Isopod Care Guide Part 5: Maintenance

Isopods are some of the best pet invertebrates! In this isopod care guide, I discuss isopod care and maintenance, such as changing the substrate, checking important parameters, adding leaf litter, etc. if you want to care for your pet isopods in the right way, this video can help help.
Check out these LINKS to Isopod foods and supplies below. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I own a copy of this book on isopods by Orin McMonigle, a great source of isopod knowledge:
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Vivariums in the Mist makes some great isopod foods: www.vivariumsi...
Wally at Supreme Gecko makes a great Isopod food: www.supremegeck...
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 12-oz. jar of bug burger: amzn.to/2Mg3Nal
#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
#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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I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. In other words, I earn a small commission when you use that affiliate link, at no cost to you.

[@bugseater1]

These probably could be a few seconds off. Short-term: 0:00 - Introduction 0:28 - Moisture gradient 1:35 - Supplemental food 2:40 - Adding leaf litter 3:00 - Conditions Long-term: 4:28 - Introduction 5:13 - Changing substrate 6:15 - Changing substrate (Method 1) 7:20 - Changing substrate (Method 2) 9:37 - Changing substrate (Method 3) 10:28 - Labelling after substrate change 10:40 - Wrap up

[@andrewulrich8053]

What an honor! You got your comment pined!

[@MIsopods]

Small tip: My pods often pull and move food. This means that I may place it one place, but they may pull it under a piece of cork, or leaf or the substrate. So if you worry about this, and losing a visual sight of food. Make sure you either use a dish, or place the food in an area where the grade is too steep for them to pull it away. I found a few pieces of cucumber that I thought were eaten, several days after they had gone bad, after my dudes hold the food under some wood.

[@Aquarimax]

Good point! That is part of the reason I feed a lot of powdered food in dishes. They have to eat it in situ.

[@siyg]

I just experienced this today! (Sorta) I placed half a fish food pellet on top of the cork bark this afternoon and the isopods didn’t touch it until I walked by and noticed it was on the complete opposite side of the cork bark.

[@Caspianm2]

When swapping out the substrate (especially when there's a lot of babies) I like to keep the remaining soil inside a separate enclosure for a few days in thin patches, I spray/mist the whole thing and they'll almost always move to the surface.

[@DowntheWormHole]

I pick them out until I don’t feel guilty anymore 😂

[@nessamillikan6247]

I just did this today; I got everyone except the tiny white nymphs because my back just couldn't take it anymore. I use a white plastic spoon to scoop them up. I need to get me a fine mesh sifter.

[@RisingFromTheAshes97]

This series came at the perfect time. I have been doing alot of research lately and keeping some wild caught Armadillidium from my yard. I will be making enclosures for 4 species I will be getting later this week. Armadillidium vulgare "orange vigior", Porceillio scaber mixed colors, Porcellio dilatatus, and Oniscus asellus "Marti Gras Dalmatian" Your videos have been very helpful as I prepare for their arrival.

[@captfantastic]

Great tips on substrate changing... especially about putting some food in a corner to get the stragglers...

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you Ken! They're a little like pokemon...gotta catch 'em all!

[@realbrooklyn2093]

Rus, these videos are so helpful. Being reminded about basics and having a refresher is great. The tip about substrate saturation underneath moss is one I find important. Wonderful work Rus!! 😊

[@rdnkenki]

Why haven't I heard if you sooner? Very informative. Thanks!!

[@Aquarimax]

Glad to hear it!

[@user-wn7kn2of6i]

great videos! thanks for making isopod keeping more accessible :D

[@Aquarimax]

You're welcome! That is precisely what I hope to do.

[@kirstenl9870]

Thank you for your instructive video. I am setting up a bioactive enclosures for my jumping spiders. I have springtails as well. I bought 25 isopods to seed 3 enclosures. The spiders will take care of any prey I put in there. Glad for the clean up crew on the bottom

[@Aquarimax]

You’re welcome! I’d be interested to hear how the isopods do in with the jumping spiders. I have kept springtails with Phidippus spiders before, I haven’t done that with isopods yet.

