10 Isopod MISTAKES to Avoid
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- Isopod care is not too difficult, but there are many mistakes that I new isopod keepers can make. In this video, I talk about 10 mistakes that isopod keepers make when caring for isopods, so that you can avoid them, and have healthy thriving isopods as in your bioactive vivariums or as pets.
Links to isopod supplies:
Here is a link to the Kathy Auto Magic Fungus gnat trap. It also works for other pest insects, such as fruit flies and mosquitoes!
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Check out these LINKS to Isopod foods and supplies below. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#ad here is a link to the Fungus Gnat trap I tested in this video: amzn.to/3qtA2pn
#ad I use this breathable medical tape to cover ventilation of some of my isopod enclosures: amzn.to/35oMTkn
I really enjoy my enclosures from www.tarantulacribs.com/
Vivariums in the Mist makes some great isopod foods: www.vivariumsinthemist.com/is...
Wally at Supreme Gecko makes a great Isopod food: www.supremegecko.com/shop-onli...
superior shipping supplies.com makes the smaller isopod enclosures I show in the video.
#ad When I feed my isopods Repashy Bug Burger, they love it:
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#ad Repashy morning wood is also a very popular isopod food my isopods love: amzn.to/2WdJq23
Isopods will munch on dried River shrimp as well!
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#ad To give your isopods calcium, you can use cuttlebone: twin pack: amzn.to/2S9H3hG
I own a copy of book on isopods by Orin McMonigle, a great source of isopod knowledge:
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#ad here is a link to the sphagnum moss I use to help hydrate my isopods: amzn.to/36BxXiz
#ad here is some organic compost. I use organic compost as an isopod substrate component: amzn.to/3ptpoPK
#ad here are the oak pellets I use for my isopod’s substrate: amzn.to/2JYaznQ
#ad here are some cork bark hides, perfect for isopods: amzn.to/3kyRaX7
#ad here is the coconut fiber brick that can be used in isopod substrate : amzn.to/38I4si6
#ad Here is a link to the 6-quart sterilite tubs I use to house many of my isopods: amzn.to/2syYGZJ
#ad Isopods love cork bark pieces as hides: amzn.to/2WaYOfu
#ad One of the best food/substrate ingredients for isopods are oak leaves, such as these heat-treated red oak leaves: amzn.to/2We6GNm
Isopod Substrate ingredients:
#ad 1 part Organic Compost: amzn.to/2Wn4VO1 (You can probably find it much cheaper at your local garden supply or hardware store)
#ad 1 part Alder Pellets: amzn.to/2MBYj9O
#ad 1 part pesticide-free hardwood leaves, you may collect them locally or purchased pre-sanitized: amzn.to/2We6GNm
#ad I make my own isopod substrate, but here is a link to Josh’s frogs isopod substrate : amzn.to/2TfyC1D
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#isopods #aquarimaxpets
I am an isopod and I approve this video
😁
Me too. I identify as a pill bug. I like to curl up and stay hydrated 😂
So a quick sidenote, i use baby carrots as a supplement, they take a long time to start rotting, and they rot so slow that my springtails eat the rot. Some even grow roots. Its far more likely they dry out than rot out, and the isopods eat it at their leisure :)
I like to use carrots too…good points!
Carrots are awesome even when they start to rot they don’t mold fast
I've been using watermelon, cantaloupe and baby carrots as well.
Baby carrots are my favorite to feed! They don't seem to mold quickly like you said. The isopods seem to love them as well. I do recommend organic though in case of pesticides :)
@brittadactyl thats another great benefit of baby carrots actually, while i would always advise rinsing any veggies given to your isopods, the way baby carrots are made tends to make it less of a risk. They are large carrots that are peeled and sectioned and without that outer layer the risk of contamination is much smaller.
As a quick sidenote organic foods are not pesticide free, they only use different pesticides, please never assume anything "Organic" is any more safe, as that is usually not the case.
I just started keeping isopods, and I was worried I was doing something that would harm them. This definitely will help me
hey, hows the isopod keeping going?
Why am I watching this? I dont even have isopods.
🤣 I am glad you are, though!
When I tend to kind of forget about my rubber duckies (for a few days to a week) then come back that’s when I find babies. I also keep them on top of my ball python enclosure (that is regulated by a thermostat) so they stay pretty warm.
