My TOP 10 Beginner Isopods - general Isopod care

the top 10 species that came to my head when i considered all of the criteria. although there are dozens of other species you can argue would be better as beginners, these came from my personal preference. also this list was put together completely disregarding price.

[@dboot8886]

Okay I started with the "12 year old closed terrarium", went down a rabbit hole, now I want to start raising a group of isopods.

[@joshuarosenblatt]

You’re not alone! I have fallen in love w my pods. Who would have thought?

[@thekingdomofanimals8323]

I just checked my Zebra isopod enclosure and they have expanded with some offspring. I was so happy. Great video!

[@isopodsource4931]

Thank you!! And congrats!

[@ILLTHIRST]

Youre so soft spoken, this is like isopod ASMR 😁

[@angelkotilainen]

I thought the same lol Whenever I've heard that goo sound when someone's talking, it's always an ASMR video :D

[@1up145]

Just found your channel today! Happy to see I have 3 of your top 10! I currently keep Granulatum, Peach nasatum, and lava scabers as well as a handful of other species and more to come!!

[@LulaMae21]

I recently got Oreo crumbles and really like them, more than I did the powder blues when I had them. They're so fun! P. scaber orange dalmatian is one of my favorites (and orange koi) because of the unique patterns and ease of care. I haven't kept orange ember or lavas yet. P. dilatatus is also fabulous for beginners because they're so big and fun to watch (mine like to tunnel in the substrate). I didn't have trouble with zebras when I had them but didn't really love them, to my surprise. I'd like to give one of the alternate morphs a go one of these days, though.

[@PotooBurd]

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

[@SupremeGecko]

Great video, great list. I like your criteria. You did a wonderful job defining why each on us on your list. Thanks for sharing.

[@isopodsource4931]

Thank you so much!! Means a lot.

[@SupremeGecko]

@@isopodsource4931 of course

[@nataliewilliford1109]

i love the doggo in the back ground

[@k.thomas295]

I cant wait to watch this video all the way through and check out some of your others!

[@bibytom863]

Thanks for your video.

[@raahi2531]

Thanks for the great vid!! This helped a lot!

[@tomashajduk4753]

Great video, thank you!

[@andresquinones3370]

Thank you for the informative video! I ordered isopods from your store

[@user-pu4qf2jk6f]

Yes ma'am liked your video

[@gamjakuman5886]

I also have an Isopods. So cute.

[@drewwoody9]

Could you do a video on how you breed for different qualities? ☺️ Also some substrate recipes!

[@julyanjohns1237]

instantly subscribed the moment the dogs started barking)) this is great, it's like how youtube used to be before the cult of personality took over. an enthusiastic person who is knowledgeable, talking about something from a real person;s perspective, and not trying to be gimmicky or beg for/sell/advertise stuff. It's interesting how even in the youtube world of isopod vids there are similar trends in the presentation style as you see in channels for big budget tech/gaming. I've only recently discovered that keeping isopods a a hobby existed, so this is just an outsiders' observation. the isopod retailers and suppliers run the largest channels obviously, with the next tier being the current personalities of the scene (cool progressive guy with amazing make up, chilled stoner guy, a crotchety yet sweet grandpa), with individual enthusiasts like this channel being the up and coming pretenders to the throne, so to speak. it's turtles all the way down man..... Not sure how the dutch guy who does the life in jars channel fits into this hypothesis. he's just on his own level of cool really. But hey, we're on our 3rd lockdown here in the uk, i'm stoned, and i spent the afternoon with my step daughter and her partner gathering wood chips, rotting sticks, and leaves for my future isopods' home. it's been a fun evening sterilising it all in the oven, watching a dry spagnum moss and coconut husk brick expand in water, and planning it all out. just need to get my first batch of dairy cows and i'll be on the way :) good luck with the channel, and thanks for the advice :)

[@commanderbootycall2033]

Do you have any online retailers you trust? Super excited to see more from your channel, btw!