[@eviehankins8223]

This is the best isopod care video :) its all the basics and a clear outline. Great for beginner keepers too! :) though I love all the care guides and appreciate species specific ones, I just also appreciate this lol

[@Aquarimax]

I am glad to hear it, thank you!

[@HerrWade]

I just went to replace the substrate and they had babies, now I need a magnifying glass lol.

[@oleanderriley4804]

i've found that getting a piece of softer wood and leaving it in one spot for a few hours (I go overnight) will usually attract most, if not all of them

[@creepycrawlyuk7102]

Nothing beats isopods!

[@jilliancrawford7577]

As someone who has manually moved each mealworm one by one from whole farms to troubleshoot mite outbreaks before, I don't think digging through substrate to collect isopods will be that bad lol. Just have a system of containers and do it about 1/4 of a cup at a time lol.

[@Aquarimax]

That works! It’s not too difficult, it just takes a while if you have 100+ bins 😂

[@awesomeanimalswithalishav5874]

This was a helpful reminder, I need to do a maintenance overview of my tanks. I got Covid for Christmas and was hit hard enough that with caring for everyone else I barely had to energy to toss in water and fish flakes for the isopods. I have a feeling I probably let them dry out a bit too much, hopefully I didn't lose anyone.

[@Aquarimax]

So sorry to hear COVID came for Christmas! I hope everyone is ok

[@zer0coolninja887]

Great video!!! Who is watching this in 2021??

[@Aquarimax]

👍

[@greenfairyarchive]

I keep mine in various sizes of stackable boxes. I check them daily and they are thriving. For moisture, however, I just have to lightly mist the lid of the boxes to retain moisture about 3-4 days at a time.

[@Aquarimax]

Gotta love those stackable boxes...

[@meowthekitty321]

Here's a way I propose to remove all the isopods from the substrate: Dig through one scoop of the substrate. Take out all the isopods from it and put the substrate In another container. Take another scoop of the old substrate, remove the isopods, and put it in that same container. Continue until there is no substrate left. Done!

[@MOONOVERMIAMI]

hello great video

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you!!

[@spacemonkey0507]

Great tips and care guide couldnt have said it better myself

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you!

[@cloudfox2471]

Love those Zebra striped Isopoda. I have lots of leaf litter mace up of deciduous trees such as maple, oak, cherry, sweet chestnut and some more leathery magnolia ones as well as plenty of crumbly wood and crumbling lichen/moss covered log pieces and bark for them to hid under. If like me you also keep millipedes then don't use coco fibre as this is not easily digested and can lead to deaths. It's also not good to use high resin wood such as cedar and pines. Hope this helps 🙉🙈🙊🐸

[@sandysizemore1828]

I love that catfish (or whatever fish) !

[@Aquarimax]

Me too! I believe it is a Tiger shovelnose...it lives at one of the two public aquariums in my state. 😊👍

[@barbhelle5481]

Thank you Russ for the great information. Happy New Year.

[@Aquarimax]

Happy New Year Barb!

[@danathompson3024]

i have to get this this shirt ! love it!! your friend Dana from Co.💕

[@laurencefrabotta1618]

Did you find this shirt? Looking for it as a gift ASAP!

[@markdolby4391]

Hi Rus I've watched lots of your videos on isopods and have found them most helpful. I live in the UK and isopods seem to have taken off in the US and Germany in the last 5 years or so. I think it's only a matter of time until the hobby gains popularly in the UK. Your videos seem to have started to focus on isopods more and more. Is this because of increasing popularity and more people are looking to buy them and watch videos about them? Thanks Mark

[@Aquarimax]

I think you're right...the hobby is spreading! Part of the reason I have focused more on isopods is exactly that!