When I add springtails they reproduce with the speed of light so to speak and they start eating the supplemental food from the moment I give it. All the food becomes white from the little bodies of the hundreds, probably thousands of them on the surface of the piece of food. I searched for the species by the way they look and it seems they belong to a species that reproduces parthenogenetically. So from my experience, the species of the springtails you put in your enclosure is a big factor that should be considered.
Yes, there are definitely species that are better suited to isopod bin mates than others, 👍🏼
Going through some videos just in case I could be improving my isopod setup more, and checked the description of this video to be pleasantly surprised by all the links listing everything you use. I've never seen so much put in a description, and it's incredibly useful. Thanks mate👍
The catfish at the end best part of the video. Thanks for the suggesting the Yellow Dot and Dairy Cows.
Nice informative video! Accidental iso observer here. When I bring in large potted plants in the fall, I have noticed iso & spring tail colonies. After I water they move to the surface. All survivors of winter go back out with the plants in spring. Since noticing them, I have made sure to water more frequently and occasionally add a small organic food item.
Cool!
I like tip 9, I never would have thought that checking the culture too often would disturb them that much.
New isopod keeper here, thank you for sharing the important tips! I understand that I should not bother the isopods too often, but it's so hard not to check on them... they are so adorable!! But indeed I found out that some are super shy and get scared very easily, I will disturb them less from now on, thank you again!
Just got a ton of isopods now and I found something that works as a great treat for setups with multiple springtail species is small coconut chunks! Elongate springtails and the white ones absolutely love it along with the isopods
I have no idea why this was recomended to me but now I want my own isopod colony
.... but my little friends call me Rustle.
Fantastic, was hoping to find a playlist of species specific care guides.
Ok , the subscribe fishy got me😂😂😂
He has a way of doing that 😂
When I've tried to keep isopods alone, they end up just dying. My bio active enclosures where I don't bother them at all seem to flourish. So leaving them alone seems to be key!
Amazing video!
Thanks for another awesome video, Rus! And great idea for the playlist of species!
Thank you for the great advice!
Great video.
Fantastic video
Love these tips! Wish I had this video when I first started out!
Finally a detailed and in-depth video!
Thanks for the isopods tips rus
Excellent video
I love the paint brush idea!
Excellent advice! Thank you!
Brilliant video, thanks for the information 👏🫶
Hello great video information Russ
Thanks 🙏
Thanks for this. I just googled what I nabbed from my garden. I have 2 Armadillidium vulgare and 3 Porcellio scaber. They are living in my closed terrarium and seem to be quite happy. It’s always a treat to see them mooching around
I’m so informed by this vid! I’m keeping reptiles and expanding my collection to invertebrates, your vids especially this one help me plenty
Great video! I agree with Sean thanks to you and Wally I have avoided these mistakes as well. Thanks for all your hard work and information.
Great video, thanks! Just ordered my first four species of isopods today and are really excited to get started.
Fantastic video. I was following your advices all the time but this video helped me to review if I’m still on the right route 😂 the only thing I’m struggling with is not to bother them. It’s extremely hard especially with new isopods I’m excited to watch. Overall your and Wally’s guides helped me to start my obsession, keep it going and stay on track. Thank you so much for all your amazing and informative content.
Really nice ! Isopodes are very fun to watch
Great video isopods are awesome creatures
Just subscribed 💕
Great video as usual very informative 👍 and I've watched his video on checking on the bins too much he made a really good point about this and it was very entertaining and informative 👍
thanks to you and your videos I have successfully avoided all of these 10 beginner isopod mistakes! Thank you so much for everything you do for us and this hobby!
Video Idea: Isopod tier list (your favorites and least favorites)
That is a great idea…I’ll bet YOU already know which is my least favorite…😂
Thanks for this, Russ! Still not sure how I can become a patron from here in the south of Spain though. Re: species sensitivity, I've just transferred my locally caught Porcellio ornatus Yellow Dot (literally collected half a mile from home) to a larger enclosure as they're reproducing like there was no tomorrow (thanks no doubt to largest male "Attila"!) and they seem to be pretty more or less bomb proof. My P. ornatus High Yellow likewise appear to be quite tough so far and are reproducing well. I'm being much more cautious with the shyer species at the moment... I'm learning even after just a few months into the hobby that some isopods can tolerate more disturbance than others and this can affect their wellbeing profoundly if not taken into consideration.