[@kanetheoutcast1835]

So do you not add extra ventilation at all? Just curious would save time lol

[@The_Entity]

late comment on a video but just wanted to say thank you. its very helpful. Im doing a biology degree, and im especially interested in eco systems and entomology. ive found a base substrate which includes alot of goodies for them, and springtails to keep the place mould free. would you recommend springtails in the subtrate or no?

[@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?

[@Ech0TheCerva]

So freaking underrated ;-;

[@Cruxity_YT]

I think you mentioned how you breed them for size, if they don't come out the size you want them to, do you put the smaller ones into a separate enclosure? And with the larger ones, do you ensure that only the larger ones breed with other larger ones? I think it's really interesting to selectively breed them.

[@swayback7375]

They breed before full grown as well as there’s not a big correlation between age and size. Some individuals will grow much faster and reach a larger size, usually males, and die much faster. So selecting for large mature size isn’t easy

[@AngellusBlack]

Figured I’d ask this here. I’m building a plant-only terrarium in a 5 gallon tank. There will be leaf litter, driftwood and some moss for a ‘forest floor’ feel. Some plants will be growing out of the tank so it won’t have a lid. The plants will need moderate humidity so I will be spraying the tank at least once a day. Is there an attractive species that I would be able to keep in there? Preferably one that will be occasionally visible above ground? Or do the conditions sound not appropriate for any isopods at all?

[@cmanuel723]

Hi, what cam are you using? Im amazed when you zoom it in the isos 🤯

[@shrekadvisoryboard]

Have you kept Armadillo Officinalis at all, and would you recommend them for beginners? I haven’t been able to find much firsthand information on keeping them, but they seem really charming!

[@ray3kkart]

Aaaahhh i planned on getting powder oranges but wasn't sure if i could handle it, now their two color variations turn out to be what you think is the best choice?!? i am absolutely in love with this species in general but oranges just seem so cute, i love their coloration and their personality, so cute!

[@lingjunlin7030]

I guess your dogs self declared that they are the number 1

[@pennychristodoulaki3541]

Hey I wanted to ask if you ship isopods internationally or if you( or anymore in this case ) know any breeders that do ship them internationally ( in particular Greece ) ?

[@foodreviewsbelike...4683]

Can I keep isopods In small low exo terra enclosure? Has the mesh top. I'm guessing all I have to do is add some sp moss and leaf litter and spray them every 2 days days since I'm not using a plastic bin?

[@LinkBeats15]

Can you have a bioactive terrarium for your gecko using only isopods?? Or will springtails need to be added as well?? 🤔

[@stuckinthelazycorneragain4016]

Which species would you recommend for a very dry climate, for a bearded dragon enclosure? I’m planning on keeping a piece of bark/cork with moist sphagnum moss so It won’t be nonexistent but still! Also do they need light? I have a few completely dark tubs on top of my wardrobe but I’m concerned that no light will impact them negatively.

[@isopodsource4931]

P. pruinosus or P. dilatatus usually do great for bearded dragons. Just like you said, as long as there’s a small damp spot. Weather it’s under a log or water bowl. Sometimes combining a larger species like either of the above with dwarf whites works wonders. From our experience they do not need light in order to thrive.

[@stuckinthelazycorneragain4016]

@@isopodsource4931 Thank you so much! I’m glad my info is correct :)

[@paletrumpet]

love that ending HAHAH

[@BlaisZeroni]

Why are you looking for fast breeding and large broods? Do you sell them professionally? I am just looking for a fun interesting pet and would hate to sell or cull parts of my colony to keep them in check. What to do?

[@isopodsource4931]

Large broods assure a large survival rate for the beginner keeper. You shouldn’t need to sell or cull any as the old will die to make room for the new.

[@sape7656]

Gefühlt Platz 1 eine Mischung aus Panda assel und Milkbacks😂

[@sadalien9049]

I love how Porcellio Scaber look like Wooly Bear caterpillars. 🤎🖤🤎

[@Cleeon]

Question please, how about Armadilidium vulgare, they're recommended or not for beginner?

