Did you know that Isopods are older than humans? Yes, they are, and the oldest fossil record reveals they are from the Carboniferous era when humans were from existing.
With an age of almost 300 million years, they are the superlative of ancient, making them fascinating creatures to study or keep as pets. From appearance to behavior, everything about modern isopods appeals to keepers who enjoy keeping them in captivity.
Some people own them as pets, and others breed them so they can sell or add to their collection. Regardless of the reason, there are plenty of things to keep in mind, particularly if it is about their breeding. This post will tell you everything you need about their breeding process. Meanwhile, check out isopods for sale so that you can have your favorite species at an affordable price.
Isopod Breeding
Owning and breeding isopods is not difficult if you have a good idea about their reproduction process.
The gestation period of isopods lasts 50-60 days, which is common for most pill bugs. If you provide a stable setup, they can breed without stress or discomfort. They continue to multiply if the food and humidity levels are correct, two of the most essential for survival.
But not all isopod species are the same. Each species is unique and needs different requirements to be met if you want to see them thrive in captivity.
Even a slight environmental change can cause issues and stop them from breeding. They are extremely sensitive to changes, so you should take them seriously and provide everything needed.
Tips For Isopods Breeding
If you want to learn how to regulate breeding isopods, read through the given pointers as we have discussed the details.
Adjust Temperature and Humidity
The main factor that affects the regulation of their breeding is the enclosure's temperature and humidity, which have to be adjusted as per their preference. Maintain the temperature within the tolerance range so reproduction doesn't slow down. Also, the moisture needs to be in check; otherwise, it can discourage breeding and cause molting issues.
Isopods need moisture to survive. But that doesn't mean you should moisten the enclosure more than necessary. Both temperature and humidity need to be in a suitable range because that's what your isopods need.
Manage Food Supply
A common misconception amongst keepers is that overfeeding isopods will make them reproduce faster, but it is probably the worst thing you can do to you isopods and rather can impact your isopods' health.
Provide only the necessary amount they need to sustain their population and not a bite more. Also, limit high-protein foods like fish flakes or dried shrimp as it encourages them to breed faster.
Control Population Density
If your isopods have sufficient space in the enclosure, they will likely breed more than normal. In this case, you should add more isopods to the terrarium. This will increase the crowd as they compete for space and resources.
If you need a specific number of isopods, you can use dividers or separate enclosures. Just move the excess individuals to another enclosure to keep the population in check.
Separate Males and Females
If you want strict control over breeding, keep the males and females separately. This way, they cannot reproduce and expand their population.
However, identifying a female or male can be challenging if you have less experience with these creatures. Male isopods have longer uropods, and females have a brood pouch.
Regulating isopod breeding is not difficult if you follow these tips correctly. You can keep their number in check without much hassle by making these adjustments.