Isopod Substrate in 2023

[@isobuddies]

Such great, compact info! I personally live how far the substrate game has come, in just a few years. Experts in the field still tout the benefits of keeping isopods simply on coir and dried leaves. I'm really, really glad we now have quite a few people working full time on crafting and improving isopod substrates.

[@janecarrel1111]

This was one of my favourite videos. I love your videos because they are so fact filled . Please keep making them! I thought you said Kimchi initially and I was confused. But I see the right name now kinshi… I’m so fascinated by trying to create the best bioactive / ecologically complete set ups - for my isopods - for my fish tanks as well ? and even for me! I’ve been trying to eat more fermented foods too! I imagine I have tiny isopods in my tummy jungle (my microbiome!) anyway have a good day and thank you for creating such interesting and informative content! 😌

[@aleen862]

I've kept porcellionides pruinosus isopods with emerald roaches, and they thrived. I bought about 15 last September and I had to give away like 5 or 6 hundred until I finally got rid of them a couple months back. Now I keep my roaches with 6 Porcellio bolivari juveniles, and hopw they'll do great in that setup as well :) Isopods make great neighbors to tropical roaches, that's for sure, and they do a great job as a cleanup crew as well

[@tennysonkingsley9485]

I have been experimenting on a substrate for all my detritivores and am pretty close to a finished mix just need to remove a few things I don't need. Currently it consists of white rot wood, rotting hardwood leaf litter mix, some slimy level decaying leaves made with molasses water mix to promote healthy gut bacteria (more so for Glomeris sp.and other milli's than isopods), alfalfa meal, kelp meal, organic top soil, crushed oyster shell and/or egg shells, and flake soil. Going to likely replace the kelp meal and alfalfa meal with organic mushroom compost just haven't gotten to doing that quite yet.

[@permianexotics7277]

Sounds excellent

[@oedhelsetren]

I do a lot of wild foraging and the trick is everything gets a quarantine period before introduction into general use.

[@ohphaedrus]

Your knowledge is truly impressive, thank you so much for sharing it with us! While I'm waiting for a breeder to have Armadillidium vulgare St. Lucia available in stock again, I bury myself in articles and videos about the topic every day. At the beginning I thought the isopods are easy to keep, but the more I've learnt, the more I've appreciated the complexity of it. It's fascinating to learn about relationship between different species of animals, plants and fungi, as well as all the processes taking place in the soil. I even observe nature in a different way now, and every walk in a forest is enriched by that new knowledge. Your channel is a treasure trove.

[@PotooBurd]

This is so informative! Great job, fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝 Keep it up 🙌

[@LawStudentsNightmare]

I love isopods. They’re very cool.

[@themantisgarden]

I get all my substrate directly from the woodland floor. Never had a problem in 30 years. Then again...we don't have much that could be a problem here in England lol

[@JohnDoe-xq8sk]

Do you bake it?

[@timothyjohnson7628]

Yes! Very insightful information! I've been using compost for my isopods and in my planted naturalistic enclosures for a couple years now and the difference in growth for both isopods and plants has dramatically increased. I'm going to try the soaking method for the leaves and detritus. Maybe I'll throw a roach in with my new powder blues to see how that goes. I've been following you for years and have never been misinformed. Your content is purely based off of your passion and sharing what you've learned threw trial and error. I have so much respect for you Russ!

[@SanosukeSagara18]

I first saw a few of your videos from a few years ago. Then I found this. Glad to see you're still doing them. I just became a Dairy Cow Isopod owner. Got them in the mail today in fact. And your videos have taught me a lot this week, while I was waiting for them to arrive. It's super dry where I live (the deserts of Southern, Nevada) so I'm a little worried about keeping the humidity up but...time will tell I can't afford to become a patron or whatever it's called but I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye on your channel

[@Akhatchntails]

Well said and delivered! That’s cool how you helped promote someone else as well instead of just yourself shows great qualities! Will watch more!!!

[@MIsopods]

Great video. Funny story, I got into isopods because I rescued an African Fat Tail Gecko, and then went with a bioactive set up. I got her mealworms and she didn't take to them, so...I started putting one, maybe 2 in my isopod enclosures, as you mentioned here. I had a lot of success with that, and noticed that in some places they helped aerate the soil, and keep it loamy and the such. Awesome catch!

[@carollyn8885]

I think I've finally gotten bit by the buggy idea of pet isopods. 🤔 They are cute 😍 🥰

[@jeanniewilson8015]

Thank you so much. I have been considering keeping my isopods with some roaches for my tarantula’s. I love this idea.

[@CoralMan24]

I can't give you any tips or advice on isopod care, however you made a new hobbyist in keeping and enjoying isopods so thank you :)

[@permianexotics7277]

Excellent video Rus! Im skimming through the comments and I love seeing everyone talking about composted materials for their detritivores!!!!

