The Protonura sp. “Orange Springtail” is one of the newer species in the isopod and springtail hobby. The small arthropod has gained popularity in the last year despite not much being known about their origin and their care.

The Protonura sp. “Orange Springtail” is also labelled for sale as Bilobella braunerae since they are similar in size, roughly 4mm long and their overall appearance. The main difference is that the Protonura is orange as its name implies and is believed to have originated in Asia. There are hobbyists that refer to these rotund, brightly colored hexapods as “dirt Cheetos” or “dirt gummies”. Many hobbyists keep these arthropods for their own viewing pleasure much like the ant farms that graced many a child’s room.

The Protonura species “Orange Springtail” is kept one of two ways by many in the hobby, on flake soil substrate or on calcium bearing clay made for springtails. There are pros and cons to both culturing methods, mainly ease of removal from the main colonies by the keeper and the availability of sourcing the materials needed to set up the culture. Not everyone has access to rotting white wood needed to make the flake soil, however we have had some success personally keeping the Protonura “Orange Springtail” on a blend of commercially available reptile substrate with a blend of dead leaves and sphagnum moss.

These springtails seemingly tolerate a wide variety of applications in bioactive enclosures as well, if moisture levels remain damp and there is plenty of vegetation and decaying material for them to consume. Amphibian keepers have reported that the damp, humid environments created to house various frog species is the perfect setup for the Protonura sp. “Orange Springtail” as well, though they are very rarely seen in this application. One could also keep their new arthropod with other invertebrates such as arachnids, mantids, isopods and more.