Red Diablo Isopods For Sale

Commonly known as Red Diablo isopods, these creatures are native to Vietnam. They are famous for their colorful patterns and large body. They feature a sharp black color on most parts of their body. This black color makes the rest of the colors pop out. Due to their attractive body color, they are sold worldwide in large numbers.

Merulanella sp. Red Diablo Isopods: A Glimpse

• Origin: Vietnam
• Scientific Name: Merulanella sp.
• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Size: Up to 1.5 cm
• Rarity: Very High
• Temperature: 70F to 78F
• Humidity: 60% to 80%
• Favourite Foods: Carrot, Mango, Leaf Litter

Merulanella sp. Red Diablo Isopods: An Overview

Red Diablo isopods are known for their unique colors. They usually feature bright colors like red, yellow, and black. They are not a burrowing species. So, these are great for displaying requirements. 

They remain at the top of the substrate mix throughout the day and night. This high visibility, along with their colorful patterns, make them the best isopod pets for display. 

Red Diablo isopods are pretty fast breeders. So, while buying them, getting a set is advisable so they will breed soon. As these creatures are extremely easy to take care of, you can even maintain a colony of them easily.

Red Diablo isopods are detritivores. They like to consume dead and decaying matter. You must put enough decaying matter and leaf litter inside the tank to help them survive better. 

They also need calcium supplements occasionally. The keeper has to provide enough attention to provide them with a balanced diet to avoid undernourishment.

Merulanella sp. Red Diablo Isopods: Basic Care

Red Diablo isopods need to have good care. They are not easy to care for. Stabilization is significant for this species. Almost all of the Merulanella species require good primary care.

You must check whether the isopods you buy are wild-caught or bred in captivity. If they are wild-caught, ensure that they are only shipped to you after a period of stabilization. 

Stabilization means the time and process an isopod may take to get used to its new surroundings. When a Red Diablo is caught from the wild and is enclosed in a tank, chances are high for it to die soon.

So, you have to ensure that the isopods you buy are bred in captivity. Such isopods would take relatively little time for stabilization. 

For stabilization, you have to follow the steps below.

• Recreate the natural habitat of a Red Diablo isopod. 
• There should be a reasonably thick substrate mix with decaying organic matter. 
• The tank should have plenty of leaf and flat bark cover. 
• The isopods should be fed now and then. 
• They must also be supplemented with calcium and similar nutrients at regular intervals. 
• Make sure not to make them interact with other animals until they are stabilized.

Merulanella sp. Red Diablo Isopods: Feeding

• Red Diablo isopods are primarily detritivores.
• Dead and decaying matter and leaf litter are the most common food they consume.
• They are also very fond of vegetables like carrots and fruits like mangoes.
• They prefer decaying vegetables and fruits to the fresh ones.
• Red Diablo isopods must have various supplements as part of their diet.
• Calcium supplements are the most important dietary requirement for Merulanella sp. Red Diablo isopods.
• You can use ready-made calcium powder or cuttlebone to supplement calcium.
• These isopods also require nitrogen supplements. You can use bat guano to supplement nitrogen. Bat guano is bat excrement that is an excellent source of nitrogen.
• To supplement the Red Diablo isopods with all other essential nutrients, you can use bee pollen extracts and supplements. Bee pollen is a good and trusted source of antioxidants, minerals, and various vitamins.

Merulanella sp. Red Diablo Isopods: Appearance and Behavior

Appearance

These have a round body. The shell mostly contains black color. The red appears in the margins of the body. The yellow is usually present as spots throughout the isopod’s body. Some Red Diablo isopods have white spots instead of the yellow ones.

Red Diablo isopod has a segmented body. Not every segment has separate limbs. They usually reach up to 1.5cm to 2cm as adults. Their heads have a pair of antennae. They have a relatively low lifespan. They only live up to three months.

Behavior

Red Diablo isopods are generally found in groups. They create groups of two or three in their natural habitats. They are usually found under flat barks and leaf litter. Due to this group dynamics, it is advisable to buy them in pairs.

These isopods are very fast runners. They are highly active when compared to the other isopods. They exhibit a high sense of territory. So, they prefer to move in groups and attack other species that come into their territory. 

In the initial days, they will remain undercover to observe the surroundings. Once they are used to their surroundings, they will interact with each other. Keeping them separated from other animals is advisable. They tend to be a bit aggressive against other isopod species.

Merulanella sp. Red Diablo Isopods: Habitat

Red Diablo isopods are generally found in low temperatures and high-humidity areas. They usually prefer moist areas. But it is also essential for them not to have the soil dripping wet.

So, while recreating their natural habitat within a tank, you must retain maximum moisture. You can follow the steps below to make a natural habitat for the Red Diablo isopods inside the tank.

• Fill the tank with substrate mix and soil only to a certain height. The Red Diablo isopods do not burrow. So, the height of the soil does not matter.

• On the soil's surface, put a baselining that retains moisture by absorbing the water content.

• Over the baselining, leave a layer of leaf litter for cover.

• You can spray or even pump water onto the soil to provide the isopods with enough moisture.

• Try not to make the entire tank moist. You will need a dry patch of soil to leave food and supplements for the isopods.

• You should also lay on the surface rotting vegetables, wood bark, etc.