[@danielbagby4149]

I have decomposing oak leaves in one of my aquariums-- I think I might try adding some of them for the isopods and add some new leaves to the tank! Might start cycling them

[@Crystalspets]

Wow rus this was great information I did not know half of this thanks for sharing

[@shawndoe2834]

Great video. What type of isopod is shown in this video? They're absolutely beautiful.

[@Aquarimax]

In the thumbnail? Armadillidium gestroi ‘Zingers’ 😁

[@drewwhitaker315]

Great video...

[@d.m.1070]

Great video, I like to see more methods of keeping isopods as the hobby develops. I like the idea of decomposing leaves in water outside. I think I'll try that next time. My usual method of baking leaves seems to work fine, and my vulgare eat them up, but I don't think my substrate is very nutritious. The substrate I have used for 2 years is from a compost heap outside, dried in the oven to get rid of pests as I know we have centipedes.

[@atosise]

Very funny thing that support your whole theory, I just added a single leaf litter from the wild, and my isopods are chewing it like maniacs. Nature above all

[@monedarden810]

I use worm castings as a base then put shredded Druid’s leaves and rotted wood pieces as my substrate. If I plan on getting isopods, I set up a bin with the mixture and add springtails about a couple of weeks in advance.

[@sxrry.8206]

seconding worm castings! can anyone confirm how bioavailable it is for isopods?

[@Sometallguy]

@@sxrry.8206 third for worm castings! I use it as a part of my mix and it seems to impart some good bacteria and fungus, I hardly ever see any mold in my colonies

[@sxrry.8206]

@@Sometallguy Good to know! Is it possible to use too much?

[@alyssawoodruff5914]

I like the idea of superworms as have several cause my toads love them 🤔 how cool

[@rob3rtd3an28]

How fascinating I need to get some activated media for my arthropods

[@leevandyke4562]

I get a large bag of compost and manure, bake it to sanitize it, and I make a worm compost tea ~ add the bacteria in and I also add some fermented food buried in the substrate 😅 it seems to get it going but some I don't think care for it

[@mitchellplays1440]

The isopod substance I use is for my multi species culture is. houseplant focus repotting mix sphagnum moss and a handful of leaf litter

[@vladalimic8482]

My favorite isopod enclosure is "Plastic Terrarium 48x31x18" by "Comodo" that you can buy for €30.80 ($87.69). I am just about to be a first time isopod owner and I bought the last Terrarium that was in stock. I am gonna keep two species in that enclosure: dwarf white isopods (Trichorhina tomentosa) and Porcellionides pruinosus "orange".

[@jase123111]

I use leaf litter compost from my compost bin.

[@PhotosyntheticVibes]

I use a base of coconut fiber, a roughly equal mix of crushed leaves, and white rotted wood mixed together for my pods. I gather leaves from the top layers of the soil, which prevents most pests (I usually only see spiders, which quickly show themselves before I release them). The white wood I use is from aged logs, so the only pests I'll find are wood-boring larvae (I don't mind them, but they're removed too). I let the mix sit and decompose in a giant jar while topping it off when needed to keep it active and always ready. For those worried about pests, adding a smaller amount of foraged ingredients would work, but it would take more time for it to become most suitable for them. I would never bake or boil anything, especially when commercial mixes are available. Sterilizing rotted wood and fresh leaves would be like turning gold into silver IMO, it'll work but nothing beats the scent of a rainy forest floor in my isopod bins

[@mypetsandme9473]

I only use wood pellets or orchid bark to keep the dry end drier, I Don’t even soak . I use crested gecko crestie life or Arcadia EarthMix Bio-Active Substrate for the most part 👍🏻

[@sxrry.8206]

this is smart

[@SeagraveSerpentarium]

I love the idea of soaking leaves, going to have to try that one. In regards to fungus making wood pellets more digestible for isopods, I actually have some mycelium growing in a dark and damp corner of my current (and first) isopod bin. Do you think I could prep a substrate mix that includes wood pellets by introducing a sample of this mycelium as a way to start breaking down the wood more quickly? I didn't get the fungus from any suppliers like you mention in the video, it just showed up on its own but the isopods seem to be doing fine with it in there. I'm considering setting up a second bin soon and might want to do that to help the wood provide a better diet.

[@Aquarimax]

Worth a try…if it will grow in the wood and makes it more nutritious for the isopods, why not? Not all fungus that will grow in wood is particularly helpful to isopods…you want one that breaks down lignins and leaves cellulose. 👍🏼

[@SeagraveSerpentarium]

@@Aquarimax I don't have any clue what species of fungus it is but I'll keep an eye on the colony and if they seem to do well with it I'll have to try seeding some new colonies with it.

