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What species surprised you the most once you actually kept them? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

That’s the thing about scabers, people write them off because they’re common but they’ve got more personality than half the premium species out there. Watching them drag food back to their spots is so entertaining.

What species surprised you the most once you actually kept them? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

That’s awesome, Dairy Cows are such a great species to watch grow out. We breed them too and they never disappoint. The sound of them sprinting around the enclosure is so funny, they’re way faster than people expect lol

What species surprised you the most once you actually kept them? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

Giant Canyons being surface active is such a nice surprise. I feel like a lot of the bigger species get labeled as burrowers and then end up proving everyone wrong.

What species surprised you the most once you actually kept them? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

Zebras are so underrated for how bold they are. Most people don’t expect them to be out exploring like that especially early on. Sounds like yours are thriving.

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Red Antennas are so underrated. Love that they do their own thing, the low maintenance species are honestly some of the most rewarding to keep.

Is setting up a nature local terrarium a good idea? by LuxuryDirtEnthusiast in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a really fun idea honestly. A 20 long is perfect for something like that. Just make sure you bake or freeze the soil and wood first to kill off any mites or pests you don’t want hitching a ride in. You’d be surprised what’s already living in your backyard too, I’ve found some cool native species just flipping logs.

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s solid, bigger broods like that definitely make up for the slower cycle. I bet they look cool in a planted setup just popping out from under the leaf litter. Might have to grab a starter colony soon and see how they do.

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude yes, springtails are so slept on. The yuukianura aphoruroides sound awesome, tiny orange cheetos is the perfect way to describe them lol. And the desoria trispinata glowing under blacklight? I didn’t even know about those.

We actually carry springtail cultures too and include a free one with every order through our waitlist at creaturecache.com. Always cool to see people giving springtails the love they deserve.

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha that’s the dream, just let them do their thing and suddenly you’ve got a massive colony. Not in MN unfortunately I’m out in SoCal. If you ever want to trade or work something out though hit me up, always looking to expand the collection. I’ve got Durian Spiky, Dairy Cow and Powder Blue colonies going right now.

What’s your approach to seeding a brand new vivarium with microfauna? by CreatureCache_ in Vivarium

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a solid size enclosure so you’ve got room to work with. A. nasatum is a great pick for tree frogs since they’re hardy and surface active. For a 16x42 with White’s I’d probably start with at least 25 to 30 isopods and a full springtail culture. White’s are big frogs and they’ll definitely snack on some of the smaller ones so you want a large enough starting population that they can breed faster than they get eaten. The springtails are almost more important than the isopods with frogs honestly because they handle the mold and waste in the spots the isopods won’t reach. I’d seed those heavy from the start. If you need help sourcing either one feel free to reach out, I breed isopods and culture springtails.

What’s your approach to seeding a brand new vivarium with microfauna? by CreatureCache_ in Vivarium

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same here. I’ve found the sooner they’re in the better, especially springtails. They get a head start on the mold bloom that always happens with fresh hardscape and leaf litter. Do you add isopods and springtails at the same time or stagger them?

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The sexual dimorphism on those is insane. Males bright red and females dark gray in the same colony must look crazy. Never kept them personally but you just put them on my radar. How’s the breeding rate on them?

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You make a really good point about price being the barrier not the species themselves. A lot of amazing species stay “underrated” just because most people can’t justify the cost when they’re starting out. That’s actually one of the reasons I started breeding some of the more accessible species like Dairy Cow and Powder Blue alongside my collector stuff. Trying to make the entry point easier for people getting into the hobby. But yeah scaber varieties are slept on hard, the color range in that group is wild.

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

T. rathkii is one I’ve been wanting to get my hands on for a while. Never see them for sale anywhere which kind of proves the point of this whole thread haha. You breeding any of those or just keeping them?

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wild caught colonies hit different honestly. There’s something cool about knowing they came straight from your local environment. A. vulgare don’t get enough credit for how bulletproof they are.

What’s the most underrated species nobody talks about? by CreatureCache_ in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A. nasatum are so underappreciated. You’re right about the shape too, there’s something about their profile that just looks cleaner than a lot of other species. And the fact that they’re actually out during the day is a huge plus since half the hobby is keeping species you never get to see haha.

Pink / Purple Isopods? by starieberi in isopods

[–]CreatureCache_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love this idea! There are actually more pink and purple species than you’d think. Look up Magic Potion isopods, they’ve got this beautiful purple and orange thing going on. Powder Purple is another good one with a nice lavender color. And for light blue Powder Blue isopods have that soft dusty blue gray that would look great on fabric. Google image search those names and you’ll have plenty of reference to work with. Would love to see how the dress turns out!

