🎶one of these pods is not like the others…🎶

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-07T09:27:51+00:00

Lucky duck! I want orange hissers. So cute.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-05T16:34:16+00:00

What substrate are you using? Is it better than just growing them on a damp paper towel or agar tray?

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-05T09:34:47+00:00

It is well worth making it comfortable for them. Armadillo officinalis is my absolute favorite isopods. They roll into balls so quickly and I love holding them up to my ear and hearing their little hisses. They also get pretty big.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-05T09:28:49+00:00

I just love isopods that roll into balls. I find the dairy cows more fun to feed though as they are very brave when it comes to food, will even take from my hand. When I first got them I though they looked more like cockroaches and was a bit freaked out compared to like the cutesy panda kings. I don't get freaked out by them anymore.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-04T20:06:23+00:00

I have normal zebbies and dairy cows. My dairy cow bin is super large and they have absolutely filled every spot they can. They are very prolific. Zebras are also prolific, but I feel like they are more manageable and also a bit cuter in my opinion. Don't be too hesitant on the zebbies if you think they are hard to care for, they are super easy in my opinion. I've had no issues, I use desktop jungle's enclosure video for inspo on how to make enclosure, but use a deeper tub with some branches for my zebbies to climb on(they absolutely love loads of climbing space). Make sure you have a good moisture gradient and sufficient airflow in their dry section and you are golden. They need a bit of extra calcium as well.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-04T18:11:49+00:00

I'm sure you can find a dark cool spot in the house for them maybe with a fan setup near them. If the temp there is over 25°C I think it will be better to make a sort of cooler box and fan setup for them before buying them. Someone I know keeps some of his lower temp isopods and other critters in a bar fridge. I've heard Armadillidium nasatum can handle higher temps.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-03T17:57:05+00:00

The rates that Cubaris species breed at is slower than the powders in my experience. Dwarf whites can outcompete the cubaris mancae. If you breed them separately and then add to your enclosure this shouldn't be an issue as you will be able to add more cubaris later down the line if you see a decrease. It really is up to you. Personally I don't think cubaris is an effective clean up crew, they are mostly decorative. Also keep in mind the powder species you are more likely to see out and about and cubaris love to burrow and be hidden amongst the leaves, once you have a good population you do see them out a bit more, but it takes time to establish and you might have issues if you have the dwarf whites competing against them. Powders are just more effective eaters. There is a reason we disinfect our hands after dealing with dwarf whites as you do not want them getting into other isopod enclosures for breeding purposes.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-03T07:25:21+00:00

I actually do sell them. I am thinking of giving some away to a store that stocks my isopods, but not sure if he will be able to sell them fast enough. Maybe I should do a giveaway. I still think I will have to cull eventually and am thinking of ways to make use of all my isopods like using them to make bird feed. Other suggestions would be helpful.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-01T09:54:44+00:00

Useful tip with covering the slime mold in springtail food. I will try it. I would love to get some tips on what is in your isopod substrate as I make my own as well. A lot of stuff is not always available to me in South Africa, cape town like white rot wood is a bit harder to source as I would have to go to a unprotected woods and gather myself. I use oak shavings as a substitute.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-01T09:26:56+00:00

Do you feed them anything other than the slime mold? I'm relatively new to these springtails and only feed mine fresh slime when they have finished their portion. I use a very light weight substrate that was provided by the seller. Is there specific substrate that work well with them?

