When to reset your ISOPOD cultures to avoid a crash

I've been asked repeatedly to do some videos aimed at beginners discussing my ideas and philosophy with my methods of keeping ISOPODS. It's a learning process that we can all get better at if we share our experiences with each other.
So todays video I go into fair detail without getting too technical about how and when to decide it's time to reset your ISOPOD cultures.
What to look for? Tell tale signs that a crash is imminent and how to avoid.
With just some basic understanding of how natural systems work I believe you will be empowered to maintain healthy and vibrant ISOPOD cultures for years to come.
We can always do better by learning together.
Thanks for watching, commenting, sharing my friends.
Biggs
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[@MCrvngraddip2013]

I do not have Isopods. I'm doubtful i'll get any. But I'm fascinated. Makes me way more grateful to what's in our back gardens. ❤ Thank you for the education.

[@themadaquarist]

Meg thank you kindly for the wonderful words. This is exactly how I stumble onto such fascinating creatures. Also helps to have an ever curious five year in tow. Thank you for watching

[@mellewedin8221]

Honestly that is why it's important to add charcoal or active carbon to the enclosures it will help out with culture health

[@themadaquarist]

100% longer stability, thanks for commenting on this

[@korthosen949]

Finally someone who has the same isopods its really hard to find videos with them Nice!

[@503menagerie3]

Very timely! My laevis orange culture is in need of a refresh for sure! Looks like I have plans for the weekend…

[@themadaquarist]

Game on! Time to get dirty with the dirt shrimp 🦐

[@seinundzeiten]

my geckoes eat them when they become too numerous

[@wallykern4181]

Excellent video! Great points, packed with info! And ty forvthe sgout out again.

[@themadaquarist]

Anytime my friend Thanks for watching

[@SkullAquatics]

Great info Mr. Biggs 👍👍👍

[@themadaquarist]

Thank you for watching

[@CoriMultipass]

Very helpful video!! Thank you!

[@themadaquarist]

Thanks so much

[@suburbancrafter]

As a newbie... you don't know how much I needed this video! Thanks so much for some great information. I do have a question. On items I have collected outdoors I have sterilized them, but on the bagged Fox Farms I am using as a base (kept in my outdoor greenhouse) for my substrate should I sterilize it also? Thanks again!

[@themadaquarist]

Not really necessary unless you feel it may have come in contact with native fauna such as centipedes which could be detrimental

[@annemack7585]

Great vid, Chris!!

[@themadaquarist]

Too kind Anne. Thank you

[@barbhelle5481]

Thank you.

[@themadaquarist]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching

[@rafaghaniy]

i saw this video 5 months ago, and tried to buy 30 cubaris murina, and now there are hundreds of them

[@mraquaticnews5676]

These guys are cool

[@themadaquarist]

💯 %

[@philipduffy682]

Hi im just starting the hobby great video very similar to fish keeping with waterchanges couldnt you do something similar as in removing 50% of the substrate then adding 50% fresh substrate to the bin?

[@mellewedin8221]

I also like to give mine Texas holy rock, or crushed coral in their enclosures I also give them ground egg shell. Eggs are from my friends and not the store. The chickens eat very well.

[@themadaquarist]

All exceptional sources

[@TomokoAbe_]

springtails will greatly stabilize the environment but their needs still need to be met if there is an overpopulation

[@themadaquarist]

Correct

[@ChantalsCritters]

What do you do with the frass? I put in smaller container with a little moss carrot small bark. Collect tuns of babies each week.

[@themadaquarist]

Yea normally depending on species, qty. of pods found etc… I would put the culture aside for a few weeks and do just that. However both of these species are incredibly prolific and the market locally is somewhat saturated so we go through as close as we can. We know we may not catch every single one. We then freeze the substrate in a bag after a day or two in the freezer we can then use it for gardens etc…

[@ericfab4858]

Canada wooooooooooooooo

[@themadaquarist]

👍🏻

[@ilostmycrayons04]

How often do you have to reset your cultures?

