{"title":"Live Cultures","description":"\u003cp\u003eSpringtails and isopods — the cleanup crew that turns a sealed jar into a working ecosystem.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey eat mould, break down leaf litter and shed plant matter, and keep a bioactive terrarium or vivarium balanced without you lifting the lid. A culture added at setup is the difference between a terrarium that stays clear and one that fogs up with mould in a fortnight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCaptive-bred in Brisbane and posted out alive.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"springtail-culture","title":"Live Springtail Culture — 100+ Tropical Springtails for Bioactive Terrariums","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLive tropical springtail culture — the cleanup crew for any bioactive terrarium or vivarium.\u003c\/strong\u003e Springtails (Collembola) are tiny detritivores that eat mould, fungus and decaying matter, keeping the substrate healthy and the enclosure odour-free. Completely harmless to reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and live plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick facts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100+ live tropical springtails (Collembola), established and actively breeding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhat it is:\u003c\/strong\u003e Established culture on a cocopeat (coco coir) base, ready to propagate on arrival\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bioactive terrariums, vivariums and naturalistic reptile\/amphibian enclosures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIdeal conditions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm and humid — approx. 20–26°C and 80–100% humidity; keep the substrate consistently moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHow many to add:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~50–100 for a small terrarium (40–75L); 200–500+ for larger enclosures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Self-sustaining in established setups; supplement new cultures with a pinch of nutritional yeast or crushed fish flake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beginner-friendly and low maintenance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePackaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e Supplied in a plant-based PLA bag made from plant starch rather than fossil-fuel plastic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLive arrival guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour culture arrives alive or we replace it. If there's a problem, email us a photo within 24 hours of delivery and we'll sort it out — no need to return anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLive cultures are packed the day they ship and posted Monday to Wednesday only, so nothing sits in a depot over the weekend. An order placed Thursday or Friday goes out the following Monday. We're not able to send live cultures to WA or TAS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare \u0026amp; FAQ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill springtails harm my animals or plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — they only consume decaying matter, mould and fungus, never live plants or animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I harvest them from the cocopeat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Gently tap or scoop from the culture straight onto your enclosure substrate, or add a little water and pour the floating springtails out — they disperse and establish over a couple of weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they escape into my house?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — springtails need constant humidity and won't survive on a dry benchtop or carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long do they last?\u003c\/strong\u003e Individuals live weeks to months, but a healthy colony sustains itself indefinitely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the packaging made from?\u003c\/strong\u003e A plant-based PLA film derived from plant starch instead of fossil-fuel plastic. PLA needs a commercial composting facility to break down, so it should not go in a home compost bin or the kerbside recycling stream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePairs well with:\u003c\/strong\u003e isopods, for a complete bioactive cleanup crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew to springtails? Read our full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/leafandscape.com.au\/blogs\/guides\/springtails-the-ultimate-cleanup-crew-for-your-terrarium\"\u003espringtail care guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Leaf \u0026 Scape","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47114939629786,"sku":"LSC-SPRINGTAIL","price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0791\/9766\/7546\/files\/Springtail_Package_Front.jpg?v=1787841520"},{"product_id":"isopod-culture","title":"Live Isopod Culture — 20 Common Brown Isopods (Porcellio scaber) for Bioactive Terrariums","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaptive-bred isopod culture — hard-working decomposers for a self-cleaning bioactive setup.\u003c\/strong\u003e Common Brown isopods (\u003cem\u003ePorcellio scaber\u003c\/em\u003e) are land-living crustaceans, closer relatives of prawns and crabs than of any insect in your garden. They break down droppings, shed skin, uneaten food and decaying plants, aerate the substrate as they burrow, and recycle waste into fertiliser for live plants. Harmless to your animals, your established plants and your substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick facts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 live, captive-bred Common Brown isopods (\u003cem\u003ePorcellio scaber\u003c\/em\u003e), mixed sizes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhat it is:\u003c\/strong\u003e An established culture on moist substrate with leaf litter, ready to tip straight into your enclosure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bioactive terrariums, vivariums and naturalistic reptile\/amphibian enclosures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIdeal conditions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18–26°C with a moist end and a drier retreat — they breathe through gills, so they always want a damp corner to go to\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHow many to add:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 seeds a small to medium terrarium (roughly 40–75L); larger vivariums establish faster with two cultures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaf litter, decaying wood and vegetable scraps; offer a calcium source such as cuttlebone for healthy moulting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beginner-friendly; the colony becomes self-sustaining once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePackaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e Supplied in a ventilated tub with substrate and leaf litter for the journey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy add isopods?