Isopod Behaviour In Captivity –Things You Should Know As A Keeper
maintaining their health, everything related to their well-being is your responsibility, something which you cannot evade.
If you think Isopods are easy to keep, think again! Despite being small, they have many requirements, from habitat to diet. As a keeper, you need to care for them so they can thrive and live happily without discomfort.
Caring for isopods is easy if you learn about their behaviour. Since many of you are new to these creatures, you have yet to figure out how they behave in captivity. To give you a basic idea, we have discussed the details below. Meanwhile, look for isopods for sale, so you can buy high-value species at an affordable price.
Isopods Are Nocturnal Creatures
Unlike other pets, isopods come active at night, when the sun is down and the world is asleep. Since they have no one to disturb at night, they roam freely and explore their surroundings, finding food and interacting with their kind.
As soon as the day arrives, they hide beneath leaf litter or other hiding spots in the enclosure. They are also more sluggish or less energetic during the day.
They Have A Complex Communication System
Like other beings, isopods communicate, but it is a complex system, unlike any other species. From sound to touch and chemical signals, they use various ways to interact with each other in their natural habitat.
Isopods make chirping noises or use their antennas to send signals and communicate with others. During the breeding season, females release pheromones so that male isopods can find a suitable partner.
They Are Social Creatures
Isopods are not different from other animals in terms of being social and living together with their kind. Like many species, they too like to live in colonies and follow the system regardless if they are living in the wild or in captivity.
Some isopods are more dominant and aggressive than others. Determining the difference between dominant and submissive is easy if you study their behaviour closely. For example, submissive isopods follow the ones above them and show grooming behavior that dominant isopods don’t.
They Are Sensitive To Changes
There are a few things that people don’t know unless they are keeping them as kept like they are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and substrate conditions. A little to no changes in the environment can result into the molting issue, something you will not want your isopods to go through, and makes it important to be extra cautious about their weather conditions.
However, you can avoid these problems if you keep the conditions ideal always. If your isopods are stressed, it’s because there is something abnormal in their habitat that you need to fix. Unless you resolve the issue, your isopods will suffer. Also, they may not survive if you take it lightly.
They Have A Short Lifespan
Isopods don’t live for many years. Their lifespan is generally 2-4 years if you keep them in good condition. However, the duration varies based on the environmental conditions and species.
For instance, some isopod species can survive many years in captivity, but others cannot. So, you need to remember these things when getting them for your terrarium. Also, they go molt several times before their life ends.
As you can see, isopods are interesting creatures with many unique traits and habits you don’t see in other pets. If you want to own them as pets, you need to commit yourself fully otherwise there can be issues.