Welcome our Zebra Isopods!!

[Kermie16]

We just received our shipment of zebra Isopods!! They came a day earlier than expected which worked out great for us They were packed with plenty of cushioning, and in each container had small holes punctured on the tops and plenty of moist saphgum moss and carrots and leaves for snacking. We have decided to call our zebra pod " The Marties" after Marty the zebra from the Madagascar movie So, The Marties looked very well and happy! Here is the pic from the container they were shipped in.

Here are a couple of pics of The Marties getting used to the hermie tat!


With the shipment came some basic care information which was great along with some samples of isopod foods (dried leaves, dried mushrooms, ground flax seeds). She mentioned that it would be good for The Marties to have some saphgum moss where they could hide,
Maybe breed, so I put a little Tupperware container and sprayed the moss with FW. Do you think this will work ok?

I wanted to put in a place that the hermies couldn't disturb any possible babies. I think I will take a trip soon to hobby lobby and get a little glass milk bottle and use that instead so the Marties can get in and out but not the hermies.
Hope you enjoyed the pics!! All 3 of our hermies are still molting (second molts) so in the mean time at least we have The Marties to entertain us!!

[Kermie16]

Sorry! Didn't realize I posted the same pic twice (oops!!).
Here is the little Tupperware with the moistened saphgum moss I put in the corner of the tat.

[CrabbyCakes]

Oh my gosh! They are so cool! I want some now.

[Kermie16]

Oh my gosh! They are so cool! I want some now.

We ordered ours on Monday and got them 3 days later! Very speedy service! And they appear to be adjusting to their new environment ok so far! They are soooo small!
I have to look for moving leaves or something to find them! Lol! But very cute! The Marties were a great addition to our tat! I think one of our hermies may have sensed a change in the tat force because although they are all under molting, after days of silence, one of them today decided to come by the bottom side of the tank as if to say "hey! We're here too!"

[Crabinski]

Kermie16, where did you order the "Marties" (love the name!) from? Do you have the website?

[soilentgringa]

Kermie16, where did you order the "Marties" (love the name!) from? Do you have the website?

Stacy Spangler, Isopod Connection

[Kermie16]

Yep! Stacey at Isopod Connection:)
Website: www.isopodconnection.tictail.com
Email: isopodconnection@yahoo.com
My kids and I thought the Marties was a cuter name to call them instead of the bugs or individual names - I can hardly keep up with the hermies' names!
Checking in on The Marties this morning and I see a few kinda running around. Where do the others go? Under the sub? I have a foot long cholla propped upright in there. I moved it around but don't see any. I'm thinking today I will put in a piece of potatoe - figured they will all start
To congregate there and rehydrate Any additional isopod advice is welcomed! Love that I'm learning so much!!

[Kermie16]

Ok, so we have had our Marties for a couple of days now. I put in a few slices of potato in the tat for them. But when I look in the tat, usually I only see maybe 2-3
On the surface. Where did they all go??? Do they go under the sub?? For some reason I thought they would all be on top of the sub. I've looked around the cholla and
Some of the dried leaves but no Marties there. Are they still doing the clean up even if I don't see them?

[soilentgringa]

Ok, so we have had our Marties for a couple of days now. I put in a few slices of potato in the tat for them. But when I look in the tat, usually I only see maybe 2-3
On the surface. Where did they all go??? Do they go under the sub?? For some reason I thought they would all be on top of the sub. I've looked around the cholla and
Some of the dried leaves but no Marties there. Are they still doing the clean up even if I don't see them?

Did you keep any out to breed?

They hide inside the cholla and under dishes. You will rarely see them in the tat. Crabs also eat them.

[Kermie16]

No, was hoping I could just keep them all in the same environment since I only have one tank going with stable temp and humidity. I did put an extra container of moistened moss on the sub for them as well. I was thinking of getting a mini glass milk bottle to put there when I get a chance and put moss, sub and leaf litter in it for them to hopefully breed and still keep in the same tank. Thought maybe that would help to keep crabby claws off any possible babies.

[Kermie16]

Also, I had ordered 16 of them, but I know I received a lot more than that because I lost count! But, thought maybe I need a bit more for a 20 g tank?

[CrabbyCakes]

Keep us posted on if they breed in the tank. I am not sure when to put mine in the tat.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[Kermie16]

Will do, CrabbyCakes! I emailed Stacy asking her and she said the number I got should be plenty for the 20 g tank although I know she definitely gave me more than I ordered! Very sweet! But she said if I keep enough leaf litter in there along with extra protein and crushed egg shells, they should do fine. She said it could take several weeks to a few months because the zebra Isopods don't breed as frequently as other species. So, will continue doing what I've been doing and we will see what happens I've been watching them munch on potatoe slices and some blueberries - very cute! (Honestly never thought I would ever say that about roly polies! Lol!)

[ErikRasmussen]

that is a cool color right there

[Kermie16]

Thanks, Erik! They've been fun to watch. Especially since all crabs have been down molting