How to Set Up Your Isopods Starter Kit

Congratulations on buying our isopod starter kit. We’ve created this brief guide on how set up and maintain your kit so your isopods are happy and healthy.

To start, let’s have a look at what your kit includes.

Starter Kit Items (per kit):

·        One clear plastic box with lid

·        3 vents and one easy access hatch (pre-installed)

·        1 bag of pre-mixed substrate

·        1 bag of Sphagnum Moss

·        1 bag of leaves

·        Assorted bark and wood

·        1 bag of Protein Food

·        1 container with isopods

·        1 small container with springtails

·        1 bag of calcium supplement

Step 1: Add your Substrate

Fill your box with the substrate provided. Make the substrate roughly even, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. Don’t press the substrate down; isopods like digging, and looser soil makes it easier for them.

Step 2: Add Your Moss

Place the moss on top of the substrate and at the opposite end of the vents. This will help one end to retain water and create a moisture gradient. With a moist end and a dry end, your isopods can move between the two, self-regulating their moisture levels.

Step 3: Add Bark, Wood and Leaves

Next, add the bark and wood and then the leaves. This layer should cover most of the surface layer, overlapping the moss. You should also leave a small area uncovered at the ventilated end to let some moisture evaporate. This is also a good time to add your calcium supplement.

Leaving some sunstrate exposed will help moisture evaporate

Step 4: Wet Your Moss

Make the Sphagnum Moss wet so it holds moisture for your isopods. Don’t make it too wet; it should ideally feel damp to the touch. The first time of wetting your moss, you should ensure all of the moss is watered. A handheld water-sprayer with a fine spray, like those often used in gardening, is ideal for the job.

Step 5: Add Your Springtails

You will find the springtails in the small plastic container included. You might not see them at first because they are very small – but very important. These tiny animals are harmless and feed on mould, which would otherwise proliferate in humid conditions.

Step 6: Add Your Isopods

Your habitat should now be ready to house your isopods. All you need to do is open the lid and place them inside. They will then walk away and begin exploring their new home.

Caring for Your Isopods

Our starter kit gives you all you need for your isopods to thrive for weeks or months. As detritivores, isopods feast on nutrients in the ground, in leaves, and in rotting wood, so food is abundant around them. We have also included a supply of protein-based food. When finished, you will easily find other protein meals in the form of dead insects and other small animals around the home. Fish flakes are another excellent source of protein. Some isopod species are more protein-hungry than others, which you will find out as you gain experience.

It is also a good idea to give your isopods some fresh food to ensure they have a balanced diet. Cucumber is a favourite for all species, and you can experiment with other fruit and vegetables to discover what your isopods enjoy. Make sure not to leave too much food in the habitat because it might otherwise attract unwelcome pests like fungus gnats and mites. These are not usually harmful, but they can be unsightly.

You can also add more calcium as time goes by. Pieces of limestone, snail shells and cuttlefish bones are excellent sources.

Humidity is Essential

Isopods breathe through gills that must be moist for them to breathe oxygen. If your isopod’s gills dry out, they will die, so you must ensure that their enclosure always has moisture.

The good news is that it is not difficult to keep your isopod’s enclosure humid. You will need to do two things, including:

• Regular Spraying: As we mentioned, you should spray your moss so it feels damp to the touch. If you find that your moss is dry to the touch, you should spray more regularly or more heavily. On the other hand, don’t overdo it and make the moss soaking because isopods can drown. The lid will have ventilation at one end, and you should place this at the ‘dry’ end to prevent the wet end from drying out.

• Maintain a Leaf Litter Layer: Your leaf litter is important for several reasons, including food and a place for your isopods to hide. Another essential reason to maintain leaf-litter is that it helps prevent moisture from evaporating, preventing the habitat from drying out. You can easily find fallen leaves, but you should microwave or steam them for 20 minutes before adding them to the habitat. This will prevent you from contaminating your habitat with potentially harmful wildlife.

You might find some mould growing after a few days or so, which is normal and harmless. It will be gone once your springtail population has become fully established, and it is easy to remove some if you think there is too much. You might also discover mushrooms in your habitat. You can leave these alone, and they are a sign of a healthy and nutrient-rich environment.

Your isopods will also do better if you give them some privacy. Understandably, you will want to watch your new pets, but try to do so without disturbing them if possible. We have installed an easy-to-use access hatch into the lid so you can feed your isopods without disturbing them.

Final words

This guide might seem lengthy and maybe even daunting, but caring for isopods is mostly a matter of common sense. Keep on top of the essentials, which are moisture, food and leaf litter and you should be just fine. A healthy colony will grow and eventually need a larger habitat. You can use any suitable container you find around the house, although we will be happy to help.