How many isopods do I need to start a colony?

What is an isopod colony?

Many isopods live in groups, although I’ll be the first to admit there is a lot we don’t know about them. Are they living in closely related groups with interaction and even roles, or more likely are they living in the same area to take advantage of the best resources? We know some are fiercely territorial, some raise their young in constructed burrows in a monogamous pair, whilst others seem to have little or no interest in each other.

 The only time you have to worry about the make-up of a colony is when there is the risk of aggression between the individuals. Keep reading to find out which species might need a bit of extra care when choosing their enclosure.

 What a colony means to you probably relates to how or why you are keeping them. If you're keeping them in a setup as a clean-up crew you will want enough to take care of any waste, and also enough that it's not an issue if they get snacked on.

Fast or slower breeding isopods

 Some species will breed as soon as you have them in their enclosure, others take some time to get settled. You may have to make some changes to make things just right for them. Obviously, the faster breeders will get a breeding colony established in a shorter span of time. But don't discount the slower breeders. Many of the well-known species of isopod are the slower breeders. Think of the beloved Cubaris sp. such as Rubber Ducky, or Panda King. No, you're not going to see hundreds within a few weeks of getting them, but they are worth the extra effort.

Getting things right for your isopod colony

 Getting things correct in terms of humidity, temperature and diet is crucial. Interestingly we know that young isopods will grow slower in lower temperatures, but will grow to be larger adults, and larger females will have more young. Ideally, you want to aim for the midpoint in the range of temperature, humidity etc.

Some of this depends on your experience, if you're just starting out and you want a larger colony then look at some of our faster breeders (dairy cows, Porcellionides, panda kings).

What determines how fast an isopod colony might become established?

   

Just like in the wild, there are a number of factors that limit how fast a colony might grow. As well as humidity and temperature, you need to think about food availability and predators.  

 Whilst the bulk of an isopod's diet will be leaf litter and other detritus, you need to consider the foods that add the protein, calcium and trace nutrition that they will need to reproduce.

 Predators are also something to consider if you are using them in an enclosure with other animals. Clean-up crews can be the victim of the odd or frequent snack by the main inhabitants of the enclosure. If you are adding them to an already occupied enclosure consider adding a larger amount.

Is there a general rule of thumb on how many isopods are needed to start a colony?

 No, because there are two important factors. Your budget and what species you are considering.

 

Dairy Cow Isopods (Porcellio Laevis)

 Considered one of the best clean-up crews Dairy Cow Isopods are also easy to breed, meaning your colony will be growing sooner than you thought. You can get a head start on this by buying 200 individuals (buy dairy cows here), meaning that there is already a thriving number as soon as you put them in their enclosure. They will get up to 2.3 cm, meaning they're a nice size to be visible, and with their black and white colourations, they're pretty cute to watch.

Porcellionides pruinosus (Powder Blue, Powder Orange, etc.)

 Wonderfully robust and a great clean-up crew these are also fast breeders, and we sell them in lots of 100 allowing you to get a jump on establishing a colony. If you want to keep the colours looking bright then I'd focus on one of the colours and not mix them in a single enclosure, but if you've got different enclosures then how about having different colours in each?

Cubaris species (e.g., Cubaris "Rubber Ducky")

  Here you have to look at getting enough to allow your colony to get established, but again it all depends on your budget. Cubaris sp. tend to be slower to breed and need more specialist conditions to thrive. But that's not to say they won't breed, but don't expect a boom as quickly as with other species. Generally, I'd recommend getting 10-15 at least if you are planning on breeding them and aiming for a decent-sized colony. If you're thinking of Cubaris, you may well be thinking about Rubber Duckies. Get things right and you can start setting up more colonies, and maybe being able to share some of your offspring with other keepers.

Armadillidium Granulatum Orange

Relatively large, easy to breed, striking colours, and able to thrive in a range of environments. What's not to love about these? Grab 20 of these and you will have a fantastic starter colony.

Tips for Successfully Growing an Isopod Colony

Provide a proper habitat.

  As well as leaf litter and some hiding places, ensure there is both a heat and humidity gradient. This means that they can choose where to set up their new home and have the conditions they prefer.

A great isopod diet

 As well as leaf litter consider their calcium, protein and trace vitamins and minerals needs. This might mean adding veg, fruit, fish food, egg shells, cuttlefish, or a range of other foods.

Give them a chance to grow

 Assuming that you are using them to feed to other animals, or you are moving some into a viv as a clean-up crew, then avoid taking out the larger ones. Larger females will have more offspring, so giving them the chance to grow and produce young will help your colony grow faster.

Research research research

If you want to have a thriving colony then learning everything you can about your chosen species is the key takeaway. As well as buying healthy stock from, well us. Click here for our shop.