Cuttlebone is the essential calcium supplement for isopods and millipedes. This natural internal shell from cuttlefish provides the calcium these invertebrates need to build and maintain healthy exoskeletons, support successful moulting, and sustain breeding colonies. Our cuttlebone is hand-collected from the southern coasts of the UK and washed in RO/RI water before packing.
Product Details
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Contents: 100g cuttlebone pieces
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Source: Hand-collected from UK southern coastlines
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Preparation: Washed in RO/RI (reverse osmosis/deionised) water
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Composition: Approximately 85-90% calcium carbonate with trace minerals
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Price: £3.50
Before Use
Important: Although our cuttlebone has been washed in RO/RI water, we recommend soaking it in boiling water for 20 minutes before adding it to your enclosures. This extra step ensures any residual salt or debris from the marine environment is removed, giving you peace of mind when introducing it to your invertebrate colonies.
Why Calcium Matters
Calcium is one of the most critical nutrients for isopods and millipedes. Both groups rely on calcium to:
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Build exoskeletons: Isopods have calcified exoskeletons that require significant calcium to form and maintain
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Support moulting: The moulting process—when invertebrates shed their old exoskeleton to grow—is perhaps the most critical moment in their lives. Adequate calcium ensures successful moults
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Enable reproduction: Breeding females have higher calcium demands; calcium-deficient colonies struggle to reproduce
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Prevent deformities: Without sufficient calcium, exoskeletons become thin, brittle, and prone to deformities
Without a reliable calcium source, isopod cultures decline over time, with increased failed moults, weak animals, poor breeding, and eventual colony collapse. Millipedes face similar problems—their segmented exoskeletons require calcium for proper development and maintenance.
Why Cuttlebone?
Cuttlebone is the internal shell structure of the cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), a cephalopod related to squid and octopus. It's been used as a calcium supplement in the pet industry for decades, originally for birds but now widely recognised as ideal for invertebrates.
Advantages of cuttlebone:
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Soft and accessible: Unlike limestone or eggshells, cuttlebone is soft enough for isopods and millipedes to easily scrape and consume
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Self-service feeding: Animals graze as needed, regulating their own calcium intake
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Slow release: Provides sustained calcium availability over time
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Additional minerals: Contains trace amounts of magnesium, zinc, and iron alongside calcium
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Natural and unprocessed: No chemical additives or artificial processing
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Won't mess up enclosures: Unlike calcium powders that can clump, wash away, or cause mould, cuttlebone remains stable
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Isopods love it: Many keepers report isopods swarming fresh cuttlebone when it's added to enclosures
Isopods consume cuttlebone more quickly than harder calcium sources because of its softer texture. After isopods have been grazing on cuttlebone for a while, it develops worn indentations from their mandibles—evidence they're actively using it.
How to Use
Preparation:
- Soak cuttlebone in boiling water for 20 minutes
- Allow to cool and dry
- Add to enclosure
Placement options:
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Whole pieces: Place directly in the enclosure—position with the harder shell side down for durability
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Broken pieces: Break into smaller chunks and distribute around the enclosure
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Partially buried: Slightly bury pieces in substrate so isopods can graze as needed
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Mixed into substrate: Crush or break into small pieces and mix throughout substrate when setting up enclosures
Positioning tip: Place cuttlebone in a drier area of the enclosure where possible. This keeps it more durable and hygienic for longer.
Replacement: Monitor consumption and replace when pieces are consumed or become too degraded. Some species—particularly giant Spanish Porcellio and Armadillidium—can strip cuttlebone rapidly, while others consume it more gradually.
Suitable For
Isopods (all species):
- Armadillidium species (particularly calcium-hungry)
- Porcellio species (giant Spanish species consume heavily)
- Cubaris species
- Porcellionides, Oniscus, and all other genera
Millipedes:
- All millipede species benefit from calcium supplementation
- Supports healthy exoskeleton development and moulting
- Essential for breeding colonies
Other invertebrates:
- Land snails
- Hermit crabs
- Other calcium-requiring invertebrates sharing enclosures
Important Notes
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Do not use calcium powder on isopods: Powdered calcium can stick to isopods and dry them out, potentially causing death. Cuttlebone allows self-regulated consumption without this risk
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Always available: Calcium should be accessible at all times, not offered occasionally
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Fresh cuttlebone smell: Being derived from a marine animal, cuttlebone may have a slight fishy smell when first unpacked—this is normal and isopods are attracted to it
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Not a sole food source: Cuttlebone supplements the diet but doesn't replace leaf litter, decaying wood, and other foods
Storage
- Store in a cool, dry place
- Shelf-stable for extended periods
- No special storage requirements
At £3.50 for 100g, this hand-collected UK cuttlebone provides excellent value as an essential calcium source for your isopod and millipede colonies. Calcium supplementation isn't optional for healthy invertebrate keeping—it's fundamental. Cuttlebone makes providing it simple, natural, and effective.