I'll have to thumb through your vids. Been watching for a while but this one sort of made it obvious to me what I look for in isopods. I only keep a common species native to my area for now.. but I love them for the various colors and that they are active nearly at all times I do check on them.
I learned about moisture gradient the hard way with some passing away, but now do better with this!
I don't own any isopods but this was very interesting to view!
man i love isopods.
Me too! Should I start shipping them interdimensionally?
That explains why the ones that were in my Poison dart frog enclosure thrived.
Lovely! I know there would be some overlap, but I'd love to see a series of specific species and what's the best isopods for them, such as ball pythons, hognoses, false water cobras, etc. Thank you!!!
Great video! I found 1 porcellio isopod about a year ago have have quite a nice little colony now. They’re fun because they run around on their own a lot.
I recently found that hikari micro pellets, and supreme grow baby fish food, (tiny pellets) are like perfect meal size for isos and tend not to mold because they seldom have leftovers.
At least my dairy cows don’t tend to leave leftovers of it. Ive had 0 mold issues since I have got them.
They also enjoy mealworm sheds as a crunchy crispy snack.
They take them from my finger tip, its very wholesome.
Clear bins or clear lids help with not over checking.
They really do, great point!
Something I really like to have in isopod enclosures is a diverse group of springtails typically 3 species I particularly like large elongate springtails for porcellionides pruinosus they are drought tolerant and good cleaners that are fun to watch too
I have just ordered some crystal whites my plan is to make them their own bioactive viv my first bioactive viv ☺ am so excited ,this vid had loads of info thank you for making it 😊 going to go watch the rest of your vids now 😁 isopods Rock 😁😎😁
Terric information! 👏🤓
This is a CLASSIC video! Well done and PACKED with info. I hope people watch this over and over.
Thank you Wally! I hope so as well…it seems to be one of my most popular videos in the series so far!
I had mites really bad. Way more mites than spring tails but after about a month the spring tails had completely out competed the mites
We should remember that some slower breeding isopods can be outcompeted by springtails (examples include platyarthus sp.)
Great information for anyone getting into isopods. It makes me want to keep them again
Out of curiosity why would you keep these?
@@NtokozoMoyo a lot of people just find them fun to own! It’s like how some keep cockroaches, reptiles, scorpions or tarantula even! :)
Re: feeding new cultures - I read a comment below - I think you have to be very cautious at first but maybe provide a minimum amount of food and see what happens. I got my first Porcellio hoffmanseggi two days ago and they totally devoured the shrimp I left for them on the first night, then rather less the next night. I reckon that at times it's a case of providing a bare minimum of food and closely monitoring exactly how much a new culture consumes - this will be easier if you count out the individual items (ie: shrimp or goldfish pellets) and put them on a piece of bark or a large leaf such as magnolia.
Good luck! I started off with ten PH(February of this year) in a dollar tree storage bin similar to what he shows with two two inch round vents on the lid and one two inch vent on the side of the bin. I now have that bin, and two more nicer enclosures with at least seventy PH. I feed them shrimp pellets, fish food, and dry roach & millipede food that I cannot remember the brand name of. I only kept a small part of the end of the enclosure moist at all times, and I always had a piece of cuttlebone for them to use as needed.
That's just my experience, and I'm sure people have done better doing less, would love to hear anything you've learned so far!!
Oh, when I notice a mother and her babies or even one of them molting, I make sure not to put too much water in that area, which usually means I'm only wetting from one side, and never spraying with a spray bottle, since they usually do those things in the wetter side of the enclosure. I'm also quick to remove the food nearby the wet side once I notice babies, usually giving them pieces of carrots and potatoes which are easy to pick up and inspect for any passengers. :)
Iv been feeding to much but luckily it seems the powder doesn’t seem to mold quickly Iv also only one hide in each bin and I don’t have spring tails but how much is to much interfering I check on mine about every week
See I have always wondered if I need to feed them on top of all the mosses, leaf liter, and wood in their enclosures. I keep more than just cork bark for them. They have some expensive pieces of my old aquarium wood, like spider wood, Malaysian wood, moponi wood. I only have almond leafs right now wait for snow to melt to hit the woods for leaf liter. Yes I do boil it for like 2 mins before I use it.
