HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello,
I have seen a few posts about isopods. There is a post asking about an Albino isopod, and the picture looks like a rollie pollie. Is isopod like the proper name for rollie pollie? Do you add them into your hermit crab tank?? Do they do anything?? I LOVE rollie pollies. Can someone please explain all this to me?

Thanks,
Bonnie

Yes they are rollie pollies! They act kinda like a maintenance crew around your tank, clean up after your crabs. They also make good snacks for crabs that can catch them I'm the one that posted about the albino. I've got a colony of about 70 right now that I'm letting "hang" for a few months before adding them to the tank. I've read a bunch of threads on them and it's good to give them a few months because it lets them breed which increases your numbers and it allows time for any pesticides in the isopods to work their way out before a crab eats them. There are several really informational threads on here and there's a care sheet about them too I'll link a few for you. They will give you lots of better info on them and the benefits to having them. It's weird but I'm almost just as into them as I am my crabs... Almost haha. They are so much fun to watch!

ETA: viewtopic.php?t=92538#p852639
viewtopic.php?t=93988#p863935
viewtopic.php?t=93604#p860964

I didn't read the whole thing yet, but I will. I know this probably sounds dumb, but is there a way to keep them without them becoming food for my hermits? I LOVE rollie pollies and don't really want them to become food, but it would be nice to have little janitors

No I don't think so but take a look at some of the info it's really interesting. If you don't want to use them in your tank you can raise them and just keep them to watch instead it's not for everyone but I am really enjoying it!


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Okay, I might raise a colony

I just cant purposely feed a living thing to another living thing. It makes me sad