Repashy SuperFoods Morning Wood

Repashy Morning Wood — Detritivore Gel Premix for Isopods, Springtails & Detritus Feeders

Repashy Morning Wood is a calcium-fortified, super-firm, long-lasting gel premix specifically formulated for isopods, springtails, and other detritus-feeding invertebrates. Made in the USA by Repashy Ventures — one of the most trusted brands in the exotic pet food industry — Morning Wood has become a staple supplement in serious isopod keeping for good reason. The combination of natural plant ingredients, added calcium, balanced vitamins, and a long-lasting gel format makes it one of the most practical supplementary foods you can add to an enclosure.

Available in standard powder form — mix with hot water to create a firm gel that can be cut into cubes, shredded, or dried into long-lasting jerky.

What Is Morning Wood?

Despite the name, Morning Wood isn't a wood product — it's a powdered detritivore food that you mix with hot water to create a gel. The name is a play on "wood" because the cellulose-rich formula approximates the kind of decomposed plant matter that isopods and springtails would naturally feed on in the wild.

The powder mixes 1 part to 2–3 parts boiling water, sets at room temperature in 10–15 minutes, and produces a firm gel that can be:

• Cut into cubes and placed directly in the enclosure
• Shredded or crumbled for smaller invertebrates
• Dried into jerky in an oven or dehydrator at 65°C for 8–12 hours, producing a long-lasting slow-release feeding station
• Used as powder sprinkled directly on substrate

The flexibility is one of Morning Wood's main strengths — you can prepare a large batch, freeze most of it for later, and use the rest as needed.

Why Repashy Morning Wood?

Designed specifically for detritivores. Most invertebrate foods are repurposed fish or reptile foods. Morning Wood was formulated from the ground up for isopods, springtails, and similar detritus feeders — meaning the protein/fibre balance, calcium content, and ingredient mix are tuned for animals that need lots of fibre, moderate protein, and consistent calcium.

50% maximum crude fibre. This is the key nutritional figure. Detritivores need significant fibre — far more than carnivorous or omnivorous animals. Most generic invertebrate foods don't provide this level. Morning Wood does.

Calcium fortified. Added calcium carbonate supports healthy moulting and shell development, supplementing whatever cuttlebone or limestone you provide separately. This is particularly important for premium isopod species where moulting failure is the leading avoidable cause of death.

20% minimum crude protein. Lower than fish flakes (46%) or daphnia (50%), but appropriately balanced for a daily/regular food rather than a treat. Isopods don't need high protein every day — too much protein causes mite explosions and other issues. Morning Wood's protein level is sustainable for regular feeding.

Plant-based ingredients. Cellulose powder, dried seaweed meal, alfalfa leaf meal, spirulina algae, dried kelp, stinging nettle, and others. The plant-based foundation closely matches what detritivores actually consume in nature.

Wide vitamin and mineral spectrum. Includes vitamins A, D, E, C, niacin, beta carotene, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, B-12, biotin, and folic acid. Trace minerals include magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, and selenium. This isn't just a fibre source — it's a complete nutritional supplement.

Carotenoids for colour. Beta carotene, paprika, turmeric, marigold flower, calendula flower, and rosehips contribute natural carotenoid pigments. Some keepers report enhanced colouration in colour-morph isopods after regular Morning Wood feeding — particularly useful for premium morphs where colour expression is part of the appeal.

Which Invertebrates Benefit?

Isopods. Morning Wood's primary target audience. All species in our isopod collection respond well, but it's particularly valuable for:

• Cubaris — premium tropical species that benefit from consistent calcium and balanced fibre
• Ardentiella (ex-Merulanella) — demanding species where moulting health matters at every stage. Examples include Batman, Lava, Pastel, and Yellow Phoenix
• Porcellio — large-bodied species needing sustained nutrition
• Armadillidium — including specialist species and morphs
• Beginner colonies of Porcellio scaber and similar — particularly valuable for new keepers who want a single trusted supplement rather than juggling multiple foods

Springtails. Springtail cultures respond strongly to Morning Wood. Sprinkle powder directly on substrate or place gel pieces — springtails will swarm to it within hours. Particularly useful when establishing new cultures or boosting populations.

Millipedes. While not Morning Wood's primary target, species in our millipede collection will accept it as a supplementary food. Most useful as variety alongside their staple leaf litter and rotting wood diet.

Cockroaches and other detritivores. Species in our cockroach collection readily consume Morning Wood. Useful for breeding colonies and varied feeding rotations.

