Jurassic Pets

Real Life Jurassic Era Pets

 

The trilobite is one of the best-known animals from the explosion of life in the Cambrian period. Their fossils are relatively easy to get hold of, and most geologists can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about these multi-segmented little creatures.

 

Sadly, you will never be able to own a trilobite, the Permian mass extinction 251 million years ago was the end for the multitude of species of trilobites, but there is a relative of theirs still wandering around Earth. They are not a close relative, but they look, act, and are similar, and you can get them for far less than the price of a decent fossil.

 

Isopods Evolution

 

About 300 million years ago a marine creature evolved that could be called the first isopod. Today there are over 10 000 species of isopod, with more being discovered every year. About 3600 of those live entirely on land. A tiny creature that has been around in some form since before the dinosaurs.

 

What is an isopod? Is an Isopod an Insect?

 

Isopods are not insects, they're more closely related to crabs than insects. But there are a lot of different-looking creatures that are part of the order Isopoda, from the tiny cute Cubaris, through to the much larger and frankly scary Bathynomus that inhabit deep oceans and are known to attack sharks.

 

All isopods have two pairs of antennae, four sets of jaws, and compound eyes, like flys and wasps, they may not be able to see detail as well as we can, but they can see movement, and may be able to see polarising light. Meaning they can see stuff that we need special microscopes and lenses for.

The pereon, the body, is made up of seven segments, each with its own pair of walking legs, Their abdomen is made up of pleons, and a tail-like structure is made up of fused pleons segments. Each pleon has a set of limbs that are used for swimming and respiration. The pleopods are different if they're terrestrial or aquatic isopods. Terrestrial isopods have air sacs to allow gas exchange without being submerged.

 

The best unusual pet.

 

Isopods give you something as close to Jurassic Park as you will get in a tiny enclosure that will fit comfortably on your desk or table. Even better if something goes wrong you don't have to run for your life.

 

By the time the Jurrasic period began, nearly 200 million years ago, isopods had been around for about 100 million years. This means that when T-Rex was growing to be one of the world's more dominant predators, unless you follow the theory they were scavengers, then scurrying around in the caves and undergrowth were these many segmented little beasties.

 

Terrarium ideas for keeping Isopods.

 

Have a look at the needs for keeping an isopod https://postpods.co.uk/blogs/isopods-useful-articles/setting-up-selecting-your-first-isopods but once you have the basics right then it’s all up to your imagination. Do you want a mini set of Jurrasic world gates, and a model T-Rex, then you go for it. But add in some plants and some décor and things will be even better.

 

Plants for a prehistoric terrarium.

 

Two of my favourite plants for adding greenery are Nephrolepis Exaltata, the miniature Boston Fern, and asparagus fern – Asparagus setaceus and Asparagus densiflorus. Depending on the size of your terrarium they can form the backdrop to your planting.

 

Depending on the size you can use Selaginella martensii, Martens club moss, as either a midground or a foreground plant, with its lovely fern-like fronds and creeping habit it can fill in the gaps in any planting. But make sure you leave some space so you can see your isopods as they explore the area.

 

If you're keeping your humidity high or can have some water at the front consider Bucephalandra, these are commonly sold for aquariums, but in the wild live near waterfalls and are grown out of water before being put underwater. If you get one pot from a fish shop you might find three or four plants once you tease them apart. They don't like to have their roots in soil so use a touch of super glue to stick their roots to a bit of wood or rock. Either keep their roots wet or spray them regularly.

 

Choosing your isopods.

 

There are so many to choose from, but here’s my tip, after you’ve spent all that time and effort, and yes money on the terrarium, choose some isopods that are that bit special.