Isopods....

Scott C. · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006, 07:21 PM

Hello everyone. I'm Scott. I was wondering if anyone has experimented with isopods(pillbugs/roly-polys) in their vivariums? I know a lot of people use them in moist cage set-ups for various creatures to combat fungus/mites/mold with varied results..... All they need to survive is moist dirt, and dead plant matter, so I'm thinking they might be a perfect addition. A bit of an in-house clean up crew if you will. Thoughts?

Landon · #2 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 10:53 AM

i use the local ones pretty regularly. id like to get some more tropical ones as i dont seem to see any breeding taking place. they do live quite a while and do a decent job cleaning up mold and dead plant matter. i have a lot better luck wiuth springtails actually breeding and providing a food source. they also seem to do better on the mold and feces. isopods seem to prefer eating rotting leaves or plants befroe taking on the feces and mold.

Scott C. · #3 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 11:39 AM

Yeah, I'd just go for springtails too, but I keep tarantulas, and they are cage pests for them if they get out of control so I don't think it wise to be breeding them.

Landon · #4 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 01:30 PM

why are springtails cage pests for taratulas? i dont keep them or anything, just curious.

Scott C. · #5 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 12:11 PM

They're okay in small numbers, but they can stress the tarantula if their population explodes which is kind of inevitable in many of the set-ups.

Tindomul1of9 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 02:37 PM

Do tarantulas like heavily planted tanks?
If so, then that might keep the springtails out of sight.

Scott C. · #7 (**permalink**) 09-01-2006, 12:13 PM

I think they would, but 'out of sight' wouldn't benefit them at all. I personally don't have anything against springtails, but the T's seem to be annoyed by them if there are to many around. I think it has to do with them hopping around. Pin head crickets bug the hell out of the T's to big to eat them too.....
From what I've read(Dubious, I know.

), most sp. of isopods available locally will do fine at tropical temperatures, it's just that they can handle the cold as opposed to tropical isopods. Local isopod caging: Room temp. tub w or w/o lid, 2"soil, then 3-4" leaf litter, then a few pcs. of rotting wood/bark, light mist to keep it all from drying up to much every day or so. Feeding: Their substrate, occasional spoiled veges, cricket carcasses. Breeding: Let them do their thing. A dozen is more than sufficient to get a colony going. The babies are very hard to see, and may be there before you know it.
I'm trying to get a colony of "Spanish orange" isopods(can't recall the real name at the moment) going, but I haven't been able to get any yet. They are a more tropical variety. Cool looking little bugs too. I wanted them for the T's cages (Isopods don't seem to bother the T's at all. To mellow I suppose), but if they'll work in the viv that would be great.

Landon · #8 (**permalink**) 09-01-2006, 04:17 PM

LMK how that goes if you do get some and get them breeding. i may interested in getting some also. i always like to diversify the bug colonies in my tanks.

Scott C. · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2006, 04:23 PM

Will do. Cheers.

Raihana · #10 (**permalink**) 01-07-2007, 12:43 AM

Wondering if you'd had a chance to try isopods yet. Sounds as if you are keeping them with your Ts (what I am looking at doing). Have any experience /pointers to share? I am currently setting up a very humid planted tank for the H gigas that will be arriving soon and I am somewhat concerned over lost cricket remains and mites. Do isopods actually control or eat mites?