ป่าในบ้าน (Home Jungles) - Bringing Nature Indoors
Cubaris Murina isopods make good feeders because they are east to care for and reproduce quickly.
All You Need to Know About Isopods
Isopods are known commonly known as woodlice, or rolly-polies, depending on where in the world you come from. Other names include slaters, sowbugs, pillbugs and many more.
Regardless of what we call them we have all seen isopods at some point in our lives but most of us would have paid little attention. However, these wonderful little creatures have soared in popularity in recent years and for some very good reasons. Here’s a brief look at why isopods have become so popular and how to keep them.
Food
Let’s get the ‘nasties’ out of the way first – isopods are a fantastic food for reptiles, arachnids, and other predators. There are some very good reasons for the popularity of isopods, including:
- Nutritious: Isopods are crustaceans, which puts them in the same family as crabs and shrimp. And a characteristic isopod share with their marine cousins is that they’re pack with nutrition. They even taste like shrimp and you can find restaurants with marine isopods on the menu. So, while most of us would not want to think about our favoured pets becoming lunch, they are often bred for food in the pet business.
- Prolific Breeders: Some isopod species are very prolific breeders, providing a near-constant supply of food for exotic pet keepers. Most species are also easy to keep and will happily keep on producing babies with basic care. Remember though that even feed isopods should be kept in the right conditions. Life is harsh and predators need prey, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give them a comfortable life during their time on earth. Not only that, but an isopod that has been bought up humanely will also make a healthy and nutritious meal.
- Harmless: Using live prey sometimes comes with the risk that the prey might injure or even kill the predator. After all, many prey animals have evolved defences to help them survive and they will use them in a vivarium if threatened. Bear in mind that some isopod species (like dairy cows) are particularly protein-hungry and can be a risk especially if the predator is moulting.
Clean Up Crew
Thankfully, isopods are not always in another animal’s vivarium as dinner. In many cases, they are there to keep the place clean and hygienic.
Isopods are detritivores, which means they eat the kind of stuff you don’t want lying around in a vivarium. Rotting leaves or animal carcasses can soon become a health issue for the inhabitants but what might be rubbish for some is a banquet for others. Whether it’s scraps of meat or rotting vegetation, isopod will be delighted to remove the unwanted items for you.
Isopods are often kept alongside springtails. These tiny arthropods are also detritovores, but with a penchant for mould. Having help keeping mould at bay in warm, humid conditions is a god-send to many vivarium keepers.
Keeping Isopods as Pets
Another reason for the upsurge in popularity of isopods is they are adorable. Their cute appearance has been overlooked for too long and now more species are being discovered or bred with often stunning individuals.
One of the most popular examples is the Rubber Duckie isopod. These wonderful isopods were discovered in caves in Thailand and have since become popular pets worldwide. But if you’d prefer something else then there are hundreds of species to choose from – many with a stunning appearance.
Isopods can be fascinating to watch as they interact with each other and their surroundings. They are also completely safe with no venom or poison and are unable to bite through human skin. Creating an isopod habitat can be an educational and rewarding experience.
Caring for Isopods
Most isopods are affordable and easy to care for. Some species can be challenging but there are plenty of attractive options for beginners. For healthy isopods you will need to provide nutritious substrate, plenty of shelter (like bark and leaves), food and ventilation. They can breed quickly and you might need to upgrade to a larger habitat if yours is becoming crowded.
Here at Home Jungles, we provide you with all you could need to maintain a healthy isopod colony. We also provide habitats that make a beautiful addition to your home. Feel free to browse through our website and get in touch if you would like to know more. We look forward to hearing from you.
Tropical white springtails are easy to care for and are excellent clean up crew
How to Set up a Tropical Springtail Culture
Springtails are one of the most essential components of any bio-active habitat. They eat debris and mould, making them excellent maids. They are also harmless and easy to care for.
If you wish to use springtails regularly, it is best to create a culture so you have a ready source available. This is easy to do, as this article explains.
There are several ways of creating a culture but this article will explain how to use the charcoal method.
We prefer this method for several reasons, including:
- Easy to set up
- Readily available materials
- Easy to see your springtails
- Easy maintenance
- Easy to retrieve springtails as needed
What you need:
- Jar: A typical cookie jar or similar will make an ideal springtail habitat. Glass or plastic is fine, but you must be able to put ventilation holes in the lid.
- Charcoal: You will need lumps of charcoal of varying sizes as shown in the images below. You should have enough charcoal to fill about ¾ of the jar.
- Water: Your habitat should have 2-3 inches of clean water sitting at the bottom. It is important to use reverse osmosis water or similar – DO NOT use tap water. Bottled drinking water is fine in most cases.
- Sharp tools: You will need a sharp tool to make ventilation holes in the lid. A drill will be ideal if you have one, although a knife will often do.
- Food: Springtails will thrive on baking yeast or brewing yeast. They also enjoy grains of uncooked rice and fresh cucumber.
- Springtails: The final ingredient is the springtails themselves. You can start a culture with just a few, but the more you begin with, the sooner you will have a bustling colony.
Note that this model works best for white tropical springtails and you might have mixed results if you try this for other species. For example, Thai Red springtails will thrive under similar but different conditions, which we will go into in another post.
How to get Started
Place your charcoal pieces into your jar so it’s about ¾ full. This part of the exercise is so you know how much charcoal you need.
Empty the jar and thoroughly clean it to remove small pieces and dust. Make sure to clean the jar also. The charcoal should be clean enough for the water to be clear when the charcoal is sitting in it.
