Introduction to Isopod Colonies
Isopod colonies are fascinating creatures that have captured the interest of invertebrate enthusiasts around the world. Whether you’re looking to breed isopods as a hobby or to support a thriving bioactive terrarium, understanding their needs is the first step to success. Terrestrial isopods, including popular species like pill bugs and sow bugs, are known for their unique behaviors and ability to thrive in a variety of environments.
Keeping isopods healthy starts with providing a healthy habitat that mimics their natural surroundings. Proper ventilation, consistent moisture, and a balanced diet are all essential for breeding success and long-term colony health. When you breed isopods, you’ll notice how quickly a few isopods can multiply under the right conditions, making them both a rewarding and educational experience for keepers of all ages. By focusing on the basics of isopod care, you can enjoy watching these bugs interact, breed, and contribute to the overall balance of your enclosure.
Isopod Habitat and Environment
Creating the perfect isopod habitat is key to maintaining a healthy and active colony. Start with a secure enclosure that allows for adequate airflow, as proper ventilation helps prevent the buildup of harmful gases and keeps your isopods comfortable. The substrate should be rich in organic matter—coconut coir, sphagnum moss, and a generous layer of leaf litter are all excellent choices. This combination not only retains moisture but also provides a natural environment for your isopods to burrow and forage.
Maintaining the right humidity levels is crucial; the substrate should be moist to the touch but never soggy, as excess water can lead to mold and bacteria growth. Aim for a temperature range between 60°F and 75°F (15°C to 24°C), which suits most isopod species, including favorites like Armadillidium vulgare and the rough woodlouse. Regularly remove uneaten food and waste to keep the habitat clean and reduce the risk of disease.
Hiding places, such as small pieces of bark or rocks, offer your isopods security and help reduce stress, which in turn encourages breeding. Each species may have slightly different requirements, so it’s important to research the specific needs of your chosen isopods. By providing a well-balanced substrate, stable environmental conditions, and plenty of hiding spots, you’ll set the stage for breeding success and a thriving isopod colony.
Why Isopod colonies Crash
12/16/2024
There is nothing more confusing and disheartening to see a once thriving isopod colony suddenly dwindle in numbers or worse, show no signs of life. The word used in the hobby for this curious event is referred to as “crashing”.
The exact reason/s behind a crash may never be truly known however there are a range of early warning signs to look out for within your colonies to try to prevent a future crash or at the very least provide some closure and lessons for the future.
The following list is not meant to be exhaustive and there is no doubt many other potential factors/causes that may cause a crash.
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Illness – like all other living things, isopods are susceptible to disease and illness which can cause fatalities or full colony crashes.
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Type of genus – there are believed to be over 10,000 types of isopod genus but not all are easy to keep. Some types of isopods such as the Laureola sp White Skull Spiky or the Isopoda sp Thai Spiky have expert level care needs therefore can be very unforgiven to a non-meticulous keeper.
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Drying out – as isopods are crustaceans, they breathe through gills located on their underside and receive oxygen through moisture in the substrate. If the enclosure is not humid enough, the isopods can suffocate.
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Competition – Some species of isopod are very protein hungry and if there is not enough protein rich foods available isopods are known to succumb to cannibalism. Our experience has seen this predatory and aggressive behaviour in the Porcellio laevis, Porcellio scaber, and Porcellio ornatus who can become opportunistic feeders amongst their cohab neighbours.
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Overcrowding – beware that some species of adult isopods grow larger than other species therefore ample space is needed. Similarly, some species breed quicker than others and can quickly over populate enclosures. This can cause the entire eco system to go out of balance and crash. To avoid this, consider increasing the size of your enclosure, split the colony into multiple enclosures, use excess isopods as feeders or clean up crew in other enclosures if you have other pets (as long as those enclosures are not too arid) or sell some privately, at an invertebrate show or to your local pet shop.
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Temperature – too hot or too cold can be harmful to isopods. For this reason, many isopod breeders will only ship isopods depending on the weather. Different isopods tolerate different temperatures, and if you're wondering how cold is too cold for isopods, be sure to check specific needs for your species. We recommend you research the needs of your pods to ensure your temperatures are just right.
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Pesticides/Chemicals – isopods can come into contact with potential pesticides or chemicals through their food, leaf little and substrate. We recommend organic foods, pesticide free leaf litter and substrate. Also depending on your location, your local water supply uses different levels of chemicals to deliver water to your homes. Therefore, only use tap water as a last resort, it is recommended that you use filtered water where possible. If you are unable to use unfiltered water, let the tap water sit out in room temperature for 24 hours to let the chemicals evaporate from the water.
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Parasites – only deal with reputable breeders and do not mix an existing thriving colony with wild caught isopods. If collecting your own leaf litter and substrate be sure to sterilise them by baking, boiling or freezing, which ever method that suits you best.
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Predators – depending on accessibility to your enclosures, predators can easily invade isopod enclosers and have their very own personal isopod buffet. This we speak from experience, we found one of colonies numbers were slowly on the decline. On careful investigation we discovered a house spider had made a home in the enclosure and was living his best life!
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Too much moisture – too much moisture can drown a terrestrial (land) isopods even though they have gills.
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Improper ventilation – proper ventilation is needed to ensure oxygen can get in and harmful gasses such as ammonia and carbon dioxide can get out.
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Old substrate – depending on the size of your enclosure and colony, over time substrate may need to be changed out. Old substrate can become compact, causing some pods may not be able to burrow out of the substrate (leaving them to eventually suffocate or starve). Other issues may stem from too many droppings (or frass) in the original substrate. Be sure if you are changing out your old substrate to store the old substrate separately and use a cucumber trap to tease out any isopods that may have hijacked within the old substrate.
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Mold – some molds can be toxic to isopods. If you notice your isopods are not actively eating the mold then consider removing it.
We hope you found this article useful, should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
