Feeding Isopods Repashy Morning Wood

Repashy Morning Wood is a calcium-fortified, plant- and algae-based gel food made specifically for isopods, springtails and other detritivores. You mix the powder with hot water, let it set into a firm gel, and offer small pieces as a convenient, nutrient-rich supplement alongside the usual leaf litter and rotting wood. It's a handy way to add balanced nutrition and a little extra calcium without fuss — this guide covers what's in it, why keepers use it, and exactly how to prepare and feed it.

Like any prepared food, Morning Wood works best as one part of a varied diet rather than the whole thing. The foundation is always decaying plant matter, covered in our guide to a healthy diet for isopods; the gel sits alongside that as a supplement.

What Is Repashy Morning Wood?

Morning Wood is a powdered gel premix from Repashy, a well-known maker of gel diets for reptiles and invertebrates. It's described as a "super firm, long-lasting" formula for isopods, springtails and other detritus feeders, and the idea is simple: the powder is plant- and algae-based, fortified with calcium and a full vitamin and mineral profile, and turns into a sliceable gel when mixed with hot water.

It's worth being accurate about what isopods are, since the older product write-ups often get this wrong: isopods aren't herbivorous insects. They're detritivorous crustaceans, feeding mainly on decaying plant matter but also taking some protein and microbial food. Morning Wood suits that detritivore diet well — it's predominantly plant and algae, with enough protein and added calcium to support growth and moulting.

What's in It?

The bulk of the formula is plant and algae material — cellulose, dried seaweed meal, alfalfa leaf meal, spirulina algae — with rice protein concentrate, pea protein isolate, stabilised rice bran and dried brewer's yeast adding protein and energy. Calcium carbonate provides the calcium that's the main reason many keepers reach for it, and there's a comprehensive blend of added vitamins and chelated trace minerals, plus natural pigment sources like marigold, paprika and turmeric that can help support colour in display species. Locust bean gum is what lets it set into a firm gel.

The guaranteed analysis is a crude protein minimum of 20%, crude fat minimum of 3%, and crude fibre maximum of 50%, with moisture around 8%. In plain terms: a high-fibre, plant-based food with a moderate, useful amount of protein — well matched to what an isopod actually needs.

Why Use It?

A few practical reasons keepers like it:

Balanced nutrition in one product. It combines plant matter, a moderate protein level, added calcium and a full vitamin and mineral profile, so it's an easy way to round out a diet based on leaf litter and wood.
Extra calcium. Being calcium-fortified, it helps support the exoskeleton through moults — though it complements rather than replaces a permanent cuttlebone or limestone source.
Convenient and long-lasting. Once prepared, the gel keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks or the freezer for up to six months, so a single batch lasts a long time. The dry powder stores well too.
Pigment support. The algae and natural pigments can help colourful morphs look their best, the same principle behind feeding spirulina or algae pellets.

How Do You Prepare Repashy Morning Wood?

The basic method, following Repashy's own directions, is quick:

Mix. Use roughly one part powder to two or three parts water, adjusting for a firmer or softer gel. Add the powder to just-boiled water and stir thoroughly until smooth (you can also microwave the mix until it just starts to boil, then stir).
Set. Pour into a shallow container or mould and leave at room temperature until firm — it sets as it cools, within a few minutes.
Cut and serve. Once set, cut the gel into small pieces and place a piece in the enclosure. It can also be served as a dry powder, or dried further into a slow-release "jerky" if you prefer.

If the gel doesn't set firmly, use a little less water next time; if it's too stiff, add a little more. Let tap water stand for a few hours first, or use dechlorinated water, if you'd rather avoid chlorine.

How to Feed It

The feeding rules are the same as for any fresh food in a humid enclosure. Offer only as much as the colony will clear in a day or two, place it on a piece of bark or a slate so leftovers are easy to lift out, and remove any uneaten gel before it grows mould. If your isopods haven't met it before, start with a small amount next to their usual food and let them find it rather than replacing everything at once.

And keep it as a supplement: Morning Wood is a good addition to the rotation, but it shouldn't be the only thing on offer. Pair it with leaf litter, rotting wood, the occasional fresh vegetable and a permanent calcium source, and the colony gets the variety it does best on.

Storing It

Keep the dry powder somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight and away from moisture. Treat prepared gel as fresh food: sealed in the fridge it keeps up to two weeks, and portions can be frozen for up to six months. Use clean utensils when preparing it, and discard any gel that's been sitting in the enclosure for more than a day or two, or any batch that smells off or shows mould.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Repashy Morning Wood?

A calcium-fortified, plant- and algae-based powdered gel food made by Repashy for isopods, springtails and other detritivores. Mixed with hot water, it sets into a firm gel you cut into pieces and feed as a supplement.

How do you prepare Repashy Morning Wood?

Mix roughly one part powder with two to three parts just-boiled water, stir until smooth, pour into a mould and let it set at room temperature for a few minutes. Cut the firm gel into small pieces to feed. It can also be served as powder or dried into jerky.

How long does the prepared gel last?

Treat it as fresh food: sealed in the fridge it keeps up to two weeks, and it can be frozen for up to six months. In the enclosure, remove any uneaten gel after a day or two to prevent mould.

Can Morning Wood be the only food for isopods?

No — it's a supplement, not a complete replacement. Keep leaf litter and rotting wood as the base diet, with Morning Wood, fresh veg and a permanent calcium source adding variety and nutrition on top.

Does Repashy Morning Wood provide enough calcium on its own?

It's calcium-fortified and helps, but it's best alongside a permanent calcium source like cuttlebone or limestone that the colony can graze on whenever it needs to, rather than relying on the gel alone.