[@markdolby4391]

I think because of there variety and cross breeding possiblys there is something for everyone. The fact they are for the most part low maintenance is a bonus. With all this and information available from the likes of yourself it's no surprise the hobby is growing at such a rate. Anyone can keep them especially as they require a small amount of space, unless you have as many as yourself. Keep up the good work Thanks Mark

[@amyesworldcatherinesminime7945]

Hey Mark - I'm also in the UK, my interest in isopods started with some given to me as CUC (they're not currently employed though!) and developed mainly through watching this channel. I now also have 2 adult P scabers I caught on the balcony to live in a mini-terrarium. One had babies which was very exciting so I'm recording the adventure. I wonder if the hobby will see a growth spike when we're finally allowed expos...

[@jar_of_jellybeans]

Use a reptile enclosure sifter to separate the isopods out

[@joejoelesh1197]

@9:10 I suppose I don't understand this recommendation. Where I Have lived it stayed far below freezing for far longer than 72 hours. We still had wild, naturalized isopods.

[@Aquarimax]

The same is true in my area. Part of the difference is that isopods can retreat far enough below ground in the wild that they are not exposed to the temperatures we experience and measure in the surface. I think there are other factors at play as well.

[@bugseater1]

I love your isopod videos, please make more :)

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you, I will keep them coming!

[@cristinabagley6906]

What about in a terrarium thats simply just housing the isopods as a cleanup crew? I have a bioactive leopard gecko enclosure and I have powder orange and powder blue isopods in there with him. I tried to start a small colony of the isopods on the side as well but after about 10 months both cultures died out of no where after I hadn't made any changes to my care. The only reason I can think of that might have caused them to die is that I never changed the substrate, and the toxins that built up from their waste ultimately killed them all. So in the future I will change the substrate like you suggested, however in a long term enclosure for another animal I've never heard of having to change the substrate. Is this required for the health of the clean up crew and animal? I can't think of a way to not disturb the plants though in the proccess of changing the substrate, but then again wouldn't the isopods still be living in their waste if it wasn't changed? I feel as though it would destroy most of the bioactive enclosure trying to add and remove substrate from the enclosure. I've looked everywhere for answers to this question so if someone could answer it that would be amazing!

[@Aquarimax]

Changing the substrate in a bioactive Vivarium needs to occur much less frequently….in terms of years in many cases. The substrate composition is different than in an isopod enclosure, and live plants help process certain waste products. I haven’t changed my leopard gecko’s bioactive substrate in about 3 years, and it is still working fine.

[@daisypekin6787]

I thought the springtails were to eat the molds, etc.?

[@Crystalspets]

Happy new year to you rus this is great information my friend

[@Aquarimax]

Happy New Year to you, Crystal!

[@Delicious_cannon_minion]

Is it plausible to check small portions of substrate for isopod, and then just throw it away once you’ve made sure that there are none left in it, repeating the process until all of the substrate is checked ? This seems like a good method to prevent throwing away isopods

[@Aquarimax]

Yes! That can work well

[@danathompson3024]

thanks again come spring i’m setting up a tank!💕

[@jeremyvalentin1828]

I have a question that no one seems to mention with isopods, its about the cork bark do we need to sterilize it? boil it? and bake? it in the oven 250°F for an hour? I'm curious, because I just bought some cork bark from Zoo Med and I'm kind of nervous to put it in the cage, I hear all types of things I just want to confirm it your channel has alot of info on isopods 👍🏼 i luv the videos if any one can help with my question that would be greatly appreciated

[@Aquarimax]

I santi e mine at 200 F for about an hour in the oven. 👍🏽

[@ElectricStealer]

When I change 1/3 to 3/4 to new soil. How do I keep the springtails. Will they jump out

[@MikeDiamondTube]

Love the shirt!