A good video! I have been interested in vermiculture for a long time and now owning an apartment, I have been able to start taking care of my own little creatures! A friend had a large culture of milkbacks and orange dalmatians that I now have in my care and I've been quite happy with them! I have slowly accrued a worm bin and the isopods plus spring tails have been extraordinary!
They make a good little composter community!
I have been keeping isopods as a class pet, and it has been great. We are lucky to see one or two walking around a day. Today, however, I have multiple isopods on top of the same plant. Im happy to see them, but it worries me. I only had one climber before, so I dont know why suddenly so many are climbing. Is something wrong?
I may or may not be getting into the isopod keeping hobby
Do isopods like the powder orange/blue have any problems with cedar wood hides?
Great points! Just recently I stopped providing food to new cultures. I’ll leave the carrot sent in shipping maybe.
I often do the same until it is clear they are ready for more food. Great tip!
Hey I was wanting to know if I can have two different types of isopods in the same enclosure
Hi! I wanted to create a closed ecosystem terrarium with moss, asparagus ferns, and fittonia. I read that having isopods within the terraium is great as a "clean up crew" like you said! I was looking at purchasing the "Porcellio laevis" isopods for this. I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but will they be okay and happy in one, as long as I add eggshells occasionally and water to keep the area moist? Or maybe there are a type that would be more fitting for a closed terrarium?
Great question! Porcellio laevis tend to have big appetites, I would wonder if they would munch on your plants. I haven’t tried Cubaris murina in a closed setup, but I would tend to think it would be a good option
Great and informative video!!
Quick question, what species of isopod would be the best for beginners?
Thank you!
Thank you! Here is a video on great isopods for beginners: czcams.com/video/9oUkDOI_QmI/video.htmlsi=9NFrEvx2xut4-FqN
@@Aquarimax That video was very helpful, thank you!!
I wonder if watering the substrate with water containing calcium could be sufficient for supplying the isopods with calcium ?
Can a container be too big? I currently have a plastic bin filled halfway with organic garden soil its about 5 gallons and i was gonna put them in there but im not sure also i dont plan on drilling holes in it i have dwarf white isopods to put in
6:15 I use a clear plastic spoon to pick up individuals lol
Hi Russ, I saw you over on Clint's Reptiles and I came over here to check out your videos, they're very informative! I just have one question (Though I apologize if it's been addressed already). I've seen people say that when the culture grows, you should split it or move it into a larger enclosure. But what do I do if I don't want the culture to grow? Do I limit feeding? I heard you mention in Clint's video that some people own toads to cull their isopod population, but I'm not particularly interested in owning amphibians.
Welcome to my channel! You can limit population to some degree by the type and quantity of food you offer, especially by limiting leaf litter, but this does depend on species as well. Some reptiles will appreciate isopod snacks as well. 😊
@@Aquarimax thank you very much!
I have found them around my house how do I get rid of them can they do damage
springtails are a life saver
They sure are!
could you do some more millipede videos please? are you going to sell millipedes on your website?
Where can I find the small square plastic containers that you used for the starter colonys
I sell them at www.isopodsrus.com
Where can i read about isopods? I belive i have Porcellio scaber.
My main issue is what I do with them if they breed too much, especially Dairy Cows. I originally planned to release them into the wild, but people are telling me it's bad to do that, but I don't want to kill them at all nor do I want to sell them.
Well, dairy cows might not be a great match for you if you are worries about overpopulating. For many (not all) isopod species, you can reduce the amount of leaf litter you offer, and offer more supplemental foods. They can thrive on those foods, but will tend to breed far less prolifically.
As far as mixing Isopods and Springtails what type of Springtails (Temperate or Tropical) should we be adding to certain species of Isopods or does it not really matter?
I prefer Sinella curviseta, as they are very versatile, and do well on the moist and dry sides of the enclosure.
Y year ago and this is like a math video needed 24/7
Love your videos ! I’m a recent subscriber. I’m starting to see in my dwarf white colony these white silk like worms , very very small worms , usually a bunch in one section, are these harmful ? Isopods seems to be doing great though, seen a-lot of babies today, thanks!