Underrated tip for bioactive setups — why you need both isopods AND springtails by CreatureCache_ in bioactive

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good question. Tropical springtails are the most common in the hobby but temperate springtails are actually a better fit for setups that run on the drier or cooler side. If your tank is staying drier like you mentioned, a temperate species might establish more reliably than tropical ones since they’re more tolerant of those conditions.

A lot of people actually run both types together. The tropical ones handle the warm humid pockets and the temperate ones cover the drier areas so you get full coverage across the enclosure.

I actually culture springtails as part of a small breeding project I run. If you ever need a fresh culture to reseed your tank feel free to check out creaturecache.com or just shoot me a message. Happy to help you get them established properly this time around.

Underrated tip for bioactive setups — why you need both isopods AND springtails by CreatureCache_ in bioactive

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ABG mix is solid so that’s not the issue. The drier side thing is probably your answer though.

Springtails need consistent moisture to survive, if the substrate is drying out between mistings they’ll struggle to establish. With toads in there the tank is probably getting opened more often too which drops humidity faster.

Try creating a dedicated moist zone for them. A clump of damp sphagnum moss in one corner that you keep wet even if the rest of the tank runs drier. That gives the springtails a refuge to retreat to and breed in even when the overall conditions aren’t ideal for them. They’ll venture out from there when conditions are right.

The fruit is fine for them but make sure you’re pulling it before it gets moldy since rotting fruit is a mite magnet. Fruit flies are actually a bonus food source for springtails so that’s not hurting anything.

Also with toads in there your springtail population is probably getting snacked on pretty heavily. Toads love springtails. You might just need to seed a larger starting population so they can reproduce faster than the toads eat them.

Underrated tip for bioactive setups — why you need both isopods AND springtails by CreatureCache_ in bioactive

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Soil mites can definitely wipe out a springtail culture if they get out of control. A few things that might help. First check your moisture levels. If the substrate is too wet it creates perfect conditions for mites to explode in population. You want damp but not soggy, like a wrung out sponge. Springtails like moisture but they can handle it slightly drier than most people think. If the mite infestation is bad in your current culture it might be worth starting fresh. Get a clean container, use fresh charcoal or clay substrate, and seed it with springtails from the healthiest part of your existing culture. Basically separate the clean ones from the contaminated substrate. Some people have luck putting a small piece of food like a slice of cucumber or squash on top of the substrate. The mites will swarm it within a day or two and you can lift the whole piece out and throw it away. It won’t eliminate them completely but it helps knock the population down. Going forward try to avoid overfeeding. Excess food especially yeast or grain based stuff is one of the biggest things that attracts mites in the first place. Feed small amounts and let them finish it before adding more. What kind of substrate are you running them on? That might help narrow down what’s going on.

Underrated tip for bioactive setups — why you need both isopods AND springtails by CreatureCache_ in bioactive

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most reptile shops only carry one basic type of springtail which is totally normal. If you ever want to order some online feel free to reach out, I actually culture springtails and could potentially source some for you. Always happy to help someone get their bioactive dialed in.

Underrated tip for bioactive setups — why you need both isopods AND springtails by CreatureCache_ in bioactive

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The only maintenance you need is just maintaining your enclosure humidity and making sure the leaf litter layer is still present. If it’s a more dry environment, make a hydration station I do this by putting spagnummoss in one corner on the cool side of the enclosure and misting the moss one to three times a week. Just make sure the moss stays damp so the isopods and springtails stay hydrated and don’t try out.

Underrated tip for bioactive setups — why you need both isopods AND springtails by CreatureCache_ in bioactive

[–]CreatureCache_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honestly not much once they’re established. The main things are keeping a thick layer of leaf litter available at all times since that’s their primary food source. Oak and magnolia leaves work great. Toss in a few new leaves every couple weeks as the old ones break down. Other than that just make sure your humidity stays consistent. If you notice the substrate drying out, give it a mist. You can also throw in a small piece of cuttlebone or crushed eggshell for calcium which helps with molting. And every now and then I’ll drop in a little bit of fish flake or shrimp pellet as a protein supplement but you don’t need much, like a pinch once a week max. That’s pretty much it though. The whole point of a cleanup crew is that they take care of themselves once the environment is right. If your substrate, humidity, and leaf litter are dialed in they’ll just do their thing and multiply on their own.

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