ISOPOD substrate 101: Understanding the science behind the components of a healthy substrate

Todays video is a video that has been requested on a few occasions pertaining to the details as to how I culture my isopods from start to finish. First up, we will discuss my ISOPOD substrate mix and the components i use and why.
It is a very in depth detail oriented overview of my thought process in developing a healthy, nutritional, long lasting and stable substrate for culturing ISOPODS more naturally.
Theres all sorts of other components and additives that many other very reputable ISOPOD keepers have great success with such as paper pulp, wood stove pellets, shavings etc... although these items may work very well for others they are not my items of choice. Lets discuss.
I hope you join me today in todays video ISOPOD Substrate 101.
Thank you for watching and supporting me.
Biggs
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @themadaquarist

[@melbapeach162]

15:14 Such a satisfying sound 🍂

[@SupremeGecko]

Excellent video. All kinds of great information here! Well done. (for calcium for the substrate, I purchase Calcium bicarbonate make for human consumption by the 2lb bag off Amazon. Works great)

[@themadaquarist]

Yeppers! Thank you kindly Wally, always

[@jimmygreeson160]

Great video! Your straightforward explanation takes the mystery out of diy substrate. Thank you very much.

[@themadaquarist]

Glad it was helpful! Very kind Jimmy, thank you

[@realbrooklyn2093]

I though I understood substrate but thanks to Chris I learned so much more today! Thank you sir

[@themadaquarist]

our understanding of the dynamics of the forest floor is ever evolving. Thanks for watching

[@shannonheinritz9306]

Wonderful video. I just acquired two colonies that definitely need a soil reset. Not sure I’ll be able to find the decaying tree right now considering everything is covered in snow. I’ll try to recreate the rest.

[@themadaquarist]

Find a source for flake soil online and add some to each colony. This will jump start the biologicals

[@albytross8681]

One thing not mentioned here about the tree fern, and because I’m currently fighting a never ending war with flower pot fungus in both my dwarf white bin and my dart frog vivarium (the fungus came from the dwarf whites source) is that it’s thought that flower pot fungus originates from certain tree ferns. Which is why a lot of ABGs are also potentially harboring this fungus. I pretty much will only ever mix my own substrate now. If you haven’t had flower pot fungus yet count yourself lucky, it’s probably the worst thing that can happen to your vivarium that nobody seems to talk about. No isopods or springtails will eat it, so it just keeps spreading and it’s really disgusting looking Your substrate mix is perfect though, much better than an ABG imo. I’m definitely going to be incorporating what you suggest. I already ordered calcium sand because that is a GENIUS idea. I’m gonna be on the lookout for rotting logs now too

[@themadaquarist]

Thank you kindly for the comments. I have experienced this fungus but honestly had no idea it could possibly be attributed to tree fern. It is not a product readily available here and when it is it is somewhat cost prohibitive. My main use of it back in the day was for mounting orchids and I had never considered adding it as a component to a vivarium mix until I came across the recipe for ABG mix. So thank you for that as well.

[@albytross8681]

@@themadaquarist Yeah and honestly all the components you mixed work just as well and are way cheaper anyways, so not much reason to spend a ton on tree fern for substrate 😂 For mounting plants though I definitely see it’s use.

[@Emlah9081]

Im about to start my first isopod culture. Magic potions. So i came here and then went tobamazon and bought a small bag of calcium carbonate (1kg) for like £5 so thank you ^°^

[@themadaquarist]

Have fun!

[@barbhelle5481]

Thank you very much for showing what you put in the mix.

[@themadaquarist]

Truly my pleasure Barb, your subbed to the new channel already? Realm Natura

[@horselady6276]

This was such an amazing video explaining everything, thank you so much for making this!

[@themadaquarist]

You're so welcome! Thanks for watching

[@ravingcyclist624]

Excellent video! Thanks! Just received a shipment of isopods. They came packaged inside a mixture like you just described.

[@themadaquarist]

Glad I could help!

