Isopod Care

Isopods, also known as pill bugs, sow bugs, roly-polies, or woodlice, are crustaceans belonging to the order Isopoda. These creatures come in all different shapes, sizes, and colours and can be found not only on land, but also in marine and freshwater environments.

Isopods play a crucial role when it comes to bioactive enclosures. Not only do they help break down animal waste and dead plants and returning nutrients to the soil, they can also add visual interest to your terrariums.  As well as being part of your clean up crew for your reptile enclosures, they can also be kept as pets in their own terrariums.

Enclosure:

To create an isopod enclosure, a container must first be acquired. The container can be made of glass or plastic, as long as some sort of ventilation is present.

One way to create holes in plastic containers would be by using either a soldering iron or a drill to create holes on the sides of it. When using a soldering iron, it is best to do so in a well ventilated area, preferible outdoors, to prevent breathing in harmful plastic fumes. On the other hand, for glass containers, the easiest way to create ventilation using a mesh top.

It is always important to provide your isopods with a nutrient rich substrate by adding a source of calcium, whether that be limestone, cuttlebone, or egg shells, as well as leaf litter to provide a food source and hiding places for them. In addition to leaf litter, it is essential to provide your isopods with other types of hides. The most common being cork bark, although egg cartons and other types of wood can also be used. 

On of the most important aspects to keep in. ind when keeping isopods is the humidity of your enclosure. Isopods breath through gills which mean they must always have a source of humidity. To prevent desiccation, a hydration station should always be available. This can be achieved by simply placing sphagnum moss on ¼ to ½ of the enclosure and by making sure it is always moist. 

To provide your isopods with the best care possible, make sure to always research about the specific species you have or are planning on purchasing to make sure all of their needs are met since the specific care necessary differs from species to species.

It is also important to mention that when making an isopods enclosure, springtails should always be added since they can help reduce mold, eat left over food, and outcompete unwanted critters like fungus gnats or soil mites.

Feeding:

Isopods are not very picky eaters. They eat anything from decaying leaves, to dead creatures. In addition to the nutrients available in their substrate, isopods can be fed fresh fruits and vegetables, fish food, dog or cat food, reptile shed, dead animals, decaying plants, and so much more. An important thing to keep in mind when feeding isopods however is to make sure to remove any excess food in the enclosure after 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Generally, it is best to feed isopods once or twice a week. The amount given however depends on how quickly your colony completes their meal. If food is still left over after 24 hours, it is best to decrease the amount given during their next feeding and contrary to this, if all of the food is eaten within a day, a higher amount should be offered.