Springtail transfer question

[awelcome]

I recently got a shipment of springtails from NEHERP and it appeared they didn't travel well. I didn't find too many live ones in the bunch, and I had a heck of a time moving them from the substrate to the charcoal without getting the substrate in there (used water to float them out and then try to remove those from the substrate). Anyway, NEHERP was great, and sent me a new culture, which arrived today. I am not sure they fared much better... I am pretty sure I see quite a few dead ones on the sides of the culture.... but I decided I had better do it as they suggested this time and use the tree fern piece to do the transfer. So as suggested I put the culture into a larger container and put the tree fern piece in there with the food on it to collect them. My question is.... the fern piece is pretty oddly shaped (like a wedge) and I am not sure how best to use it. Should the flat piece be facing up, which means I have to slightly bury the piece to get it where it's level with the substrate, or can I just turn that face down and will they still be on it... assuming many survived even?

[DigitalPunk]

Partially bury it. They will however find their way into it.

[awelcome]

ok, sounds good. I talked with Jessica, about not seeing any again, and she said they seed it with hundreds, and if I don't see them in a couple weeks to let her know and she'll fix it. It's so great to find a great company! But I am just hopeful they will show up... and the dead ones I saw weren't too indicative of the overall amount in there. I still don't see the few I put into the charcoal very often when I open that up either... I know it can take time though for them to build their numbers, but I mean I seriously look around and sometimes can't see ANYTHING lol.

[DigitalPunk]

Lol it will take at least 30 days till the first population boom. Just keep 1" of water in the bottom of the tub and add yeast as needed.

[awelcome]

yeah I know lol, but there should have been some from the start... Anyway, if there had been eggs in that other substrate they are long gone. Once I did the water method to get the others over I kept it for a few days but then tossed it because I needed the container.