How To Care For Isopods: Culture Setup & Breeding | Bioactive Basics #18

[@JTBReptiles]

Everything you need to culture isopods - (US/Ca) - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/isopod-culturing-supplies-us-ca (UK) - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/isopod-culturing-supplies-uk

[@JTBReptiles]

Lil Penguin I have a video that’s sort of about that topic coming out soon 👍

[@JTBReptiles]

Lil Penguin no problem

[@kodavulpedrius6712]

When I start binge watching a youtube channel that i havent seen before, you know im going to subscribe.

[@JTBReptiles]

Thank you!

[@FusionDeveloper]

Be sure to have both wet AND dry areas. It is also important to give them calcium carbonate sources. Some species like it more damp, some like it more dry, but they all benefit from being able to burrow and to regulate themselves by going from damp to dry locations as needed.

[@adrian9ng]

perfect timing joe! i just bought some isopods and was just going to keep them in a plastic bottle. Thanks bro

[@SupremeGecko]

Congrts Adrian. What did you get?

[@adrian9ng]

Supreme Gecko I got tropical greys and springtails

[@SupremeGecko]

Enjoyed the video. This is very good information for the beginner isopod keeper.

[@JTBReptiles]

Thanks!

[@AlexsAgamids]

Thanks for this video! I've thought about attempting to make my more tropical animals housed with a bioactive substrate. So this has helped give me insight!

[@JTBReptiles]

It’s definitely a worthwhile endeavour - I say go for it!

[@peytonsmith7269]

Another great video mate! Thank you from USA!

[@swordbird]

Great video! I was just outside and I caught a morph I had never seen before, so I decided now is as good a time as any to finally start breeding them.

[@PeacePills.]

now i gotta know. care to describe it? im interested lol

[@swordbird]

@@PeacePills. Yeah. I still haven’t been able to figure out the morph. It is a normal pill bug, incredibly light brown (much lighter than the juveniles) large size and vibrant yellow back spots.

[@swordbird]

I have seen some images of ones that look like it but no good name.

[@vincenth6996]

do the isopods need ventilation?

[@bigsam8597]

Can you use wild caught isopods from your backyard for a bioactive enclosure?

[@JTBReptiles]

Yes, you can. The clever thing to do is to catch some and then raise higher numbers in a culture so that you can get more on tap.

[@bigsam8597]

@@JTBReptiles Thanks! I already collected some from my backyard a about two days ago, so I was just being sure.

[@Ralsei_lover.]

Should you also boil the wood bark?

[@peytonsmith7269]

Aside from bioactive duties, can these be fed to younger beardies?

[@JTBReptiles]

They can be fed to all beardies, young and old. Mine loves them!

[@junk_mccartney9504]

I love isopods 🥰

[@justyouraverageeditor7483]

So I plan on getting some a juvenile crested gecko and some isopods, (I’m new to keeping reptiles) Will they overpopulate the cage? What I mean is will they get into mass population and take up a bunch of space?

[@JTBReptiles]

No 🙂 The population will be limited by the amount of food available. For this reason, it’s advisable to feed the clean up crew (I use pond fish sticks) every now and again. In doing this, you’ll keep the population a little bit higher than is required for all of the gecko’s faeces to be consumed, so the population can undergo a bit of predation and still be effective in cleaning.

[@justyouraverageeditor7483]

JTB Reptiles Ah, Alright Thanks!

[@Abdxcted]

I don't have coconut fiber. Is there any alternative soil I can use?

[@deandaniels203]

Can you use leaves from the silver birch

[@JTBReptiles]

That’ll probably be fine, yes 🙂

[@nfernooo]

Can you breed them and spring tails in same culture?

[@JTBReptiles]

Yep!

[@ConsciusVeritasVids]

It's not only safe but encouraged! The springtails are little assistant janitors to your isopods.

[@heatherloop1030]

Omg I have lots of isopods this really helps!

[@noface_rbx]

Can I put common garden woodlice with my tropical woodlice?

[@JTBReptiles]

I try to culture them separately, but they’ll be fine together in a vivarium.

[@Smithy24601]

Do we need to put small holes in the lid so they can breathe?

[@MrTfuzz]

I swear I thought I accidentally clicked on a howtobasic video when I saw that pot violently appear on camera.. imagine that.. howtobasic "making isopod cultures".. That would go so bad

[@JTBReptiles]

🤣 It’s just end up being a box of smashed eggs!