[@isopodsource4931]

Definitely!!!

[@Cleeon]

@@isopodsource4931 ooh thank you for your response, by tomorrow i will have ny first isopoda farm🙂, armadilidium vulgare. This my first time

[@oliviafrench8195]

My dairy cows have produced offspring! 😍

[@enricapolyak_]

GO HANNAH GO

[@mastercharlesdiltardino8058]

Her poodle is chilling, my poodles are wrestling. We are not the same.

[@michaels5705]

For we non-Latin speakers, new to the hobby (why else would we be viewing a "beginner" vid) having the common name along with the Latin would have been very nice. It would have been even helpful if you'd included the whole top 10 list in the description text.

[@markpozsar5785]

No. 1 should be wild isopods in your area. They cost nothing, you can even gather substrate from the originally habitat, and they are the perfect for your climate.

[@lewleo999]

Unless you live in some hot area the temperature indoors is much higher than outside. Most likely the insects from your area will need a winter pause inside your fridge.

[@virtualvaporeon3629]

@@lewleo999 Isopods don't need an overwinter period. They get on just fine in optimal conditions 24/7.

[@lewleo999]

@@virtualvaporeon3629 Did you ask them if they are cool with it? :D Ok, I guess they can adapt. Still wouldn't call them "perfect for your climate" when the climate in your house is different than oustide from where you brought them.

[@jerumd]

If I have to pick a modern day species of Isopod that have the potential for fully evolving into a vicious predatory isolated species after a million years or more into the future that would be the Porcellio laevis! Some of my dairy cows can be totally predatory once given a weak prey item such as a roach or a cricket that had a bad molt. Absolutely vicious and totally ruthless! I gotta admit they are pretty but that's how I describe them in my personal care.

[@swayback7375]

They are not alone! If you don’t feed protein often then they can get voracious

[@star02361]

What about cubaris species?

[@daleop8rdkecko67]

I keep greek isopods they can Hiss when anoid

[@k.thomas295]

#12sdoc !!!

[@spectrophile1146]

wow! your channel is amazing and i'm in love with your store. i'm so glad to see a woman owned isopod shop. :) looking to order some rubber duckies as i type!

[@Dr._Spamy]

What Isopod do you like most ? - Yes I do. 😄

[@9razzler9]

i generally stay away from isopods that look too similar to roaches LOL i avoid brown ones and the ones that are too flat. it's just me.

[@annebell5322]

Ok basic question: what does everybody do with their exploding populations?

[@isopodsource4931]

Send them to us !😂 start mire colonies or freeze and properly dispose

[@annebell5322]

@@isopodsource4931 ok thanks 😊 I'll be offering g them to others here in alaska (including my original source) , feeding to some of our critters or freezing and disposing per your suggestion.

[@justacatwhocantype]

Release them. I do not have an animal that eats isopods, and I will definitely not senselessly kill animals that I assisted in multiplying by feeding and housing them in the first place, so I make sure that I stick to species of isopds that either do not multiply like crazy, or that are native to where I live and can therefore be safely released.

[@swayback7375]

@@justacatwhocantype you won’t find many native species of isopods in the new world. Most of them are introduced invaders. Your empathy for the ones you like may well endanger many other species, it’s just the nature of releasing creatures into an ecosystem

[@Allyourbase1990]

Does anyone name their Rollie pollies?

[@definitelynotavegan7285]

Can someone please comment on how to spell the names of all these isopods? I'm really interested in getting some but I'm absolutely horrific at spelling so if someone could tell the how to spell the names that would be amazing!

[@definitelynotavegan7285]

I just released the names are in the video.... Wow I'm dumb lol

[@bobthedestroyer6205]

Adding timestamps would be great, otherwise great video!

[@heatherloop1030]

Um is your voice ok?your speaking so soft!