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEats what others can't\u003c\/strong\u003e — breaks down leaf litter, bark and animal waste before it fouls your substrate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilds living soil\u003c\/strong\u003e — castings feed your plants, and constant burrowing keeps the substrate aerated instead of compacted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOdour control\u003c\/strong\u003e — waste is cleared before it has a chance to smell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe workhorse\u003c\/strong\u003e — the hardiest of the common bioactive isopods, and forgiving of cooler rooms and drier patches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLive arrival guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour culture arrives alive or we replace it. If there's a problem, email us a photo within 24 hours of delivery and we'll sort it out — no need to return anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLive cultures are packed the day they ship and posted Monday to Wednesday only, so nothing sits in a depot over the weekend. An order placed Thursday or Friday goes out the following Monday. We're not able to send live cultures to WA or TAS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare \u0026amp; FAQ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill isopods eat my live plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e They strongly prefer decaying matter and established plants are left alone. Very soft seedlings and fresh moss can occasionally be grazed if there is nothing else on offer, so keep leaf litter in the enclosure and it won't come up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I establish a colony?\u003c\/strong\u003e Tip the culture in, substrate and all, to a humid planted enclosure with leaf litter and a hide. Keep one side moist and the other drier, and let the population build over a few weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne of mine is two different colours — is it sick?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, that's a moult. Isopods shed in two halves, back end first, so a two-tone isopod is growing, not dying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere have they all gone?\u003c\/strong\u003e Isopods work mostly at night and spend the day under leaf litter, bark and hides. You'll notice their handiwork before you notice them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they escape into my house?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — they need constant humidity and a damp retreat, and won't survive on a dry benchtop or carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long do they last?\u003c\/strong\u003e Individuals typically live two to three years, and a colony with food and moisture sustains itself indefinitely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I feed them to my reptiles?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Isopods are a good calcium-rich feeder for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, and a colony living in the enclosure doubles as a self-replenishing snack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePairs well with:\u003c\/strong\u003e springtails — springtails clear mould at the microscopic level while isopods handle the bulk. Together they're a complete bioactive cleanup crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew to isopods? Read our full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/leafandscape.com.au\/blogs\/guides\/isopods-beginners-care-guide-bioactive-terrariums\"\u003eisopod care guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Leaf \u0026 Scape","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47601927782618,"sku":"LSC-ISOPOD","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0791\/9766\/7546\/files\/DSC00061_aac48803-30b3-4a72-9df1-3585b1c2f3cd.jpg?v=1789466513"},{"product_id":"bioactive-cleanup-crew-bundle","title":"Bioactive Cleanup Crew Bundle — Live Springtails (100+) \u0026 Isopods (20 Porcellio scaber)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEverything a bioactive terrarium needs to clean itself.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA bioactive setup needs two crews working at two different scales. Springtails (\u003cem\u003eCollembola\u003c\/em\u003e) are the microscopic half. They graze mould and fungus off the substrate before you ever see it. Common Brown isopods (\u003cem\u003ePorcellio scaber\u003c\/em\u003e) do the heavy lifting, breaking down leaf litter, bark, droppings and shed skin into living soil. Run one without the other and you have half a cleanup crew. Run both and the enclosure looks after itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth cultures are bred here in Brisbane, packed the day they ship and sent together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick facts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 × Live Springtail Culture (100+ tropical springtails) and 1 × Live Isopod Culture (20 captive-bred Common Brown isopods, \u003cem\u003ePorcellio scaber\u003c\/em\u003e, mixed sizes), plus care instructions for both\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhat it is:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two established cultures, springtails on a moist