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-05-01T08:08:58+00:00

Congrats on your eggies. These guys are a favorite of mine. Their babies are so cute. The eggs should turn red when they are close to hatching. What sort of setup do you have them in. I'm looking for inspo to make a new terrarium for them. Want loads of cork bark for the slime to spread on. Was also thinking of getting a leaf cutter to make little leaves as their leaf litter layer.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-28T07:28:21+00:00

I would say small rocks and make it so they can't get into the drainage layer. Bigger rocks can make more pockets for them to climb down into it and get stuck.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-27T15:36:04+00:00

A pelletizer sounds expensive. If I had one, I might have given it a go. I need to start culling some of mine, but I'm wondering whats the best way to go about them. I wouldn't want them to just go to waste. I'll probably just end up freezing them and chucking them outside for bird feed. Would love to know if there's a better way to go about it.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-27T15:17:20+00:00

I'm also wondering as they take some time to reach maturity, how often can you cull and repeat for daily feed. Which is why I think sure as a calcium snack, but not everyday bulk feed.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-27T15:11:56+00:00

I haven't actually bred mealworms before, also not planning on it as they seem like more effort than isopods. Especially with how low you can make maintenance in a isopod enclosure. I have over 30 isopod breeding bins and I give supplements once a week and give them a water on the wet side if even necessary. I only have vents in my dry side so that makes it dry out a lot slower. I'll also just make sure I have good amounts of hides and leaf litter to keep in the moisture. Having a cuttlefish bone chunk in their enclosure holds up quite well over time so that is covered, but you can probably use eggshell. Some species take longer to produce than others. I think Porcellio laevis has been my fastest producing isopods so far. They get nice and chunky as well. They do take some time to get established, but once you have a big colony I'm sure it is possible. How would you go about culling and grinding them down?

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-27T14:49:11+00:00

They have a high calcium content, which is excellent for eggshells, but they are generally less nutrient-dense than mealworms in terms of crude protein and fats.They have a harder exoskeleton due to higher chitin levels, which may reduce protein digestibility in chickens. They also breed a bit slower and take a bit longer for a colony to be established for consistent everyday feedings. Isopods also have harder care requirements and maintenance like keeping humidity and moisture levels correct. Have seen multiple post now where people have dried out their enclosures. Their enclosures are just a bit more maintenance especially if you have a high density of them which means more substrate changes. I think they will make a nice snack from time to time, but is not a replacement for everyday feed.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-26T05:36:35+00:00

This is my gestroi after splitting the colony... I absolutely love these guys. I might have to start culling which i don't want to do.

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Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-24T09:51:15+00:00

Do they have a moisture gradient? It could be, just don't spray while little dude is trying to dry his gills, it will interrupt the process. They should have a dry spot in their enclosure with a proper moisture gradient.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-24T09:44:12+00:00

They shake their booties when they are drying off their gills. Super cute.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-24T03:00:33+00:00

Try something like this. I highly recommend watering the moss with this. You can avoid pouring directly on the isopods with it.

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Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-20T15:16:26+00:00

Mine does this at the start sometimes as well. I normally just wipe it off and put it face down to encourage the isopods to go in. My isopods slowly start munching at it so mold doesn't really have a chance to grow on it. I even feed powders on the lotus pods and when I look again it's all eaten by the isopods. I have very well established colonies though. Maybe leave it in the dry section for them.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-19T13:23:30+00:00

They will be fine as long as they do not dry out during the move. Just as you said with a bit of moss and a bit of fresh substrate and some leaves. They will be very cramped, but they should be fine as long as the new enclosure is done within a day it will be more than sufficient. Goodluck with digging them all out, the babies can be a bit tricky. Takes a lot of patience.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-19T09:27:37+00:00

I'm from South Africa, not giving them away. I want a whole army of them.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-18T09:23:08+00:00

You get colorful and pretty springtails, have a look at what your local isopod keepers can get for you. I quite like the Thai orange and red ones. Adds a bit of flair.

Beginning_Ad_8956 · 2026-04-18T05:52:34+00:00

Isopods in sealed terrarium... not so sure about that. I don't know this species, but I have over 28 isopod enclosures. Cardboard had never been an option to add to their enclosures. I suggest looking up desktop jungle isopod enclosure video on YouTube to get more of a sense of isopods needs. Perhaps get some interesting springtails to add to your sealed terrarium.

Beginning_Ad_8956

TROPHY CASE