Isopod Macro Lens Tour: Part 1: Armadillidium

[@mountainhobbit1971]

they do look a bit like little tiny 'armadillos' thus the name Armadillidium...so cool, seeing them makes me super anxious for some warm weather...it has been a long winter here in Taos, NM. Thanks Rus, I love the peach colored ones best! Oh and thank you also to all the Patreon supporters!

[@Aquarimax]

Exactly, I should have mentioned that name connection. Too focused on trying to focus, I guess, 🤣 I am glad you like the peaches, they deserve more love 👍

[@SupremeGecko]

Great video Rus. That macro lens is awesome. The A. gestroi really show those skirts with the lense. The orange vigor are beautiful. LOL- Night Gold. Great name and beautiful animals.

[@Aquarimax]

Supreme Gecko Thank you Wally! It amazes me how the dimensions of isopod beauty open up with a macro lens! I hope ‘Nightgold’ finally proves out 👍

[@SupremeGecko]

@@Aquarimax Fingers crossed. They are lovely.

[@PlecsExotics3]

The Nightgold isopods are gorgeous!

[@Aquarimax]

They are, aren’t they?

[@sharonincognito1764]

Look at those faces, so cute!!

[@clockworkwillow3460]

WOW!! I love the name "Nightgold," and they look stunning! Such an awesome project!

[@Aquarimax]

ClockWork Willow Thank you! 👍 I’ll tell my son, he’ll like that.

[@cerridwendragonart8167]

@@Aquarimax Do you still have the original specimen that founded this project within the colony, or has that one passed?

[@Aquarimax]

Cerridwen DragonArt That one has passed...it’s too bad, it was a beauty!

[@cerridwendragonart8167]

@@Aquarimax Did you manage to take any pictures of that one?

[@Aquarimax]

Cerridwen DragonArt yes, I have some pics and video of that one. In fact, it is the one in the bottom left of the thumbnail 👍

[@homeschoolie4933]

Love armadillidiums I find them to be the most social and care free just doin there own thing in my bioactive set up ❤️

[@Aquarimax]

They are pretty active and fun to watch 👍

[@barbhelle5481]

Thank you Russ. I always love Isopod videos.

[@Aquarimax]

Barb Helle You are welcome! They are among my favorites to film, although not without their challenges 🤣👍

[@MinesanityServer]

I just got my Dairy cow isopods thanks to your help :D Awesome species, thanks!

[@Aquarimax]

Congratulations!! You have excellent taste in isopods 😊👍

[@j371]

Bro your videos are amazing. Thanks for the content.

[@Aquarimax]

Jason Witherspoon You’re welcome, and thank you!!

[@StarlitMoss]

Oooh I love the nightgold

[@Pokeepogo]

Was just watching the isopod playlist when I got the notification for this so ofc I had to watch it. Another wonderful video! I hope you can get the magic potions going, that’s a species I really wanna get into as well.

[@Aquarimax]

Steph Kaczala Thank you!! I probably ought to pick up a few more magic potions and try again

[@yvonnerogers6429]

👍🏻❤️🙏 That was great! Beautiful, beautiful little creatures there, Rus. By the way, the ASMR on this video was pretty high for me. You’ve got a great voice for it. You wouldn’t even need to whisper. Just speaking normally about your pets is enough. Capitalizing on that might be a way to draw in more subscribers who might otherwise bypass your channel. Animal Wonders Montana recently did an ASMR video. You might want to look at that to give yourself some ideas. At any rate, your channel is already pretty amazing, and I know it’ll only get better. Best.

[@Aquarimax]

Yvonne Rogers Thank you, Yvonne! I will look at that video, it is an intriguing idea...a few mother peoplw have mentioned my videos in the context of ASMR, I really ought to check it out.

[@pandubimo6062]

Those high-white zebras r amazing 😍

[@Aquarimax]

Pandu Bismoyo Thanks! I need to get around to isolating them

[@rodkirt9273]

I enjoy watching your videos. Thanks

[@Aquarimax]

Rod Kirt you are most welcome, and thank you for watching!

[@Pokeepogo]

Was literally just watching the isopod playlist and I got the notification for this so ofc I had to check it out. I gotta get me some isopods and a macro lense.. lol

[@Aquarimax]

Steph Kaczala Awesome! I guess this will be auto-added to the playlist now. You’re first! 👍

[@mellewedin8221]

This is 2 years old but mad cool video

[@annatoxopeus8575]

Picking up my very first isopods next week! Thanks for all of your videos about how to take care of them, they've been really helpful!

[@irThumper]

Super love the macro vids! Can't wait for the rest of the series :)

[@Aquarimax]

irThumper Thank you! the lens has a very narrow range of focus, so it is difficult, for but I am getting a kick out of it!

[@MinesanityServer]

Hey Rus, you’ve helped me a ton so I thought I would give you some tips for feeding and breeding isopods :) I personally grow a mix of cover crop seeds and that’s the only thing that I feed my isopods. They devour the cover crop very quickly, and it’s free. Just grow it out in a pot in your backyard and you have unlimited food. Another tip I have is using rice hulls in your isopod enclosures. I’ve noticed that isopods love to lay their eggs in the rice hulls. They’re the perfect size for babies to hide in, and I’ve noticed faster breeding when using it. Thanks for everything Rus!