[@themadaquarist]

All depends on the population density but as general rule for me they would all be between 8-12 months

[@Tyyyyuru]

I do not have isopods. There is no doubt that i will acquire many.

[@themadaquarist]

That’s wonderful

[@waverindarkness3385]

Hi Chris. I noticed that you’re using IRIS bins. I have some isopods in those right now. Seems like even with ventilation drilled in and tons of dead air space, the bin still holds too much moisture. How should I dry it out?

[@themadaquarist]

I would suggest more ventilation for sure but side to side (cross ventilation) as well as a bit on top.

[@djatrinity]

Do you ever need to refresh the gene pool? Such as getting them from a different source. ( in my case going to a park a few miles away to collect some more).

[@themadaquarist]

You could definitely do that. More important if you only started with say a pair would you you see genetic degradation quickly but most usually start with a starter colony of say ten to twenty individuals

[@djatrinity]

Will adding plants keep the soil fresher and lengthen the time between refreshes if not totally remove the need?

[@themadaquarist]

Possibly but in the confines of most bins that would be challenging

[@MackenzieProffit]

Do you add springtails in with your isopod bins? Why/why not?

[@themadaquarist]

Generally yea I do. They tend to keep the enclosures fresher for a longer period of time than I’d not added

[@hlessiavedon]

Do you have the ability to ship merulanella sp. to the United states?

[@ge0ne0]

“Ensure their environment is stable” immediately flips them over and crushed them 😂 (jk I know they’re not crushed)

[@themadaquarist]

Lol

[@DnASnakes]

Hey Biggs can i use crushed egg shell?

[@themadaquarist]

Definitely

[@Lea-np8rs]

What do you do when the colony gets too big? I transfered my dairy cows once already and their population boomed again. Now there are so many of these little critters... I cant transfer them to yet another bigger enclosure. Will they eventually regulate themselves? I dont use them for feeding and i dont know any reptile owners that i can give them away to...

[@smokinpot]

sell me 100 for cheap

[@8bitcarni410]

I currently have dairy cows but I'm finding that I am accumulating far too many. What can I do to shrink my population?

[@themadaquarist]

It’s the nature of certain species, in captivity we tend to provide endless resources for them in the form Of food, shelter etc… populations will eventually self regulate however crashes can definitely occur. I sell surplus to a few cultures to local stores, I also feed surplus to other invertebrates and fish to keep the levels in check. Some species like dairy cows are extremely prolific which makes them an ideal started species

[@8bitcarni410]

@@themadaquarist Thank you for your reply! I watched video and it was very helpful too. Which invertebrates would you recommend for using the dairy cows to feed? I know they likely wouldn't be a main diet but it would help. I currently also give them to a friend for her reptiles and frogs to snack on

[@shyspeaks9238]

How often do you reset?

[@themadaquarist]

Can’t be placed on a timeline. Resets are dependant on the environment within the individual enclosure. Are resources spent? Stability of the substrate chemistry? To acidic? The reproductive rate of the species . Sadly too many variables to give just a basic answer too. With weekly feeding and maintenance I’m able to do checks on the fore-mentioned and access

[@shyspeaks9238]

@themadaquarist Very quality answer! Spoken from a Man who's devoted real time into learning his Passions, thank you. I'm a starter Isopod owner. I only have one Culture at the moment, Porcellio Laevis Dairy Cow, which was started almost a couple weeks ago with a setup of 10. They were mixed sizes and none seemed relatively mature or breeding size so I reckon I might be okay for a few months before having to do anything major, but I'll be sure to keep an eye out for things progressively!

[@justsmurfy]

what about the babies?

[@themadaquarist]

I’ve spent hours combing through the spent substrate but yes there’s always a chance a few get missed. I much rather lose a couple than all

[@sromero6738]

Do you do a false bottom??

[@themadaquarist]

No I do not however I am experimenting now with something different with a calcium carbonate bed below the substrate. We shall see how it performs

[@sromero6738]

@@themadaquarist thank you!!! I was debating doing a false bottom. I stuck with none for now.

[@sromero6738]

@@themadaquaristill wait and see the update