Getting Started with Isopods: A Beginner's Guide

By Leaf Litter Lab
beginner care setup

Isopods, also known as woodlice or pill bugs, are fascinating creatures that make excellent pets and are perfect for bioactive terrariums. If you’re new to isopod keeping, this guide will help you get started on the right foot.

Why Keep Isopods?

Isopods offer several benefits:

  • Low Maintenance: Once set up, they require minimal daily care
  • Educational: Great for learning about decomposition and ecosystems
  • Bioactive: Excellent cleanup crew for terrariums
  • Diverse: Hundreds of species with different colors and behaviors

Choosing Your First Species

For beginners, we recommend starting with hardy, easy-to-care-for species:

  1. Porcellio scaber - Very hardy and active
  2. Armadillidium vulgare - Can roll into a ball (pill bug)
  3. Armadillidium nasatum - Peaceful and easy to breed

These species are forgiving of minor care mistakes and will help you learn the basics.

Setting Up Your First Enclosure

Container

You can use:

  • Plastic storage containers (drill ventilation holes)
  • Glass terrariums
  • Custom-built enclosures

Size: Start with at least 5-10 gallons for a small colony.

Substrate

A good substrate mix includes:

  • Organic potting soil (no fertilizers)
  • Sphagnum moss
  • Leaf litter (oak, maple, or beech)
  • Cork bark pieces
  • Crushed eggshells or cuttlebone (for calcium)

Depth: 5-10cm of substrate provides burrowing space.

Hiding Places

Isopods need plenty of hiding spots:

  • Cork bark flats
  • Pieces of wood
  • Terracotta pots
  • Leaf litter

Ventilation

Proper ventilation is crucial:

  • Drill small holes in plastic containers
  • Use mesh lids for glass terrariums
  • Balance humidity with airflow

Feeding Your Isopods

Isopods are detritivores and will eat:

  • Leaf litter (primary food source)
  • Vegetables (carrots, zucchini, sweet potato)
  • Fish flakes
  • Calcium supplements (cuttlebone, eggshells)

Feed 2-3 times per week, removing uneaten food after 24-48 hours.

Maintaining Your Colony

Temperature

Most species do well at room temperature (18-24°C / 64-75°F).

Humidity

Maintain moderate humidity:

  • Mist one side of the enclosure 2-3 times per week
  • Keep substrate slightly moist but not wet
  • Provide a moisture gradient (wet side, dry side)

Monitoring

Check your colony weekly:

  • Observe activity levels
  • Check for mold (reduce moisture if present)
  • Ensure food is being consumed
  • Look for new babies

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Overwatering - Leads to mold and bacterial issues
  2. Underfeeding - Can cause cannibalism
  3. Insufficient hiding places - Causes stress
  4. Wrong substrate - Avoid soil with fertilizers or pesticides
  5. Too much handling - Isopods are delicate

Next Steps

Once your first colony is established and breeding, you can:

  • Expand to larger enclosures
  • Try new species
  • Create bioactive setups
  • Share your experiences with the community

Conclusion

Isopod keeping is a rewarding hobby that’s accessible to beginners. Start with hardy species, provide proper care, and you’ll have a thriving colony in no time. Remember, patience is key - colonies take time to establish and grow.

Happy isopod keeping!

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