Place your cleaned charcoal back into your jar.
Top tips:
- Shake the jar a little to help the pieces settle
- Place a flat piece at the top for a food table
- Placing another smaller part at the top will help you ‘farm’ some springtails when you need to.
Pour about 2 – 3 inches of clean water into your habitat. As mentioned, the water should be clear.
Make 1 or 2 small holes in the lid for ventilation.
When your habitat is ready, add your springtails and a little food. Fit the lid and you have a habitat in which your springtails should thrive.
Looking After Your Springtails
Providing ongoing care for your springtails is just as easy as creating their habitat.
One of the most common errors people make is to overfeed your springtails. Overfeeding can result in unsanitary conditions, putrid water and encourages pests like mites and fungus gnats. On the other hand, feeding your springtails plenty will help ensure a thriving community.
One way to get the balance right is to feed them every day with a light sprinkle of yeast. However, you should always check first and NEVER feed them if the already have food remaining. Springtails can go for about two weeks without food, so not feeding them for a day or two won’t be a problem.
Pests like fungus gnats and mites are usually unsightly but harmless. Springtails will easily outcompete them for resources so the pests should die out when you remove excess food. You can remove them yourself although this can be a tiresome and unpleasant job.
Predatory mites will sometimes make their way into your habitat and will feed on your springtails. They will not usually threaten your colony overall, but you might need to sanitise your habitat if they overpopulate.
Once you have a colony of a few hundred or so, it’s advisable to separate then so you have two separate colonies. That way, you still have a healthy culture if something bad happens to the other one.
And that’s it. The springtails will do the rest of the work themselves – you won’t even need to change the water. All that’s left for you to do is remove some when you need to seed a new habitat and the rest of the colony will continue as it was.
Tropical white springtails are easy to care for and are excellent clean up crew
How To Create a Moisture Gradient for Your Isopods
Isopods are crustaceans, just like shrimp and lobster. And like their aquatic cousins, isopods absorb oxygen through their gills and this means they must have access to water.
As such, isopods need the right balance between wet and dry so they can breathe properly. A habitat that’s too dry or too wet is among the most common causes of losing a colony making it essential to get the right balance. The good news is that it’s quite easy to create ideal moisture conditions by making a moisture gradient.
This article looks at how moisture gradients work and how to make one for your babies.
First Step – Check What Your Isopods Need
The first thing you should do is to check which conditions your isopods will thrive in best. Many species will need a mostly warm and humid environment, with a limited dry area that lets them release water from their lungs as necessary. Other species will need a mostly dry environment, with a small section of your habitat dedicated to providing hydration.
You should use this information when considering things like substrate, how much moss to use and how much ventilation you need. However, it can be difficult to get it right straight away, so be prepared to make adjustments if needed.
What is a Moisture Gradient?
A moisture gradient means your isopod’s habitat is dry at one end and wet at the other. The change between wet and dry is gradual, helping your isopods find the spot that’s just right for them. They can visit one end or the other and you will often find them hanging out somewhere in the middle.
Creating a moisture gradient might sound tricky to new isopod parents, but it’s quite easy to do provided you have the right supplies, including:
- An absorbent substrate: Your substrate should ideally hold water well. You can easily achieve this by mixing a little coco-peat with your nutrient-based substrates.
- A moisture holder: You will need something that can hold water. Water dishes are dangerous for isopods but Sphagnum moss is an ideal alternative.
- A spray bottle: You will need a spray bottle like those often used in cleaning to wet the moss and substrate.
- Sharp tools for making ventilation holes: You will need tools to make ventilation holes in your habitat’s lid.
- Mesh: Ventilation holes will usually be big enough for isopods to escape easily and for unwelcome guests to intrude. Some mesh will secure the holes for you.
- Sealant: You will need to secure the mesh into place with sealant. Superglue will sometimes do but might allow gaps for ants and other intruders.
How To Create a Moisture Gradient
Spread your substrate as normal, placing some sphagnum moss at one end. You can also add some sphagnum moss to the substrate to help it hold water.
Use sharp tools to make holes in either side of your habitat at the dry end to help the wet end to retain moisture. You can make several small holes, or a single larger hole with mesh. Alternatively, you can use our purpose-built vents that provide ventilation and safety for your isopods. Having ventilation on other side ensure cross-ventilation, meaning stale air can easily escape and fresh air can enter.
And that’s it – your isopod’s habitat is set up for a moisture gradient providing the ideal conditions for your babies. Or, at least, it is sometimes that easy.
How to Use Your Gradient
Habitat dimensions and the surrounding atmosphere vary so you might need some adjustment to get your gradient just right. Again – make a note of your isopod’s preferences. It’s important to get conditions right for your species.
Once you have introduced your isopods to their habitat, you should check in on them periodically. Note where they are hanging out and you will get an idea of where their favourite moisture level is. This information could also help you make some adjustments to make them more affordable.
For example, if your isopods are mostly crammed at one end or the other then you know to adjust the moisture gradient in the habitat. You can achieve this by changing how much water you add and adjusting ventilation. Adding or removing sphagnum moss within and above substrate will also help you adjust the gradient accordingly.
This should be all you need know to make a perfect moisture gradient for your isopods. Key takeaways include using sphagnum moss to help retain moisture, and adjusting how much water their habitat, the outside environment, and ventilation. Remember to check in on your pods from time to time, but also give them the privacy they need.