[@Aquarimax]

Minesanity Thank you! I’m going to have to try some of that cover crop and the rice hulls! Where do you get them?

[@MinesanityServer]

@@Aquarimax I've been using this cover crop mix for over a year now: www.amazon.com/No-Till-Cover-Crop-13-Seed-%C2%BD-lb/dp/B07JL8WHWG It has a ton of diversity, so the isopods can eat whatever they please. 13 different plants they can choose from. Also, any organic rice hulls will work. I personally buy a 50lb bag from PBH because I use a lot of rice hulls for my gaden, but any small amount will work for a few cultures: www.amazon.com/Rice-Hulls-Organic-Quarts-Gardening/dp/B07NZ8JM7Z For the cover crop, I just have a 2'x1' pot outside that I don't even water. The rain is able to keep it happy since it grows very densely. The only issue with growing cover crop outside is the possibility for contamination into your cultures, so keep that in mind. I haven't had any issues myself, but i've had local springtails hop a ride on the cover crop. Another food source that i've been using is dog food. Taste of the Wild to be exact. It's what i've been feeding my dogs for years now, and I just realized how beneficial it could be for my cultures. I haven't used it long enough yet to determine any issues yet though. I threw together some seperate cultures to try it out, ill let you know how it goes!

[@chevyfish5373]

Those A. gestroi are stunning. The "magic potion" look like you are looking at an opal. They are a kaleidoscope of color under an opal covering. Nature's diversity is truly amazing.

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you! I couldn’t agree more!

[@Crystalspets]

Yes yes yes my favorite types of isopods rus☺☺

[@Aquarimax]

Crystal's pets&plants Thank you Crystal! Some of mine too, though Dairy Cows are up there...

[@peachique]

New Subscriber! As well as fresh isopod keeper. I’ve been noticing a abundance of red speckled ones around my area so I started there with a localized culture.

[@Aquarimax]

peachique Welcome to Aquarimax Pets! Do the red speckled ones look like my Calicoes? I am wondering if it is type of Calico Porcellio scaber. Great find, at any rate!

[@peachique]

Aquarimax Pets lemme do some research and examine them more and I’ll get back to you, super fresh to the hobby :). Can give you a reply by tomorrow. Currently away from house. Thanks for all the educational videos on your page!

[@user-bp5py6bh3g]

Awesome!

[@Aquarimax]

Shimon Thank you!

[@psychogat3]

Can't wait to see how the yellows turn out in the long run.

[@Aquarimax]

Matt and how your turn out, with eventual outcrosses! 👍

[@waterbottle8692]

The Armadillidium gestroi look very similar to my Armadillidium granulatum, just more vibrant loooking

[@Aquarimax]

True! Variations on a theme.👍

[@infoseeker329]

im going out soon to collect some wild ones to start my isopod journey.

[@candaceangell4014]

great vid!

[@dawnrichardson8230]

I found my own isopods under rocks and I keep them as pets in feet on solid and zucchini or actually cucumber

[@Aquarimax]

Dawn Richardson Locally collected isopods can be great pets!

[@arvopelaa]

Awesome

[@Aquarimax]

trash can jam Thank you!!

[@shiadyne]

isopods are so cute oh my god

[@Aquarimax]

shiatoru daidōji I agree...very cute creatures!!

[@ThePederangell]

roly poly (pillbug) enthusiasts... we're on FB

[@candaceangell4014]

nailed it

[@ZeEbstar]

Brilliant idea! I'm excited for more videos in this series. What kind of lens did you use?

[@Aquarimax]

ZeEbstar Thanks! It is an Olloclip 7x/14x lens.

[@igris6128]

so cool!

[@Aquarimax]

Igris Thanks! Which was your favorite?

[@igris6128]

Aquarimax Pets A. gestroi is very beautiful

[@Aquarimax]

Igris I agree!

[@MyWhiteee]

I wish tohave some of them :). W8ing for more videos

[@Aquarimax]

White Are they unavailable where you live?

[@Andruth34]

I was just introduced to the wonderful world of Woodlouse Flies. My sole isopod container (wild caught, Porcellio Spinicornis) suddenly had two small black flies in it. I looked them up, and was *horrified.* I let them out (couldn't catch the damn things), but if they laid eggs my colony is doomed. For anyone who doesn't know, Woodlouse Flies are parasitoids of, well, woodlice/isopods. They lay their eggs on soil that has isopod droppings nearby; the larva hatches, and waits for an unlucky isopod to walk by, and grabs on. After that, it makes its way through the exoskeleton, feeding on the isopod's hemolymph until eventually emerging as an adult (this kills the isopod), and repeating the cycle. Truly an unpleasant surprise to find waiting for me...

[@Aquarimax]

Clown Crusade That is very unfortunate. I have never had to deal with those. Other small pest flies like fungus gnats, yes, but those are nothing compared to woodlouse parasites.