[@geofishdude9488]

Great two for one video. Isopod AND soil science, what else can we ask for

[@themadaquarist]

Very kind my friend, thank you

[@billmeyer4773]

Magnificent learning experience 👌 , I'm sure going to use this information wisely

[@themadaquarist]

The Hank you kindly Bill, make sure you subscribe to the new channel as this channels focus has gone back to primarily fish. All the new isopod, reptile, vivarium, arachnid etc… content is now here…. youtube.com/@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556

[@nicky25294]

I'm off to the woods tomorrow great information 👌 👍

[@themadaquarist]

Have fun! Spending time in the woods is always a good time

[@juniadventures]

Great video

[@MIsopods]

Hi Chris! You mentioned a TDS meter. I could easily just look it up, but could you maybe do a video on what that is, how to use it, and specifically in regards to isopod substrate and how you monitor it?

[@themadaquarist]

Great suggestion!

[@missmaggie5238]

Great video! Very very helpful!

[@themadaquarist]

Very kind Miss Maggie, thank you

[@ariflowers6688]

This is such a great video!! I'm curious - when you wild forage your moss pods, how do you sterilize them? Do they hold up in the oven? My fear would be drying them out too much and having them breakdown.

[@themadaquarist]

Freezing, Boiling, Baking will kill not only the bad but also all the good in the mosses. I prefer submerging the freshly collected mosses in a closed tub of water. after say 24-48 hours everything bad will be killed off whilst keeping the beneficial biologicals intact.

[@JagaimoNoTensai]

Great vid, Thankyou

[@themadaquarist]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching

[@AquaGardenZen]

Amazing video well explained thank you for the knowledge 👍

[@themadaquarist]

Thank you kindly for watching my friend

[@FatalSuccubus]

Fantastic information and great video!

[@themadaquarist]

Thank you 🙏

[@pattie4812]

I’m very new to the isopod hobby. Thank you so much for your videos. You have mentioned that rotting wood is very important for them to feed on. Do you have a recommendation of a seller of rotting wood? I have ordered cork bark. But I can’t really find rotting wood for isopod. Thank you for your help, and thank you for your videos.

[@themadaquarist]

Thank you very kindly for the beautiful words. May I ask where you’re located? USA 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦? Europe? Thank his would make it a lot easier to better direct you

[@pattie4812]

@@themadaquarist USA

[@meowthekitty321]

If you’re still interested, I believe Smug Bug sells rotten wood.

[@sandysizemore1828]

great vid - thanks !

[@themadaquarist]

Glad you liked it! Thanks Sandy

[@micyo1928]

Great video, I have a question, do you know the optimum pH (water and soil) for these organisms. An interesting question.

[@ChantalsCritters]

Great information

[@themadaquarist]

Thank you

[@JohnDoe-xq8sk]

When you add sand at times, is quickcrete play sand okay? I wasn't sure if it was okay to use silica based sand. I figured it is but not sure.

[@richardh1764]

Im looking to convert a fish tank to a open terrarium with obviously plants but also isopods, is that mix good for growing plants, the other thing you didnt mention is watering the substrate?

[@themadaquarist]

I use it in all my bioactive terrariums with great success. May want to cut and remove the silicone top third as some isopods May climb it. Watering is always dependent on room ventilation, ambient temperature etc… not something I can advise to. I’m he media is moisture retentive but also drains well

[@katieglauber3083]

What about oyster shell for calcium? Like the kind fed to egg laying hens?

[@themadaquarist]

Yes definitely

[@snobt.v.816]

Anyone know if the Calcium Carbonate needs to be human food grade? Or can I use those that are used for agriculture?

[@themadaquarist]

It’s just a calcium source. Human grade would just mean it’s been purified. Won’t matter to your pods

[@mq3018]

Great video. However, do we have to cycle the soil? I'm from Singapore and the hobbyists are recommending that we cycle our soil, quite like cycling an aquarium, have you heard of it? Also should we bake our soil mix before putting it in our enclosure?

[@themadaquarist]

Lots of options both ways. Cycling the substrate by inoculating with bacteria’s, springtails etc… can definitely help settle newly acquired or delicate species. I personally try to. As for baking same thing. Pros and cons both ways. As I’m in a northern climate where I can only harvest seasonally. I submerged newly harvested mosses, lichens etc… for 24-48 to kill off dangerous critters which could harm the enclosure In the summer months. But for winter storage everything in our garage goes below freezing. Baking renders everything sterile so no chance of introducing anything negative.

[@erickperez8770]

Hey chris, for the sea soil or the fox farm forest floor soil. Do you bake it before introducing it into a vivarium/terrarium? Thank you!

