Isopods Care Guide
“In many terrestrial ecosystems, isopods play an important role in decomposition processes through mechanical and chemical breakdown of plant litter and by enhancing microbial activity.”
— Martin Zimmer, Nutrition in terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea): an evolutionary-ecological approach
Armadillidium vulgare
VARIETIES: Magic Potion, albino T+, albino T-, Orange Vigor, Orange Dalmatian
NATIVE TO: Europe
LIFESPAN: 1-5 years
SIZE: 1-2cm
HUMIDITY: Isopods have gills and therefore require moisture to breathe; therefore, you should NEVER allow their enclosure to completely dry out. However, this species prefers a semi-arid environment, so access humidity will cause issues with molting their skin and they will die. These isopods tend to become less active when humidity is too high. We recommend spraying one quarter of the enclosure to create a moisture gradient so the isopods can move from a wetter to drier environment as needed.
SUBSTRATE: Isopods enclosures should have a layer of moisture-retaining, loamy soil topped by a thick layer of sanitized leaves. This provides the humidity needed for the isopods to breathe as well as providing their main food source: decomposing leaves.
DIET: Isopods are an important part of forest ecosystems because they eat leaf litter, rotting wood, and other detritus; however, their diet can be supplemented by small amounts of chopped vegetables and the IsoPet powdered food. Only offer as much supplemental food, such as IsoPet Diet and small-chopped vegetables, as your culture will eat before it molds. Grains should be avoided to prevent the introduction of grain mites. A source of calcium should also be made available, which is provided in the IsoPet Substrate.
BEHAVIOR: These isopods, also called pillbugs or roly-polys, are moderately active and roll into a tight ball when frightened. They also tend to burrow into the soil as well as congregate under leaves and rotting wood.
Porcellio laevis
VARIETIES: Dairy Cow, Dalmatian, Milk Back, White Out,
NATIVE TO: Europe
LIFESPAN: 1-5 years
SIZE: 2-3cm
HUMIDITY: Isopods have gills and therefore require moisture to breathe; therefore, you should NEVER allow their enclosure to completely dry out. We recommend spraying one half of the enclosure to create a moisture gradient so the isopods can move from a wetter to drier environment as needed.
SUBSTRATE: Isopods enclosures should have a layer of moisture-retaining, loamy soil (like IsoPet Substrate) topped by a thick layer of sanitized leaves (provided in the IsoPet Pod kit). This provides the humidity needed for the isopods to breathe as well as providing their main food source: decomposing leaves.
DIET: Isopods are an important part of forest ecosystems because they eat leaf litter, rotting wood, and other detritus; however, their diet should be supplemented by small amounts of chopped vegetables and the IsoPet powdered food. Only offer as much supplemental food, such as IsoPet Diet and small-chopped vegetables, as your culture will eat before it molds. Grains should be avoided to prevent the introduction of grain mites. A source of calcium should also be made available, which is provided in the IsoPet Substrate.
BEHAVIOR: These isopods, also called sowbugs or wood lice, are very active and play dead or scurry away when frightened. They also tend to congregate under leaves and rotting wood without burrowing into the soil.
Porcellio scaber
VARIETIES:
NATIVE TO: Europe
LIFESPAN: 1-5 years
SIZE: 1-2cm
HUMIDITY: Isopods have gills and therefore require moisture to breathe; therefore, you should NEVER allow their enclosure to completely dry out. We recommend spraying one half of the enclosure to create a moisture gradient so the isopods can move from a wetter to drier environment as needed.
DIET: Isopods are an important part of forest ecosystems because they eat leaf litter, rotting wood, and other detritus; however, their diet should be supplemented by small amounts of chopped vegetables and the IsoPet powdered food. Only offer as much supplemental food, such as IsoPet Diet and small-chopped vegetables, as your culture will eat before it molds. Grains should be avoided to prevent the introduction of grain mites. A source of calcium should also be made available, which is provided in the IsoPet Substrate.
BEHAVIOR: These isopods, also called sowbugs or wood lice, are moderately active and play dead or scurry away when frightened. They also tend to congregate under leaves and rotting wood without burrowing into the soil.
Porcellionides pruinosis
VARIETIES: Powder Blue, Powder Orange, Powder White
NATIVE TO: Europe
LIFESPAN: 1-5 years
SIZE: 1-2cm
HUMIDITY: Isopods have gills and therefore require moisture to breathe; therefore, you should NEVER allow their enclosure to completely dry out. We recommend spraying one half of the enclosure to create a moisture gradient so the isopods can move from a wetter to drier environment as needed.
DIET: Isopods are an important part of forest ecosystems because they eat leaf litter, rotting wood, and other detritus; however, their diet should be supplemented by small amounts of chopped vegetables and the IsoPet powdered food. Only offer as much supplemental food, such as IsoPet Diet and small-chopped vegetables, as your culture will eat before it molds. Grains should be avoided to prevent the introduction of grain mites. A source of calcium should also be made available, which is provided in the IsoPet Substrate.
BEHAVIOR: These isopods, also called sowbugs or wood lice, are extremely active and play dead or scurry away when frightened. They also tend to congregate under leaves and rotting wood without burrowing into the soil.