Thank you, Zack! Do the white worms have little black pointy heads? If so, they are fungus gnat larvae. Not necessarily harmful unless they appear in great numbers, but they can be annoying, if they are thinner and longer with no black heads, they may be enchytraeid worms, not particularly a problem,
@@Aquarimax thank u
The mroe I hear about what peopel start with the more I realize I got really lucky adn went overbored on my starter culture. I have 70. I dug them out of my garden
Hi I'm new to isopods. Will the springtails escape through the air holes? I want to keep the isopods happy when I get them so I need to know specifics. Also how do people keep a temperature gradient? Thank you for any advice.
you can you use 100 micron mesh if you don't want escapes
Springtails randomly appeared in my Roly poly enclosure when I was about to buy some 💀
Any recommendations for isopods almost purely for cleaning up purposes in a tropical environment (high humidity and heat)? Would like to have them cleanup hermit crab poop.
What is that yellow pebble food?
Oh can you do a rubber ducky care guide as well.
That food is bee pollen. Rubber duckies are on the to-do list 👍
@@Aquarimax thanks that’s great 😊
What would you recommend for an arid setup? Which isopods would do best with a bioactive arid leopard gecko tank? I got powder orange and powder blue. But have been having a tough time keeping them alive
How arid are you talking? If it is too low, nothing will thrive or even survive. For 45-55% range, Oreo Crumbles. They are very fast moving and have done well for me in that range of my vivariums. Always remember as long as you keep a layer of moisture between your leaf clutter layers, you can have less humid ambient enclosure air. Depending on build and your areas ambient humid, you could have a difference of 10-15 % in humidity between your ambient air and the humidity between your leaf layer.
I set up a little terrarium in a 3-gallon cookie jar that’s maybe 8 inches in diameter. I was thinking of adding springtails and isopods for some movement and visual interest, but I have no idea how I could set up a humidity gradient in such a narrow space. I suppose I could just mist one side, but I’ve already planted the entire surface. I don’t want any plants to dry out. Should I just leave it alone and forget the isopod/springtail idea?
There are springtails that do just fine without a humidity gradient, and some isopods too, though with such a small vivarium you are limited with species that could do well. Dwarf whites could work!
I just got a mix of P.laevis and I do lift the lid to watch them every night but I don't poke the sub or lift their hides. Good to learn I'm not doing too bad atm for a newbie haha 😂
Sounds like you are off to a great start!
@@Aquarimax I hope so! I just bought some zebras as well so looking forward to them! :D
@@Medusii Zebras are hard to beat!
Why am I here at 3am
'pods
Can you do a video about dairy cow isopods for your playlists?
It is in process, should be out soon!
Any recommendation of a similar Cubaris like Rubber Ducky that isnt so shy? I know the Panda King is one.
You’re right about Panda King…I have very limited experience with most Cubaris…have you heard how the Cappuccino does?
does the bark have to be cork bark or can you use just bark from trees around you?
Non-resinous tree bark can work. Cork is nice in that the isopods are not as interested in eating it, so it lasts longer.
I made some food out of fish food, flour, and crushed eggshells [sterilized] and I keep the isopods constantly covered in a large box with leaves, pine needles, leaf litter and some moss [for oxygen] am I doing anything wrong? I want to breed them to sell.
For those of you interested in springtails, DM me and come get however you like
Hello, I currently have around 30 mealworm beetles, 4 Dubia roaches and 1 of them pregnant all in one 20 gal. If I make them a new more bioactive home with springtails and maybe isopods will they all be ok together?
I think adding the springtails would be fine, as long as they have a moist area at all times. Some isopod species would be better than others with those species. Since Dubia can’t climb smooth surfaces, isopods like Dairy Cows might be an issue when they molt.
I'm sorry if this sounds silly but maybe someone who stumbles across this comment can help
i would love to keep isopods but what do i do if they breed lots and become too crowded in their enclosure? is there a way to keep their numbers reasonable without exponential growth and having to upsize their box?
Start by choosing a species that is not extremely prolific, l(Porcellio laevis ‘Dairy Cow’ is probably not the best choice for you) and then limit (not eliminate) the amount of leaf litter you provide. They can thrive on other foods, no many species will breed far less when leaf litter is limited.
@@Aquarimax thank you for your reply and all the excellent resources you provide on your channel!
Hey rus! I just got some armadillian vulgare and was wondering if it's normal for them to hide on the first few days of having them?
That is very common, you may possibly need to wait until the colony grows before you see much of them
@@Aquarimax okay thank you :)!