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

for me i basically used a mix of coco fibre and rotted horse manure used as compost. not sure how recommended that is but i have decent luck with the native isos i keep [ checks out since this is where i find some in my garden] and the other inverts i keep with them like garden and soil centipedes, small wolf spiders, pill millipede etc

[@UmamiPapi]

I think drying leaf litter on a piece of raised screen like you would sun dry food would do a lot to disperse the pests in it over time.

[@Aquarimax]

That would certainly help eliminate some pests and reduce others!

[@FaerieFays]

What was that first species shown? It’s beautiful!

[@Aquarimax]

That is Porcellio expansus ‘Autumnal Equinox ‘. I have more info on this species and form here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHesZKCZe71maNE

[@FaerieFays]

@@Aquarimax thank you so much! I love your videos!

[@jadeinder1320]

I've just started doing my own woodlouse habitat in a 84L plastic bin I brought some coir block and I've put outside soil in the bin too? I'm really interested in this? I love watching those isopods 💪

[@berthaday3473]

Informative, thanks. Could I add to their tank wet decomposing oak leaf litter from the bottom of my outdoor minnow pond? Please advise, as I will be setting up a tank in a month or two.

[@Thebeetleguy]

Great video! But, wasn't there supposed to be an unboxing today, or did I misunderstand it?

[@Aquarimax]

Thanks! The unboxing is coming up next week. I filmed it the same day I filmed the last livestream.👍🏽

[@ratfoot6490]

Could I take leaves n stuff from a pond so Ion gotta wait to make a soup myself?

[@Aquarimax]

That could work…you may or may not introduce unwanted creatures that way, but certainly an option. The smell might be stronger that way as well 😂

[@ErikaandBruno20]

Hello! Any thoughts on Vermicast instead of adding a beetle in the enclosure? :D

[@andybrankam]

Is there a way to email or get ahold of the person who created this video?

[@Aquarimax]

Yes, you can contact me on Instagram aquarimaxpets or Facebook, Aquarimax Pets, or email me from the KZbin ‘about’ page

[@karenreallyrespondspugnann415]

I am setting up an isopod house! Do you offer any of your babies? Should the set up 'age' like an aquarium new set up? Has substrate, leaf litter and spring tails, damp moss in the corner. LOVE your videos!

[@Aquarimax]

I sure do! Check out my price list : www.aquarimax.com/price-list/ Your setup sounds like it is off to a good start!

[@Antifacio]

I would want some tips how to make terrarium - isopod observatory. As for the substrate I think contrasting for isopod colour could be great. Black for light coloured and white for dark coloured.

[@Lizardliker]

Very informative. 👍 You pointed to an invisible link. Seen a lot of people do that lately. Are people just forgetting to add the link or is something wrong with youtube? Nice video though. Helpful.

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you! Which link was it? I made sure I added two of them…

[@Lizardliker]

@@Aquarimax In the video. You point up towards a link for another video. Only it's not there. Unless I am mistaken and don't see it. I'll watch it again.

[@Aquarimax]

Right. I think I pointed twice, and added links, I am wondering if they are not working at all, or if it relates to your device…please let me know what you find!

[@Lizardliker]

@@Aquarimax The isobuddy video. You point but alas I see no link. However I watched from my phone. Quite often I connect to my TV. Don't notice a difference. Not using a PC right now. Maybe it is device related because as I said. I have seen this a lot with different youtube videos lately, not just yours 👍.

[@Aquarimax]

@@Lizardliker thanks for the heads up! I’ll check in YT studio and see if there is an issue there .

[@loochgardenstate3737]

My Guy Rus with some awesome information on substrate I use the pellets but I use flake soil 7+ months of the pellets that fermented I have mycelium in all my isopods and millipedes colonies just like I spoke to you about before and everything I do for my millipedes I do for my isopods I only soak my leaf liter as moss in H20 or rain water for a 24-48 hour process they love the bacteria 🦠 on it I never heard Kyle talk about it but I spoke to Kevin Nassir I wrote this and then heard you speak about Kevin awesome guy very knowledgeable about it BRILLIANT INFORMATION!

[@FrostBitn]

In your simpler enclosures that use ground up eggshell, do you mix it into the substrate or sprinkle it on top? If mixed in, how do you know when to add more calcium for the iso’s?

[@Aquarimax]

When I mix it in, it is less as a dietary source of calcium and more as a pH buffer. The isopods seem to get plenty of dietary calcium from their food sources, such as fish food pellets, Supreme Isopod Chow, leaf litter,mand so on, though I do occasionally offer bits of cuttlebone, or ground eggshell in little piles.

