cultures but U didn't feel like spending $10 on pill bugs, or $8-15 on springtails....

[eric048]

I not u, sorry typo

[Reggie]

You are correct , I didn't want to spend money on bugs that I have in my own backyard , LOL !!!!

[eric048]

I contacted my local parks department and they gave me a list of places they don't spray so I'll look there when it warms up

[NatureLady]

If you are looking for springtails, now is not such a bad time to go (In Oklahoma it is a bad day...cold rain...bleh). Go to the areas you found at the parks and dig up some leaf litter and a few inches of top soil. I then cut a wedge out of a potato and push it down into the soil with the skin side up. Usually after it has all warmed up I find that I have springtails. Pill bugs can be found on larger peices of fallen logs, usually rolled up in the bark not the soil.

[eric048]

i have also read that mushrooms work for springtails... I will try that out