Basic Isopod Care Requirements

Terrestrial isopods are invertebrates (animals without a backbone) with seven pairs of walking legs. Although they live on land, isopods are crustaceans and are relatives of crabs, shrimp, and lobsters.

Terrestrial isopods breathe using specialized structures associated with their pleopods on the underside of their bodies. These respiratory surfaces need moisture to function properly, which is one reason humidity and access to a consistently moist area are so important when keeping isopods.

In nature, terrestrial isopods are commonly found in cool, damp, protected areas beneath rocks, rotting wood, leaf litter, and other decaying vegetation.

Different Types of Isopods

There are thousands of known isopod species. They are scientifically classified into families, genera, and species.

Here are a few genera commonly encountered in the isopod hobby:

• Armadillidium — Many species can roll themselves into a ball when threatened. Their uropods at the rear of the body generally do not extend prominently beyond the body.

• Porcellio — These isopods generally cannot completely roll into a ball and typically have visible uropods extending from the rear of the body.

• Cubaris — Many hobbyists recognize Cubaris species by their characteristic appearance and "cute faces." Many are shy, secretive isopods capable of rolling into a ball.

There are many more, and care requirements can vary significantly between species.

The following are general practices that have been successful for us and are intended to help new keepers get started.

The Basics

Light & Enclosure Location

Place your enclosure somewhere protected from prolonged direct sunlight.

Most isopods prefer darker, protected areas and will retreat beneath leaf litter, cork bark, wood, or other cover when exposed to light.

Direct sunlight can also heat an enclosure surprisingly quickly.

Temperature

For many commonly kept species, a normal room-temperature environment of approximately 67–78°F works well.

Some species prefer conditions toward the warmer or cooler end of that range, so we recommend researching the particular species you are keeping.

Start With a Quality Substrate

Your substrate isn't simply something for your isopods to walk on. It helps retain moisture, supports the enclosure's biological processes, and provides organic material that becomes part of the colony's environment and food supply.

A good isopod substrate should contain appropriate organic materials while maintaining suitable moisture and structure.

If you don't want to build your own mixture, Holy-Poly Isopods Substrate is an option designed specifically for isopod enclosures.

Create a Hydration Station

One of the most important parts of an isopod enclosure is providing a moisture gradient rather than keeping the entire enclosure equally wet.

We create a hydration station by placing sphagnum moss along one end or in one or two corners of the enclosure and keeping that area consistently moist.

The goal is to provide:

Moist Side → Moisture Gradient → Drier Side

This allows the isopods to move between different moisture levels and regulate their own exposure.

The hydration station should remain moist, but the enclosure generally should not be waterlogged.

Provide Adequate Ventilation

Isopods need appropriate airflow, but ventilation must be balanced with moisture retention.

• Too much ventilation can cause an enclosure to dry too quickly.

• Too little ventilation can contribute to stagnant conditions, excessive moisture, mold growth, and poor enclosure conditions.

As organic material, food, and isopod waste (frass) break down, waste compounds can accumulate in the substrate. Good ventilation, appropriate moisture, a healthy substrate ecosystem, and periodic maintenance all help maintain suitable enclosure conditions.

For DIY enclosures, our Posh Vents provide a clean, screened way to add ventilation to plastic tubs and other compatible isopod enclosures.

Add Springtails

Springtails make excellent companions to isopods in many humid and bioactive enclosures.

They consume fungi, decaying organic material, and some molds, adding another group of tiny clean-up organisms to the enclosure.

Our White Springtail Starter Cultures (Folsomia candida) can be added directly to a compatible isopod enclosure or maintained separately as a master culture for seeding multiple enclosures.

Provide Calcium

Isopods use calcium extensively in maintaining and rebuilding their exoskeletons, particularly during the molting process.

Common supplemental calcium sources include:

• Eggshell

• Calcium carbonate

• Limestone

• Cuttlebone

• Oyster shell

• Other appropriate calcium-rich materials

Calcium should be continuously available within the enclosure.

For a convenient calcium source, we offer Calcium Carbonate Powder and Oyster Shells, both of which can be used to provide supplemental calcium in an isopod enclosure.

Leaf Litter & Decaying Wood

Leaf litter and decomposing organic material should form a major part of an isopod enclosure and diet.

Isopods are detritivores and naturally consume decomposing plant material, including leaf litter and decaying wood, along with other organic material within their environment.

Provide a generous layer of appropriate leaf litter and replenish it as it is consumed. Holy-Poly Isopods Leaf Litter is available for keepers who want prepared leaf material for their enclosures.

For more information about selecting and preparing leaves and wood, see our Leaves and Wood article.

Supplemental Foods

Supplemental foods can add nutritional variety beyond the enclosure's leaf litter, wood, and substrate.

Different species and colonies may show dramatically different food preferences.

Supplemental foods may include appropriate:

• Vegetables and plant-based foods

• Protein sources

• Prepared isopod foods

• Other foods suitable for the species being maintained

For example, some colonies readily consume vegetables such as carrots or cucumbers, while others show much stronger interest in protein sources such as dried minnows.

Start with small amounts. Remove uneaten fresh or supplemental food before it spoils or causes excessive mold.

Our Why Isopod Colonies Crash article covers additional feeding and enclosure-management precautions.

Research Your Particular Species

There is no single perfect enclosure setup for every isopod.

Temperature, moisture, ventilation, substrate depth, protein preference, and other husbandry requirements can vary considerably between species.

Husbandry simply refers to how animals are housed, cared for, maintained, and bred.

Good husbandry means learning the needs of the species you keep, observing your colony, and adjusting conditions when necessary.

If you're not sure which isopods are right for you, check out our Isopod Recommendations for help choosing a species based on your goals and experience level.