Isopods for Dart Frog Enclosures

Do you know what your dart frog viv needs? More chaos. More things in there running around, but small enough that they don't upset your frogs. Being a great source of food would be even better.

Why Add Isopods to Your Dart Frog Enclosure?

 If you are looking to create a bioactive enclosure the aim is to have inhabitants that deal with every stage of the nutrient cycle. So your frogs eat the food that you put in there for them, then you need something to deal with the waste from the frogs, which can be plants, and yes isopods. Then their waste in turn will be broken down by microbes in your substrate. This isn’t the entire picture as you will need to be able to change out any standing water, such as any in the drainage layer, and it’s worth swapping out some of the substrate on regular occasions.

 Isopods help not only to break down waste left by the frogs, but also the waste from the plants, any leftover foods, depending on what you feed, and break down leaf litter into lead mould. Which helps retain moisture, and is a breeding ground for the isopods themselves. This breakdown of the leaves increases the microbial activity, and that in turn helps break down other things.

Are Isopods a Healthy Food for Dart Frogs

If you feed them a healthy diet then yes. Isopods have the ability to isolate and store heavy metals in their bodies. Leaves can also be a source of heavy metals if collected from urban areas, especially from trees and bushes growing near busy roads, or in areas of heavy pollution. If fed a diet with leaves collected from rural areas, away from factories and other industrial pollution sources, isopods can be a good portion of a varied diet.

 Some studies have shown that isopods are higher in many vitamins and minerals than other similar-sized foodstuff, so it certainly won't hurt to add them to your frogs' enclosure, as a clean-up crew, as enrichment, and as a source of food.

Which Isopods are Best for Dart Frog Enclosures

 Trichorhina Tomentosa or Dwarf White Isopods have long been a favourite of frog keepers. Porcellionides Pruinosus is another great choice. The latter is famed for the range of colours they come in and how adaptable they are to a variety of conditions.

 Any tank or enclosure should have a heat gradient, and that will cause a humidity gradient. Often the height of the enclosure means that the gradient is vertical, so to give the isopods the best chance to find the humidity they prefer it’s worth having areas of deeper dryer substrate, and plenty of hiding places.