You’ve set up your vivarium or terrarium and added some isopods, now you’re wondering, can they take over the whole place? Will there become too many?
Establishing a healthy culture of beneficial organisms, such as springtails and isopods, is important to maintain balance in your terrarium. A well-cycled culture helps prevent any one species from dominating and supports a stable environment for all inhabitants.
Given that isopods won’t eat any plants, unless they are starving, and even then it’s unlikely as most species need the leaves to have broken down before they can be digested. Most species are not going to bite, or even disturb a healthy reptile or other inhabitant, and I’ve never felt the need to complain that too much waste is being cleaned up. Then there’s no real concern that you’ll get too many. Personally, I have found that monitoring the isopod population and adjusting as needed helps keep things balanced and stress-free for all my pets.
The only danger is if you have other similar inhabitants, such as springtails or snails. Even then it’s unlikely to cause any harm, but isopods can out-compete these inhabitants for resources in a terrarium.
Isopods as decomposers.
Isopods are a crucial part of the food web being decomposers, especially when kept alongside live plants in a terrarium. Their role in nature is to break down waste from other living things, mostly tree leaves. Having said that they struggle to break down and eat leaves until they have started to break down on their own. .
What this means is that they're not evolved to eat plants that aren't already starting to decompose, although some species will enjoy other foods such as fish food, or in the wild even enjoy some meat in their diet from a dead animal.
Understanding Isopod Reproduction and Growth
Isopods will reproduce in the vivarium or terrarium, but they reproduce slowly when compared to other creepy crawlies. Females carry their young for the first stage of their life, and so are limited in terms of numbers that they can bring on at any one time, even in a setup focused on breeding pet isopods successfully. .
Some species will breed more rapidly than others, such as Dairy Cow Isopods (Porcellio Laevis), (Powder Blue, Powder Orange, etc.), and Armadillidium Granulatum, many of which are among the best isopods for a planted terrarium. But even these will only increase their population in line with available resources. .
If food and other resources are abundant, and the environmental conditions are correct, the population will grow, and you might get to the point where you feel that there are too many isopods. But never fear there are things you can do.
Isopods swaps
Why not consider swapping some isopods for another species? Keep an eye out for invertebrate shows, and have a chat with people attending these shows. It’s a great chance to get your hands on a slightly more difficult species, or even to explore buying isopods online from reputable sellers. I mean if you are doing this well then it’s worth going for something more challenging. .
Talk to other keepers as well, not just isopod keepers, but also reptile keepers. You might even make a new friend in the community while finding someone who will happily take some off your hands, or who is interested in collecting isopods from the wild to breed in captivity. .
Balancing your ecosystem
If the isopods are just a part of the ecosystem have a look at what's allowing them to have a population boom. You could consider adding a predator or just removing excess population yourself, or even reassessing which isopod species you’ve chosen for your terrarium. .
Lack of food
Whilst isopods will help decompose the waste in an enclosure they also need other things as food, including leaf litter and similar. Some species also need protein, including the ever-popular Dairy Cow Isopods, and following basic beginner care guidelines for feeding pet isopods helps avoid deficiencies. If you have an ever-growing colony there is the chance that they will run out of food, including protein. That leads to a risk of cannibalising themselves or possibly trying to have a nibble on any other inhabitants. For most species of reptile, this isn't a real concern, but it might become a nuisance and stressful. .
Consequences of Excessive Isopod Growth
While isopods are fantastic decomposers and a key part of a healthy terrarium ecosystem, having too many isopods can tip the balance and create new challenges for isopod keepers, even though they are often promoted as low-stress, low-maintenance pets. When isopod species, such as dwarf white isopods or other dwarf isopods, thrive in an environment with abundant food and resources, their population can quickly grow beyond what the ecosystem can comfortably support. This overpopulation can lead to several consequences that are important to consider for anyone keeping isopods as pets. .
One of the main issues with excessive isopod growth is increased competition for food and resources. Too many isopods in a terrarium can outcompete other beneficial species, like springtails, for leaf litter, vegetables, and other food sources. This competition can stress other animals, such as frogs or invertebrates, and may even impact the overall health of your pets. If the population of isopods grows unchecked, you might notice that springtails and other small animals struggle to survive, which can disrupt the natural balance of your vivarium.
Another consequence of an oversized isopod colony is the buildup of waste. As the number of isopods increases, so does the amount of waste they produce. This can lead to mold growth and other hygiene problems in the substrate, making it harder to maintain a clean and safe environment for all your animals. Mold and excess waste can stress your pets and may even cause health issues if not addressed promptly. Regularly cleaning the enclosure and monitoring waste levels is crucial to prevent these problems.
To regulate the population and avoid overpopulation, isopod keepers have several options. Introducing natural predators, such as centipedes or scorpions, can help control the number of isopods, though this should be done with care to ensure the safety of all animals in the enclosure. Alternatively, you can manually remove excess isopods or adjust the amount of food you provide, making sure not to overfeed and thus limit the resources available for breeding. These steps can help keep the ecosystem balanced and prevent the population from reaching unsustainable levels.
It’s also important to be mindful when introducing isopods to a new terrarium. Adding too many isopods at once can cause a sudden population boom, leading to stress and competition for other species. Instead, introduce isopods gradually and allow the environment to adjust naturally. Make sure your terrarium has a suitable substrate for burrowing and hiding, and provide a steady supply of leaf litter or vegetables to support a healthy, thriving colony without encouraging overpopulation.
Ultimately, maintaining a balanced ecosystem is key to successful isopod keeping. By monitoring the number of isopods, adjusting resources, and taking action when necessary, you can prevent the negative effects of overpopulation and ensure a safe, healthy environment for all your pets. If you ever have questions or need advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow isopod keepers or friends in the community. With a little attention and care, you can enjoy the fascinating world of isopods while keeping your terrarium in perfect harmony.
Is overpopulation a real concern
No, I'm literally only writing this article as it's a question people have been asking. There is no real risk of isopods taking over the vivarium in a negative way. Some species are territorial, and you may have to keep an eye on that. But it's not a huge concern. There are plenty of outlets for excess isopods that you might have.
If you worry about things like this consider getting a harder-to-breed species. That way you don't have to worry about having excess animals.
In general over overpopulation isn't going to be an issue for an isopod keeper. If you get too many for the space then there is always another keeper that will take them off your hands, or you can dive into useful articles on isopod care and species and browse a wide range of isopods for sale in the UK. .