How to Prepare and Use

Gel preparation:

1. Bring water to a boil (kettle, microwave, or stovetop)
2. Mix 1 part powder with 2–3 parts boiling water in a heat-safe container
3. Stir thoroughly until smooth
4. Pour into mould, container, or shallow dish
5. Let sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes until firm
6. Cut into cubes, slabs, or shredded pieces as needed

Storage: Treat finished gel as fresh food. Store sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Many keepers prepare a large batch, cut into cubes, and freeze portions individually for ready use.

Jerky preparation (slow-release feeding): Prepare gel as above, slice ¼-inch thick, and dehydrate in oven or dehydrator at 65°C (150°F) for 8–12 hours until completely dry. Jerky lasts much longer in the enclosure than fresh gel and provides a slow-release feeding station that can stay in for several days without spoiling.

Powder feeding (no preparation): Sprinkle a small pinch of dry powder directly on the substrate. Springtails and small isopods can consume it as-is. Useful when you want to skip the gel preparation step.

Feeding frequency: 2–3 times per week as a supplementary food. Morning Wood isn't a complete substitute for primary nutrition — your invertebrates still need leaf litter and rotting wood as their staple food. Think of Morning Wood as a high-quality supplement that boosts overall nutrition, not a replacement for natural diet components.

Important: Morning Wood Isn't a Standalone Diet

Despite Morning Wood's nutritional density, isopods and millipedes still need their primary diet of dried leaf litter and decayed wood. These provide the bulk fibre, microbial communities, and natural feeding behaviours that processed foods can't replicate.

The recommended approach is Morning Wood as a regular supplementary food on top of an established substrate-and-leaf-litter setup. Don't replace primary food sources — augment them.

Composition

Ingredients: Cellulose Powder, Dried Seaweed Meal, Alfalfa Leaf Meal, Spirulina Algae, Rice Protein Concentrate, Pea Protein Isolate, Stabilized Rice Bran, Dried Brewer's Yeast, Dried Kelp, Stinging Nettle, Locust Bean Gum, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Malic Acid, Taurine, Garlic, Watermelon, Rose Hips, Hibiscus Flower, Calendula Flower, Marigold Flower, Paprika, Turmeric, Salt, Calcium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate (preservatives), plus a comprehensive vitamin and mineral package.

Guaranteed analysis:

• Crude protein: minimum 20%
• Crude fat: minimum 3%, maximum 5%
• Crude fibre: maximum 50%
• Moisture: maximum 8%
• Ash: maximum 15%

Vitamins: A, D, E, C, niacin, beta carotene, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, pyridoxine, thiamine, folic acid, biotin, B-12, choline chloride, menadione.

Trace minerals: Magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, selenium (all in chelated forms for improved bioavailability).

Morning Wood in Your Feeding Rotation

Morning Wood works best as part of a varied supplementary feeding rotation alongside other protein and substrate sources. Here's how it fits in:

• Morning Wood: Plant-based, calcium-fortified, balanced fibre. Best for regular supplementary feeding. 2–3 times weekly.
• Dried Daphnia: High-protein whole organism (50% protein). Best for chitin variety and natural feeding response. 1–2 times weekly.
• Dried Silkworm Pupae: High-fat whole organism (27% fat). Best for breeding conditioning and juvenile growth. Once weekly.
• Ultra Tropical Fish Flakes: Formulated insect-based food (46% protein). Best for complete daily protein. 1–2 times weekly.

Using Morning Wood alongside whole-organism foods (daphnia, silkworm pupae) and formulated foods (fish flakes) gives your invertebrates the broadest possible nutritional profile across the week.

Pairs Well With

For a complete supplementary feeding setup:

• Dried Daphnia — high-protein whole organism alternative
• Dried Silkworm Pupae — high-fat treat for breeding conditioning
• Ultra Tropical Fish Flakes — formulated insect-based protein supplement
• Cuttlebone — additional calcium for shell health (alongside Morning Wood's added calcium)
• Malawi Limestone — passive calcium source plus habitat enrichment
• Flake Soil — fermented hardwood substrate (essential primary food source)
• Kinshi — mushroom mycelium substrate for tropical species
• Magnolia Leaves — primary leaf litter (essential)
• Bamboo Leaf Litter — structural leaf cover
• Asian Leaf Mix — premium native leaves for tropical species

For more on building balanced invertebrate diets, see our setting up guide. Browse the full accessories collection for everything else needed to keep your invertebrates thriving.