[@ethanlunning9501]

can you do this with wild ones

[@JTBReptiles]

Yes.

[@frogxcult2307]

can I get wild woodlice and put them in a tank with garden snails?

[@gadpivs]

Do you need to poke holes for oxygen?

[@JTBReptiles]

Opening the tubs twice a week has proven sufficient 👍

[@gadpivs]

@@JTBReptiles Awesome, thanks. I think I know what I'm doing this weekend.

[@FusionDeveloper]

You need to balance humidity/dampness/temperature with airflow to prevent mold/fungus/stagnation/anaerobic. The drier the air and substrate, the less venting/circulation you need. The damper the substrate and air is, the more venting and air movement you need. Depending where you live and how you keep the room they are in, will determine those variables.

[@4u2242]

do wild caught isopods carry mites?

[@kooneho4083]

do you really need leaves from hardwood trees? or does any leaves do?

[@AirQuotes848]

So no mold growing in there?

[@TheHappyRat]

Since springtails are so much smaller and are a hassle if they get out I'm a bit nervous about adding them to a culture. Are springtails necessary to a culture? I don't want the environment to overwhelm my isopods but I'm a bit hesitant to use springtails.

[@JTBReptiles]

Who told you they’re a hassle if they get out? They aren’t at all - it’s too dry for them to survive around a house, assuming you don’t live in... a very wet house! The springtails aren’t absolutely necessary, but I find they help prevent mould growth quite a bit.

[@TheHappyRat]

@@JTBReptiles Ah! My mistake! Thank you for the response, that helps me a lot.

[@JTBReptiles]

No problem!

[@lunarminx]

I am starting a bioactive in a 40 gallon breeder terrarium for anoles. I am starting with 15 orange and 22 powder blues and a small container of springtails. How long should I allow them to breed for, to have enough for that large of a terrarium? They are the perfect size for my anoles to eat, which I am afraid of that happening, so I want lots.

[@n3to872]

How often is “once every now and again “

[@itsanikapatel2277]

Is it ok if I use stuff from my backyard for their enclosure? Like leaves and dirt/mulch

[@natanaga9892]

I wouldn't recommend to use substrate from your backyard since you don't know what kind of pesticides/insecticides that could be harmful to isopods, plus it's harder to disinfect dirt/soil. But if you're sure they didn't have any pesticides/insecticides, then you can disinfect it by microwaving or put the soil in the oven. Same goes for leaves/branches, etc.

[@cristinabagley6906]

Could I start a culture with only about 5 Isopods?

[@JTBReptiles]

Yes. It might not flourish for many years as the gene pool will be somewhat restricted, but it’ll work.

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

Why is is when i see so many people setting these up there is extra things like charcoal in there? This was way simple lol

[@JTBReptiles]

Because people like to copy what other people do without experimenting - apart from me! Thanks for watching :)

[@SupremeGecko]

There are a few reasons people use charcoal. The porous surface area is conducive to increased aerobic microorganism activity ('bioactivity'). Also the chunks allow cavities in the substrate, providing more hiding areas for the isopods, especially the mancae.

[@JTBReptiles]

Never thought of that. Thanks for the info!

[@SupremeGecko]

@@JTBReptiles glad to add info

[@noOneAskedForHandleOnYT]

nice video

[@danhughesartist]

Confused- all of a sudden there were isopods and tiny bugs and plants in the Tupperware out of nowhere

[@Karrissen]

Looks quite simple...

[@JTBReptiles]

It’s not hard 🙂

[@kodavulpedrius6712]

One thing i like about you the most, is that you try controversial aspects to the hobby, like UVB for cresties, crestie diet, bla bla bla.

[@JTBReptiles]

Most people find it easier not to ask the relevant questions: it’s easier to read a care sheet and just do what it says rather than to understand the reasoning behind it. I try my best not to do this, which is why my views and information is often quite different to what you’ll hear elsewhere! Thanks for the feedback 😁

[@ColossalSwordFormAndTechnique]

And the end, that isopod definitely escaped 😂

[@imnotagamer22]

Just started my collection; recognized some white webbing and then I started to freak thinking there was a spider somewhere in it. Then more research later I figured out it was mold forming 😥. I feel stupid

[@pasaweesongsathirapat1555]

good good

[@kakarot0301]

benefit?

[@Disndushwj]

Why