ISOPODS general care questions

For everything isopod - breeding, keeping, and as clean up crews. Also known as pill bugs and rolly-pollies!
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ciaraalston
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ISOPODS general care questions

Post by ciaraalston » Sat Sep 15, 2018 1:35 am

Can you feed the same thing over and over, or are they like crabs and need variety? I have a TON of meal worms, so it would be great if i can just feed that with a fruit/berry here and there. I've got the crushed oyster shells, sphagnum moss, oak and maple leaf litter, oak bark, and cholla wood already. Their eco earth was soaked with dechlor fresh water to sand castle consistency, and it's about an inch deep. i didn't put any holes in the lid of my small tote, i just will open it once or twice a day to vent air and prevent mold growth.
Do you have a UTH on your isopods? The tote is small, 6 quarts, so i was thinking i could just put it on the shelf above my snake tank. It's a closed cabinet so the temperature stays warm inside, probably mid to high 70s. That would also be dark, since they like the dark area.

Is there anything i've missed? Any advice yall have? I don't want to breed them like crazy, just maintain enough for my tank :)
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by GotButterflies » Sat Sep 15, 2018 3:15 pm

I do not have a UTH on mine. Yes, you can feed them the same things over and over if you want. Don't put too much food in the tote - let them finish what they have, then add more. :) They love leaf litter, and need calcium.
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by ciaraalston » Sat Sep 15, 2018 6:50 pm

Here's an updated picture of their tote. Still waiting for them, but I added some oyster shells. I forgot those at first!

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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by ciaraalston » Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:19 am

What do yall feed? I've seen some people say carrots and potatoes? i've got crushed oyster shells scattered among the moss and leaf litter
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by PinchersAndShells » Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:58 am

ciaraalston wrote:What do yall feed? I've seen some people say carrots and potatoes? i've got crushed oyster shells scattered among the moss and leaf litter
I have oyster shell in there, but I decided to put a cuttle bone in there as well and there's always a bunch on it! They do love potatoes as well.
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by Motörcrab » Tue Oct 16, 2018 11:47 am

I don't have a back up tote for mine they they are just in with my crabs. They have been doing very well so far based on what I feed my guys.

These are the items I see them around the most. I always see mine in Cholla wood. It looks like they chomp on that a lot. I don't know how much nutrition they actually get from it though. They also seem to really like cuttlebone and baby carrots. I usually bite the carrots in half longways then toss one piece in. They absolutely love hiding in and under oak bark and leaves I collected too. Overtime the leaves get larger and larger holes then eventually dissapear so I believe they are being eaten by isopods and crab. I see them in the food dishes too. I always try my best to get them off the dishes when I change the food but unfortunately some face a watery grave.

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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by GotButterflies » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:04 pm

They love moss, leaf litter, crab food, wood, and do need calcium. I give mine cuttlebone, coarse oyster shell and whole eggshells.
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by ciaraalston » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:22 pm

Thanks y'all!
I don't plan on breeding a colony, but I want to keep them in their seperate tote for a couple of weeks at least before I transfer them into the tank.
I'm super excited about them coming in! They should be here tomorrow!!!! Along with the rest of my order

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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by GotButterflies » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:32 pm

A couple of things...you don't need to keep them separate - the isopods I raise are crabitat ready. Secondly - I sent you plenty...you will see!! :)
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by ciaraalston » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:34 pm

GotButterflies wrote:A couple of things...you don't need to keep them separate - the isopods I raise are crabitat ready. Secondly - I sent you plenty...you will see!! :)
I can't wait!!!

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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by GotButterflies » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:36 pm

:)
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by fandt94 » Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:55 pm

How do I go about getting some...and what are the benefits of having them?

Sry for hijacking lol
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by Motörcrab » Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:25 pm

When all your crabs are down molting the Isopods give you something to watch other than an empty tank! They also work as janitors and eat food the crabs carry off or don't eat. By doing this they also help keep mite and fly numbers down in your tank as well.
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by fandt94 » Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:49 pm

Motörcrab wrote:When all your crabs are down molting the Isopods give you something to watch other than an empty tank! They also work as janitors and eat food the crabs carry off or don't eat. By doing this they also help keep mite and fly numbers down in your tank as well.
Ty! I’m liking all of those benefits....especially having something to watch other than pet sand :hlol:
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Re: ISOPODS general care questions

Post by ciaraalston » Wed Oct 17, 2018 12:30 am

fandt94 wrote:How do I go about getting some...and what are the benefits of having them?

Sry for hijacking lol

Get with @GotButterflies :)
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