[@mrpede7779]

I have native P Scabers, O Asellus, P Muscurom and A Vulgare. I also have some A Granulatums, Magic Potions, Laevis, Maculatum and I recently found an aquatic Asellus Aquaticus

[@Aquarimax]

Great collection you have! My first isopods I kept and bred were aquatic asellids!

[@DragonUdo]

Hey Rus, just wanted to update you on a comment I had made on a live video of yours about a week ago that my isopods did not like bug burger or morning wood... I think I wasn't getting the mixture hot enough and now that I have corrected this they are eating it like wildfire! p.s. They still don't like it dry.

[@Aquarimax]

DragonUdo aha! That makes sense. Glad they are eating it now 👍

[@roachant]

I have to get some of those Montenegro! Hard to find at a decent price here.

[@Aquarimax]

Roach Ant They have remained fairly expensive, although the prices are slowly coming fown

[@amelialock7]

Dang those are some high quality bugs. Where do you source them from?

[@Aquarimax]

Amelia Thanks! Mostly, they come from other hobbyist breeders. A few I collected locally.

[@Charlie-tw3ef]

@@Aquarimax what species do you find locally. In my area I can get tropical greys, and some small ones that are very fast and golden. However I'm not sure what species they are do you

[@LayilaFaon]

wow this is so interesting

[@kaio4798]

What do they eat? I'm trying to make a terrarium for them, I have the "montenegro" type in my garden

[@riptide1510]

I have recently gotten into keeping I sopot and shortly after started getting mites I'd be curious for some tips on how to deal with them and/or prevent them

[@Aquarimax]

RipTide 1 My first tip is to add springtails, as they can help outcompete mites. Do you have springtails already?

[@bidnezz8772]

Hey it's me again you never got back to me on what's a good place for me to get supplies and isopods for cheap I'm in Florida btw

[@Aquarimax]

Bidnezz Are you looking more for hobby isopods, or cleanup crew? Www.bugsincyberspace.com, supreme gecko.com, captiveisopoda.com, and Isoviva.com are some great sources.

[@bidnezz8772]

@@Aquarimax for hobby mostly

[@bighashgang1990]

Which ones are the grey colored ones u find under rocks that kids call roly polys

[@Aquarimax]

Often, those are Armadillidium vulgare.

[@Tiger804]

At one time when my cousin and myself were younger around 8 years of age and my cousin around 9 or 10, we got on great until one day we were in my grandmothers GARDEN R.I.P NAN,,,,,, he decided to get woodlice and collect them in a cup, then decided to throw them at me,, I have never liked them too this day because of that,,,, woodlice are isopods or rollie pollies as they are sometimes called, my cousin called them blood suckers some of the isopods seen in the video look quite colorful never thought there were colors like that and look beautiful, but wouldn't let them walk on my hand though.🐞🪲🐝🐜🕷🪳

[@micahhuge1474]

Why do I keep finding orange isopods in my yard? Is it a morph or a diffrent species?

[@youraveragephesh3173]

Could be both. Most likely a morph if the body shape is the same.

[@Xehxna]

Can Armadillidium vulgare? breed with other Armadillidium vulgare? for example would potions breed with the high contrasted yellow? or with a wild type Armadillidium vulgare?

[@Aquarimax]

Yes, it appears that all A. vulgare morphs can interbreed.

[@Xehxna]

@@Aquarimax Thank you. I tried researching it but nothing i read gave me a answer which was frustrating.

[@Aquarimax]

@@Xehxna Armadillidium ‘Gem Mix’ is often sold, which is essentially many morphs breeding together, and it appears to work very well. Are you the same person who emailed me about isopods and genetics recently?

[@Xehxna]

@@Aquarimax yes, actually i am. I can't get any now as it's to cold but i am spending the time learning as much as I can so i know im taking good care of them.

[@路易-b2f]

can u tour your cubaris sp.iospod😍

[@Aquarimax]

路易 I only have one Cubaris sp., but I will 👍

[@MyWhiteee]

Can u Make some new video about dart frogs

[@Aquarimax]

White I should!!

[@robertriso9156]

What classification is the ones we find in our backyards?

[@Aquarimax]

Robert Riso Two of the most common you will find are Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio scaber, though there are several others you might find as well.

[@wesleyson21]

I'm in the Midwestern US and I have A. vulgare and P. pruinosus "Powder Blue". I have both of these in my bullsnake's bioactive setup as they're "native" and they do well.

[@Aquarimax]

Case Johnson both excellent choices for a somewhat drier environment like the one your bullsnake requires. 👍

[@homeschoolie4933]

Hi Rus it’s Elana I have a question for you. Is your messenger down? Please let me know if I can send an inquiry there.

[@Aquarimax]

Home Schoolie it looks like it is working on my end, go ahead and send me a message 👍

[@homeschoolie4933]

Aquarimax Pets ok great I will message you when I get to my pc

[@michaelwescott8064]

What if the ones who died was a sex linked morph?

[@MIsopods]

I was really digging those Night Golds but man. I love Gestroi, and they stole the show, at least for me! Thank you! I'm debating getting a micro lens soon, we'll see. Go easy. Me

[@Aquarimax]

Gestroi are hard to beat!!

[@MIsopods]

@@Aquarimax Impossible* haha.