[@Aquarimax]

Thanks! The shirt is made by Jabberwork on Etsy. Here's a link: www.etsy.com/listing/718870159/rubber-ducky-original-isopod-rubber?gpla=1&gao=1&&All_Products&Cj0KCQiA0MD_BRCTARIsADXoopahJS5Gsqg3bZxQMqszNC7jN2tamK1FbSKqhyV8JbnsnIf1bcsi_ncaAqJ3EALw_wcB_k_&:pla-293946777986_c__718870159_12768591&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0MD_BRCTARIsADXoopahJS5Gsqg3bZxQMqszNC7jN2tamK1FbSKqhyV8JbnsnIf1bcsi_ncaAqJ3EALw_wcB

[@You_got_a_tiktok_problem]

Yeah

[@frankdughtank8327]

👌

[@Aquarimax]

👍

[@kay_kwatics]

Can you talk about the permit process I just got started breeding to sell and didn't know I needed a permit 😅

[@Aquarimax]

This video covers it well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKeZo6hmoZZ9jbssi=H1-fu5qCiOkRM7Vb

[@oleanderriley4804]

hi, i'm going off to college in the fall and I want to take my rescued isopods (I dug up the entire culture trying to plant a garden and felt so badly that I just started collecting them) with me. can you please make a video about transporting isopods?

[@elisam1242]

What do you do about isopod overpopulation? Will colonies self regulate?

[@Aquarimax]

I should probably make an entire video on this topic.

[@percyblok6014]

What would you say are the top 3 VORACIOUS leaf eaters? Like to use as a compost helper?

[@Aquarimax]

Well, Porcellio laevis and Porcellio dilatatus spring to mind…

[@percyblok6014]

Yeah, from what I've gleaned thus far (researching about a week thus far) laevis look promising. Looking to do a composting bed complete with worms,springtails and isopods.

[@macasti30]

How you get rid of mites ???

[@Aquarimax]

I'll be covering that in a video coming up soon!

[@macasti30]

@@Aquarimax thanks 🙏

[@frankdughtank8327]

2021

[@Josef_R]

Why do you need an isopod permit? And why do you need to freeze dirt? And why can't you just throw it in your garden or compost bin?

[@jordanhernandez7184]

Can you feed isopods dried mealworms

[@Aquarimax]

Yes, you can!

[@lyrre3290]

how often do you check your bins? Is it okay I check my bins daily? Im a new keeper and i only have few bins.. does it bother or affect them if i check daily?

[@alexstarker9435]

I've always been told that isopods thrive on neglect lol

[@Aquarimax]

You can check daily, but just don’t move al of the hides and dig around 👍🏼

[@Aquarimax]

That is true. As long as their basic needs are met 👍🏼

[@aceofspades26nw]

Love your vids! Do you have any vids talking about rotting wood in substrate or leaf litter and where to get it? I have plenty I can get from outside but guess its not OK to use this before boiling it to remove any nasties? But then will this remove any sustenance from it the isodpods might need? Any advice or direction on where to find info on this would be awesome!

[@Aquarimax]

I do talk about using wood in some of my isopod videos...I think in my ‘How to Care for Isopods Day to Day I may discuss it. Looks like I need to make a more recent video on this topic! I usually bake wood in the oven for 30 minutes or more, at 200 F. The isopods still seem to derive nutrients from it after this treatment. Oak, maple, alder, and aspen are the wood types ai have used most often. Oak is often regarded as the best.

[@aceofspades26nw]

@@Aquarimax Awesome thank you so much for the reply, keep up the amazing content I always look forward to it

[@Aquarimax]

@@aceofspades26nw you are very welcome!!

[@Sly14000]

I have a question, why exactly does the substrate need to be replaced when there is too much isopod frass? I have had a culture for a few years now that is covered in isopod frass and I rarely ever see even a single dead isopod, not only that but their numbers are vast and continue to grow fast. I have always seen people say that you need to change the substrate once there is too much frass but they never get into the "Why" of it. From what I understand plants like isopod frass and the isopods eat it themselves, so it confuses me as to why it's an issue.

[@Aquarimax]

That is a great question. The short answer is, ‘it doesn’t need to be replaced as long as it is topped off with nutritious substrate’. That said, I have noticed that periodic fresh substrate gives the isopods a real reproductive boost. It is true that isopods will often eat their own frass, but there are diminishing returns in terms of nutrients over time.

