HCA: Hermit Crab Association

what are they?

Roly-poly or Pill Bugs are the other names you may know them as.


*not my pic, found on Google.


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thanks -- now what are their purpose?

They clean up food debris, poop, and help aerate the sub.

Have any of you guys that have isopods in your tank had problems about them 'getting out' infesting the rest of your house? That is my biggest fear about putting these type of things in my tank haha.

They can't crawl up the glass so I have no fear of them infesting the house.


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They wouldn't be able to survive outside of a high humidity enclosure, in any case.

nepenthes wrote:They wouldn't be able to survive outside of a high humidity enclosure, in any case.

Actually, where I live, isopods live outdoors generally all year long. Just depends on location and species.

soilentgringa wrote: Actually, where I live, isopods live outdoors generally all year long. Just depends on location and species.

I just found 3 outside in the snow (and even with the snow, it is extremely dry out here, especially in the summer).

Regardless of the area you live at, Isopods don't behave like...termites. They need more than pressure treated wood to live off, which is what they will find in your homes. They need leaf litter and such.


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