[@FrostBitn]

@@Aquarimax Thanks Rus!

[@siyg]

I’ve probably watched this video over 10 times but I haven’t needed to get some isopod substrate since this video dropped. I am getting some A. gestroi soon and am curious if these flake soil/kimchi/white rot wood is something that you would use as 100% of the substrate or maybe something less like half flake soil and half something else. What do you do?

[@Aquarimax]

I have used pretty basic compost+ leaf litter for gestroi, and they do really well on it.

[@siyg]

@@Aquarimax Good idea + don’t have to pay an arm and a leg. Do you have to sanitize the flake soil before adding them or would that kind of defeat the point?

[@drewwhitaker315]

I guessing mealworm frass would be good?

[@Aquarimax]

I would expect so!

[@jacquelinetownsend2819]

Great information! I have done a few of those "grow at home" mushroom kits and usually put the spent substrate in the compost - but if I'm understanding correctly that's similar to the kinshi - wondering if my isopods would like it if I gave it to them instead? 😀

[@Aquarimax]

Sounds just like the kinshi available from Bugs in Cyberspace! Worth a try to see how your isopods like it !

[@katjames914]

my isopods love the leftover mushroom medium I give them, just soak it again after you’re done growing mushrooms.

[@kylesnider5025]

What about freezing it? I've been freezing leaf litter for about a week and it's worked so far but it's only been a few weeks

[@Aquarimax]

@@kylesnider5025 Pros and cons…it will kill some pests, but not others. It is probably better than heating for preserving beneficial microbial life

[@kylesnider5025]

@Aquarimax I wasn't aware of that. My freezer is around -27 so hopefully that helps.

[@Monke28281]

Hey Rus, I am planning on breeding garter snakes, I want to make a bio active enclosure with three garter snakes, is a 4x2x2 foot enclosure good? I have been trying to find wooden vivariums as the glass ones are quite pricey, I went to a local pet shop and they were telling me about this wood vivarium which is supposedly waterproof; however, when I searched up the brand online it doesn’t mention anything about it being waterproof, it does come readily built and says it’s sealed though. I’m a beginner and am not sure whether I should trust them, does sealed mean waterproof, I wouldn’t want to spend money on a vivarium for it to get ruined. Also do you think dairy cow Isopods would go well with the garter snakes, I just ordered some and am going to breed those aswell and was planning on putting them in once I had the bioactive vivarium set up. What are your thoughts?

[@infoseeker329]

could i use some bone meal for calcium ?

[@loldog4994]

Just started my isopod culture recently and had added the springtails with them. However, I am not sure if my substrate is suitable for springtails to breed as there is a lack of charcoal. I have seen many people recommend charcoal for the substrate(esp for springtails) but cant find many that says they had success without it. Was wondering at this point if i should add it for the springtails?

[@jeanniewilson8015]

Good point! I use a corner of my isopods enclosure that has a mound of charcoal that stays moist for the springtails. The other side of the enclosure is the dry side. :) i have a huge culture of springtails. Best of luck to you.

[@Aquarimax]

Although some commonly cultured springtail species will do very well on charcoal, you can keep them with isopods very successfully without it.

[@tennysonkingsley9485]

Springtails actually breed faster and get larger when kept on substrate so charcoal is not actually required. In fact I havent cultured springtails on charcoal in about three years cause culturing on substrate has just proven to be way better especially for exotic species like Lepidocyrtus for example.

[@sgame82]

does organic potting soil work?

[@ihatethisaccount]

yeah, a lot of people recommend that. just make sure it’s free of synthetic fertilizers, artificial plant food, Miracle Gro, etc. also sterilize it by freezing it for two weeks to rid it of pests. you should mix this soil with leaf litter (adding flake soil or rotting wood is also beneficial). then you’re good to go!

[@swoodward8377]

I need some help, my isopods recently had babies and for about a week the babies were healthy, but in almost one day they sudenly died. They were dairy cows and i would mist them every day. I need some advice.

[@Aquarimax]

Oh no! Tell me a little more about the enclosure. Also, did they disappear, or did you see their bodies?

[@swoodward8377]

@@AquarimaxI found their bodies. I keep them in a 1 gallon plastic container, i have ventilation holes on the top, and i have a two inch cork bark in their enclosure.

[@lauraphillippe780]

Biolyves Bioactives

[@sandraschannel473]

First

[@N4RR4T0RR]

Great video😊 But just wondering, i had gotten a male female pair of ivory millipedes from bugs in cyberspace about a couple months ago and recently my female had burrowed into the dirt and hasn’t came out for a few weeks. Any idea on whats going on?

[@Aquarimax]

Could just be molting. Not uncommon 👍🏼