[@Sly14000]

@@Aquarimax Thank you for your response! But yeah I don't ever leave the isopods with just the frass as their only food source. I just meant since they eat it, they must not mind living in it. I have another question, I plan on getting a toad at some point. Is isopod frass at all harmful or toxic to toads and frogs?

[@Aquarimax]

@@Sly14000 i wouldn’t think frass would harm toads or frogs. I keep isopods with my dart frogs, so they are exposed to some level of isopod frass with zero issues so far.

[@chickmagKNIT]

? Hi there, I'm a preschool teacher with VERY LIMITED space. I would say a shoebox size, space max. I'd like to start my own little pill bug collection as our classroom pets. Is there a way to keep my isopods population down? If not, what do I do when they outgrow my shoebox size container, when I'm limited on space? ThankÜ

[@sylverscribs0490]

collect local species! personally, i keep armadillidium vulgare, all collected from outside my house. when there’s too many, i just put them back outside. but i wouldn’t consider this if you buy an already captive bred culture, even if they’re of the local species. those guys have had enough time and potential cross-contamination in captivity to harbor diseases that native or naturalized isopods can’t handle. also, something that took me a while to figure out: they like a suuuuper steep humidity gradient otherwise they won’t shed properly.

[@underdogjourney203]

KZbin read my mind once again! I actually have. Question about isopods in terrariums. I have a couple of terrariums, 1 where isopods are thriving, and 1 where they keep getting lethargic and dying after a couple of days. They both have healthy springtails, hypoaspis mites, earthworms, gnats (which I can’t get rid of) and even an earwig or two. The ONLY difference is that the one with dying isopods has a small amount of sand mixed into the soil to aid as a digging medium for when I eventually add ants. Could this sand be killing the isopods somehow?

[@eas9911]

Can you tell me what is the best isopod to put in a crested gecko enclosure. Looks like she ate all the powder orange and blue. I have dwarf whites and springtails in there, but I still see her waste not being cleaned up.

[@crocketthenderson3924]

Hey Rus! I am getting 15 rubber duckies today and I am wondering if you have any advice or tips for enclosure set up and care. I got them for 50% off and I’m really excited about them. I want them to do well because mistakes are, well, quite costly. Thank you!

[@Aquarimax]

Congratulations! I have learned that to keep ventilation fairly low, they like high humidity, a moderate temp (in the 70s), provide some limestone, and offer fish food pellets frequently, they really see, to love those! I hope they thrive for you!

[@crocketthenderson3924]

Hey Rus! I have another question that can only be answered by an expert in the hobby. How much has the price of rubber duckies dropped since they were first introduced? How much did they cost back in 2017? I got my isopods yesterday and they are doing well so far! I’m wondering about how much their price has dropped as more people have cultured them.

[@Aquarimax]

@@crocketthenderson3924 there price has fluctuated up and down a bit, when I first got mine, I was getting a good deal for $20 each, if I recall correctly. I have seen them for more and less. I think I have seen them for $35 each.

[@crocketthenderson3924]

Thank you for always responding. You’ve made isopod keeping and finding information a whole lot easier for me. I appreciate it a lot. Thanks.

[@finndrennan541]

Do you anything about. Spiny flower mantises or ghost mantises

[@Aquarimax]

I haven’t kept either species yet...

[@finndrennan541]

Aquarimax Pets You might not know the answer to this question then. But do you know if room temperature is for either of them. ?

[@Aquarimax]

I have heard that ghost mantises at least can do ok at room temperature.

[@finndrennan541]

Aquarimax Pets Ok thanks

[@finndrennan541]

Aquarimax Pets With the isoviva enclosure. That has a drainage layer. Will you have to separate the drainage layer first to change the substrate

[@Specogecko]

I have levels in my isopods colonies, I stack wood then burry them in substrate, the lower levels are higher in humidity then the higher levels.

[@samsongrayson5975]

So Nice 💘💘💘💘💘💘

[@You_got_a_tiktok_problem]

First

[@Aquarimax]

I think you got it!