cocopeat (coco coir) base and isopods on moist substrate with leaf litter, ready to go straight into your enclosure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bioactive terrariums, vivariums and naturalistic reptile\/amphibian enclosures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIdeal conditions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20–26°C suits both. Keep the substrate consistently moist, with a slightly drier corner for the isopods to retreat to\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHow much it covers:\u003c\/strong\u003e One bundle seeds a small to medium terrarium (roughly 40–75L); larger vivariums establish faster with two\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Both become self-sustaining in an established setup. Give a new springtail culture a pinch of nutritional yeast or crushed fish flake, and offer the isopods leaf litter, decaying wood and a calcium source such as cuttlebone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beginner-friendly and low maintenance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePackaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e Springtails in a plant-based PLA bag made from plant starch rather than fossil-fuel plastic; isopods in a ventilated tub with substrate and leaf litter for the journey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy both?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo scales, one job:\u003c\/strong\u003e springtails handle mould and fungus at a level you can barely see; isopods handle the bulk waste. Neither does the other's work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo competition:\u003c\/strong\u003e they eat different things at different sizes, which is why they're the standard bioactive pairing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLiving soil:\u003c\/strong\u003e isopod castings feed your plants and their burrowing keeps substrate aerated, while springtails stop mould taking hold in the gaps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOdour control:\u003c\/strong\u003e waste and mould are cleared before they have a chance to smell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to add them\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth go straight in with no acclimating. Tap or scoop the springtail culture onto your substrate (or add a little water and pour out the floating springtails). Tip the isopod culture in, substrate and all, near leaf litter and a hide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarting a brand new build? Add the springtails first and let them settle for a couple of weeks, then add the isopods on top of an already-working system. If the enclosure is already running, add both on the same day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLive arrival guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour cultures arrive alive or we replace them. If there's a problem with either one, email us a photo within 24 hours of delivery and we'll sort it out. No need to return anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLive cultures are packed the day they ship and posted Monday to Wednesday only, so nothing sits in a depot over the weekend. An order placed Thursday or Friday goes out the following Monday. We're not able to send live cultures to WA or TAS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare \u0026amp; FAQ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they compete with each other?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Springtails work on mould and fungus at the microscopic level, isopods on the bulk material. Together they're the standard bioactive cleanup crew, not a compromise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they harm my animals or plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Springtails only eat decaying matter, mould and fungus. Isopods strongly prefer decaying matter and leave established plants alone. Very soft seedlings and fresh moss can occasionally be grazed if there's nothing else on offer, so keep leaf litter in the enclosure and it won't come up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they escape into my house?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Both need constant humidity and won't survive on a dry benchtop or carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne of my isopods is two different colours. Is it sick?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, that's a moult. Isopods shed in two halves, back end first, so a two-tone isopod is growing, not dying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere have the isopods gone?\u003c\/strong\u003e They work mostly at night and spend the day under leaf litter, bark and hides. You'll notice their handiwork before you notice them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long do they last?\u003c\/strong\u003e Individual springtails live weeks to months and isopods two to three years, but both colonies sustain themselves indefinitely with food and moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the springtail packaging made from?\u003c\/strong\u003e A plant-based PLA film derived from plant starch. PLA needs a commercial composting facility to break down, so it shouldn't go in a home compost bin or kerbside recycling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew to bioactive? Read our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/leafandscape.com.au\/blogs\/guides\/springtails-the-ultimate-cleanup-crew-for-your-terrarium\"\u003espringtail care guide\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/leafandscape.com.au\/blogs\/guides\/isopods-beginners-care-guide-bioactive-terrariums\"\u003eisopod care guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Leaf \u0026 Scape","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67429264556250,"sku":"LSC-CREW-COMBO","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0791\/9766\/7546\/files\/Combo2_cbfa406f-e19d-43b5-8ebc-8f1de58821b7.jpg?v=1790865986"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0791\/9766\/7546\/collections\/DSC08999.jpg?v=1788693878","url":"https:\/\/leafandscape.com.au\/collections\/live-cultures.oembed","provider":"Leaf \u0026 Scape","version":"1.0","type":"link"}