What to do with Excess Isopods?

Some isopods are prolific breeders. This is great if you trade them. However, some can breed so much that their populations explode. When this happens, their habitats may no longer support them. This can lead to issues like excess ammonia build-up, which can stress your pods. These complications can be disastrous for a colony.

Cubaris Murina "Little Sea" isopods

So, what can you do with excess isopods? Here are a few suggestions.

Upgrade Their Habitat

If your isopod habitat has become too small for the colony, consider moving them into a larger home. Breeders often start with small colonies that gradually grow. Many colonies will eventually need to be upgraded to large bins that house hundreds or even thousands of individual isopods.

However, this is only a temporary solution. Your isopods will continue breeding, meaning you’ll need another upgrade eventually. Regardless, giving your isopods a larger home can be an ideal temporary fix until you find a permanent solution. You can also consider adding more bark and other items to give your isopods more surface area to live on.

Sell Some

Many of you reading this breed isopods to sell them, but not everyone keeps them with profit in mind. If you keep isopods just because they are wonderful, consider selling some if you have too many. You can use the money to treat yourself or maybe to treat the remaining isopods. Check out the numerous isopod groups online, and you will likely find a willing buyer before too long.

If you can’t sell them, consider giving some away as a gift to a friend or family member. In doing so, you could introduce them to a whole new hobby you can enjoy together.

Use Them as Feeders

Many animals find isopods delicious. If you have pet lizards or other animals that love to snack on isopods, they can be a plentiful food source. It’s not nice to think of breeding the little guys for another animal’s lunch, but think of it this way: that predator would be feeding on something regardless. You’ve given one life but saved another.

Another advantage is that isopods can help keep your other pets’ habitats clean. If your enclosure is large enough, it might sustain a permanent isopod colony that acts as snacks for other inhabitants and a live-in clean-up crew.

Marketing Gold

People love free stuff, and isopod lovers especially appreciate free isopods. If your bins are overflowing, consider using your excess to market your business. Giving away free isopods can help your business grow through word of mouth and content sharing.

For example, you could offer a free set of your excess pods to people who buy other pods from you. For those selling products like habitats, some free isopods could make an offer more appealing. You could even consider free giveaways to encourage people to follow and share your social media pages for more coverage.

What Not to Do

It might be tempting to release some isopods into the wild, but this can be a bad idea. This is especially true if your pods come from a different part of the world, as they could easily die if the conditions aren’t right.

Another reason not to release isopods into the wild is the risk of introducing a harmful invasive species. An invasive species can cause incredible damage to the local environment, such as out-competing native species for food. Of course, if your pods are native to where you live, then setting some free will be just fine.

Conclusion

Managing excess isopods can be a challenge, but with these tips, you can find solutions that work for you. Whether you upgrade their habitat, sell some, or use them as feeders, there are plenty of options. Just remember to avoid releasing them into the wild unless they are native to your area.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your isopod colony remains healthy and thriving. Happy breeding!