[@themadaquarist]

No I do not

[@erickperez8770]

@themadaquarist would you think it would be a negative thing if someone did before putting it in a vivarium? I wanna be safe but at the same time I'm not sure if doing so will kill all the beneficial goodness in the soil

[@cassiesattler2327]

How does palleted lime for gardens for calcium and hardwood smoker pellets as a wood source compare?

[@themadaquarist]

Both work very well

[@Nytro1926]

Awesome video, thank you so much for sharing those precious informations. I just wonder how do you "sterilize" your wood ? I'm preparing a setup, and I've found some good wood in the forest and want to sterilize it. I've seen oven technique for leaves, but not so much info regarding the wood chunks. Does it work with oven for wood too ?

[@themadaquarist]

Yes I’ve done wood chunks the same way as leaves. I have also soaked forest product for 24-48 hours to maintain the beneficial biologicals but removing the potential dangerous or invasive critters

[@Nytro1926]

@@themadaquarist thank you so much! I've seen some people speaking of freezing instead of oven. Did you tried both? It may be easier for me to freeze than oven, but I'm afraid freezing keeps some mushrooms and other bad stuff.

[@themadaquarist]

@@Nytro1926 depending on where you are from. I’m up in Manitoba Canada and freezing forest products from up will just more than likely cause dormancy. However if in southern US where freezing generally would never occur it could be an option

[@trevanchapman7617]

Is the perlite in the Fox farm ocean forest potting soil ok for them? I know it's not ideal for millipedes.

[@themadaquarist]

Yes, Perlite is fully inert. It offers absolutely nothing to the isopods nor Millipedes.

[@noctahlia5282]

If I can't find rotting wood, what else can I use? And if I do find it, is there any easy way to grind it down without having to get a wood chipper?

[@themadaquarist]

Rotten wood, like a fallen tree in the forest from years back, an old stump. If truly rotting you’ll easily be able to rip apart the core with bare hands. Another products that many have had a fair bit of success with if wood pellets, for heating. They are super cheap for a large amount. Readily available

[@mongguppiesandendlers]

Can you use chicken grit too? I have freshwater snails so I have chicken grit laying around which is just crushed oyster shells and coral calcium. Is it also safe for isopods?

[@themadaquarist]

Most definitely

[@kaidenmullins5254]

Could I use coco fiber

[@barbhelle5481]

Leaves

[@themadaquarist]

Lots and lots of leaves

[@NunyaBitnas2119]

Is the fox farms shown in the video a good one to use?

[@themadaquarist]

Yes! 100% I’ve been trying to source it in Canada for over a year and finally found it

[@philcam9493]

Can we use lava, pumice or perlite?

[@themadaquarist]

They offer nothing to the animals. But great soul aerators

[@philcam9493]

@@themadaquarist Oh, so ideally everything should be edible. Thanks, Chris!

[@themadaquarist]

@@philcam9493 correct. It’s doesn’t have adverse effects though

[@hollyhoste2483]

Can you make this in bulk and use it as needed and if so how do you store it?

[@themadaquarist]

Yes exactly what I do. I always have a 30-40 gallon tote ready to go

[@hollyhoste2483]

Thank you so very much!!!

[@bile897]

I’m getting Cubaris sp. Cappuccino, what ingredients do you recommend? Great video btw, thanks 😊 Oh do you think the fallen leaves from a money tree are good to feed them?

[@themadaquarist]

Lots of calcium, stable alkaline ph, moist and warmer than say European porcellios otherwise no issues. Thank you kindly for watching

[@bile897]

@@themadaquarist Thanks so much, love your channel.

[@themadaquarist]

@@bile897 I’m honoured my friend thank you

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

How is peat moss sustainable? Isn't it harvested by excavation and destructive to the ecosystems it comes from?

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

Ok cypress is also unsustainable too so-- . _.

[@ericfab4858]

Canada wooooooooooooooo

[@themadaquarist]

🥃🥃

[@ricodegallo3060]

👍

[@themadaquarist]

Thanks Rico

[@jorgecanales798]

That substrate doesn't just look great for isopods. That'll actually work as a good outdoor potting soil mix

[@themadaquarist]

It’s the mix I use for all my vivarium/terrarium builds

[@leviadcock2406]

dude wtf sea soil and fox farms ocean soil are 2 completely opposite substrates

[@markhalliday3703]

🤜🤛👍👊👌😁🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@perfect_day_herps]

🎉

[@themadaquarist]

Thank you