Just Getting Started?

So, you decided to get some isopods. Now what?

You don't need a complicated setup or a giant shopping list to get started. This basic checklist covers the essentials we recommend for starting an isopod colony.

Do You Have Everything You Need?

Enclosure

You can use many different types of enclosures as long as they're clean, free of harmful chemicals, and able to maintain the conditions your isopods need.

Your enclosure should:

• Be free of pesticides, cleaners, and other harmful chemical residue
• Have adequate ventilation
• Be able to maintain an appropriate moisture gradient
• Provide enough space for the colony to grow

Ventilation is a balancing act. Too much can dry the enclosure quickly, while too little can contribute to overly wet or stagnant conditions.

We use Posh Vents on many of our enclosures to provide controlled ventilation.

Here's how we make ours:

Good Substrate

Don't think of substrate as simply the "dirt" at the bottom of the enclosure.

Isopods are decomposers, and a good substrate containing appropriate organic material can also provide part of their food source.

Look for substrate that is:

• Pesticide-free
• Free of harmful chemicals and fertilizers
• Able to retain moisture without remaining waterlogged
• Made with appropriate organic material

We offer Isopod Substrate ready for use in isopod enclosures.

Rotted Wood

Decaying hardwood can provide both food and habitat.

We generally use pesticide-free hardwoods and avoid strongly scented, resinous, chemically treated, painted, or otherwise questionable wood.

Leaf Litter

Leaf litter is one of the basics, not decoration.

Decaying leaves provide food, cover, and hiding areas for your isopods. We like to keep leaf litter available across much of the enclosure and replenish it as it's consumed.

We offer prepared Leaf Litter, or you can collect your own appropriate pesticide-free leaves.

Check out our Leaves & Wood Care Tip for more information about choosing and preparing natural materials.

Calcium Source

Isopods need access to calcium for their exoskeletons.

There are several options, including:

• Calcium Carbonate Powder
• Oyster Shells
• Eggshells
• Cuttlebone
• Appropriate bone material

We generally prefer crushed or powdered calcium sources because they're easy to distribute and make available to the colony.

Sphagnum Moss & a Hydration Station

Most isopod enclosures should have a designated hydration station or moist area rather than keeping the entire enclosure equally wet.

We commonly use sphagnum moss in one portion of the enclosure and keep it moist with a clean spray bottle.

This creates a moisture gradient and allows the isopods to move between wetter and drier areas based on their needs.

Exactly how wet the enclosure should be depends on the species you're keeping.

Isopods

Of course, you'll need some isopods.

Different species have different temperature, moisture, feeding, and husbandry requirements, so we recommend choosing your species before fine-tuning the enclosure.

Not sure which ones to choose?

Check out our Isopod Recommendations Care Tip for suggestions based on beginners, bioactive enclosures, reptiles, amphibians, and other uses.

And if you really can't decide, there's always an Isopod Mystery Box and we'll make the decision for you.

That's Really Enough to Get Started

Seriously.

A suitable enclosure, good substrate, rotted wood, leaf litter, calcium, a hydration area, and your isopods will give you the foundation for a colony.

You can monitor the enclosure and develop a routine that works for your particular setup.

Some enclosures may need moisture added frequently while others can maintain it considerably longer. Rather than automatically misting on a fixed schedule, watch the moisture level of your hydration area and learn how quickly your particular enclosure dries out.

Your species, enclosure size, ventilation, substrate, room temperature, and local conditions will all affect how often water needs to be added.

Optional Additions

Once the basics are covered, there are a few additional things you may want to add.

Supplemental Food

Good substrate, decaying wood, and leaf litter already provide important food sources for isopods.

Supplemental food can provide additional nutrition, particularly as a colony grows.

Options can include:

• Prepared isopod foods
• Appropriate vegetables
• Appropriate protein sources

Start small. More food isn't always better.

Offer an amount the colony can consume and remove uneaten supplemental food before it creates mold or attracts unwanted pests.

Hides & Hideouts

Isopods naturally spend much of their time underneath objects and inside protected areas.

You can provide additional hiding and climbing areas with things such as:

• Magnolia Seed Pods
• Lotus Seed Pods
• Sweetgum balls
• Acorn caps
• Cork bark
• Other appropriate natural materials

Simple materials work just fine. Your isopods don't care how fancy their furniture is.

Springtails

Springtails make a great addition to many isopod enclosures.

White Springtails (Folsomia candida) consume fungi, decaying organic material, and some molds and can work alongside isopods as part of the enclosure's clean-up crew.

We offer White Springtail Starter Cultures that can be added to compatible isopod and bioactive enclosures.

Keep It Simple

One of the easiest mistakes when starting a new hobby is thinking you need to buy everything at once.

You don't.

Start with the basics:

Enclosure + Substrate + Leaf Litter + Rotted Wood + Calcium + Hydration Station + Isopods

Then watch your colony.

You'll learn how quickly your enclosure dries, what your isopods eat, where they spend their time, how quickly they reproduce, and what adjustments your particular setup needs.

Good isopod keeping isn't about following one perfect schedule. It's about learning what your colony needs and maintaining a stable environment.

Check out our other Isopod Care Tips for more information on enclosure setup, leaf litter and wood, choosing isopods, and troubleshooting colony problems.

Thanks for rolling with us!