How to Keep Roly Polies as Pets (A Kid-Friendly Roly Poly Farm)

Looking for a first pet that's quiet, cheap to feed, doesn't need walks, and is genuinely fascinating to watch? Meet the roly poly.

Isopods (the scientific name for roly polies) are one of the easiest and most rewarding pets for kids, families and classrooms. Here's how to build a roly poly farm they'll actually thrive in.

What You'll Need

  • A container with a lid: a small plastic bin (around 6 quarts) is perfect to start. It needs ventilation that lets air in without letting isopods out. We use our Posh Vents on many of our own bins.
  • Substrate: 2–3 inches or more of soil-like substrate. Our isopod substrate is what we use in our own colonies.
  • Leaf litter: a generous layer of pesticide-free dead leaves for food and cover. (See our Leaves & Wood guide, or grab our leaf litter.)
  • Rotted wood and hiding spots: decaying hardwood, cork bark, seed pods or acorn caps.
  • A calcium source: calcium powder, oyster shell, cuttlebone or crushed eggshell.
  • A hydration station: a clump of damp sphagnum moss gives them a place to stay hydrated.

Setting Up the Roly Poly Farm

  1. Add your substrate and lightly moisten it, so it's damp like a wrung-out sponge, not soggy.
  2. Keep one side wetter and the other side drier. This moisture gradient lets your isopods choose where they're comfortable.
  3. Cover the surface with leaf litter and add wood, bark and hides.
  4. Place the damp moss on the wetter side and add your calcium source.
  5. Keep the bin at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
  6. Add your roly polies, put the lid on, and let them settle in.

Caring for Your Roly Polies

  • Keep the wet side damp. Rather than misting on a fixed schedule, check the moss and wet side and add water when they start drying out. Every bin dries at its own speed.
  • Feed leaf litter and wood constantly, with veggies and a little protein as treats. (See What Do Roly Polies Eat?)
  • Remove uneaten fresh food before it spoils. A little mold on decaying material is normal; lots of it usually means too much food or moisture.
  • Be patient. Isopods are shy at first and often hide during the day.

Baby Roly Polies!

Here's the part kids love most. Female isopods carry their eggs in a pouch on their underside called a marsupium, a bit like a kangaroo. When the babies hatch, tiny white baby isopods (called mancae) crawl out ready to explore. Spotting your first baby isopods is a big moment!

Which Isopods Are Best for Kids?

For a first roly poly farm, choose hardy, active species that are fun to watch:

  • Zebras: striped classic roly polies that roll into a ball, and one of the first species we ever kept.
  • Dairy Cows: bold black-and-white, big appetites, and great for classroom experiments.
  • Party Mix: a colorful mix of fast, hardy powder isopods.
  • Magic Potions: pale roly polies with yellow "spell" blotches.

More ideas in our Isopod Recommendations. To start a new colony, we recommend 6–20 isopods. (See How Many Isopods Should I Get?)

Fun Roly Poly Projects for Kids and Classrooms

  • Pumpkin decomposition: after Halloween, give your isopods a small piece of pumpkin and watch it disappear over the following days.
  • Food preference test: offer two or three foods in separate dishes and record which they visit most.
  • Wet vs. dry: watch which side of the moisture gradient your isopods choose, and talk about why.
  • Name them! Kids love giving roly polies names. (We won't judge if one is named Sir Rolls-a-Lot.)

An Important Rule

Never release captive isopods into the wild, even if the same kind already lives in your yard. Regulations and environmental concerns still apply. Keep them in their enclosure for life. (See Isopod Transport, Release, and Disposal.)

More Roly Poly Fun

Want a roly poly you can cuddle? Check out our isopod plush toys and puzzles, or browse our kids isopod clothing.

Roly Poly Pet FAQ

Are roly polies good pets for kids? Yes! They're quiet, harmless, inexpensive to feed and fun to observe.

Do roly polies bite? No. They're harmless to handle.

How long do roly polies live? Many common species live a couple of years or more with good care.

Do roly polies need water? They need moisture more than a water dish. A damp side and a moist hydration station keep them hydrated.

Thanks for rolling with us!

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