Isopod Care in a Bioactive Setup
Isopods are an important part of a bioactive clean-up crew. They help break down animal waste, shed skin, leftover food, dead plant material and other organic matter within the enclosure.
Isopods will not keep an enclosure completely clean on their own. Regular maintenance, suitable feeding and the correct environmental conditions are still required.
Creating the Right Environment
A bioactive enclosure containing isopods should include a natural substrate, plenty of pesticide-free leaf litter, pieces of decaying hardwood, sheltered areas and a permanent calcium source.
The enclosure should also provide both moist and slightly drier areas, allowing the isopods to move between the conditions they need.
Avoid chemically treated wood, fertilised compost, pesticides and decorative materials that may be unsafe for the animals living in the enclosure.
Moisture
Most isopods need a moisture gradient rather than an enclosure that is completely wet or completely dry.
Keep one area consistently moist beneath moss, leaf litter or cork bark. Other areas should remain slightly drier.
The substrate should feel damp but should not be waterlogged. Constantly saturated substrate can cause poor airflow, unpleasant smells, mould and mites.
Different isopod species have different moisture requirements. Always check the individual product information before adding a species to your bioactive setup.
Ventilation
Good ventilation helps prevent stagnant conditions while allowing the enclosure to retain suitable humidity.
Too little ventilation can cause excessive condensation, mould and waterlogged substrate. Too much ventilation may cause the enclosure to dry out too quickly.
Monitor the enclosure regularly and adjust misting or ventilation when required.
Leaf Litter and Decaying Wood
Leaf litter and decaying hardwood are essential food sources and should always be available.
Suitable leaves can include pesticide-free oak, beech and other safe hardwood leaves. Avoid collecting leaves from areas that may have been treated with chemicals or exposed to heavy roadside pollution.
Replace the leaf litter as it is eaten. There should be enough present for the isopods to feed on and hide beneath.
Soft, decaying hardwood provides additional food and shelter. Avoid resinous woods such as pine and cedar.
Calcium
Isopods require a reliable calcium source to support healthy moulting and shell development.
Suitable calcium sources include cuttlefish bone, calcium carbonate, crushed baked eggshell and specialist isopod calcium products.
Keep calcium available in the enclosure and replace it as it is consumed.
Supplemental Feeding
Isopods will eat decaying plant matter, leftover food and some animal waste within an established bioactive enclosure. However, occasional supplemental feeding may still be beneficial.
Suitable foods can include specialist isopod food, small pieces of vegetables, fish flakes, dried shrimp and other suitable protein-rich foods.
Only provide small amounts. Remove uneaten fresh food before it begins to rot, as excess food can attract mites, fungus gnats and mould.
Some isopod species require more protein than others. Always check the requirements of the species being kept.
Temperature
The chosen isopod species must be suitable for the temperature and humidity required by the main enclosure occupant.
Avoid placing concentrated heat directly beneath the isopods’ moist refuge area. This can dry the substrate too quickly and prevent the isopods from escaping excessive heat.
Establishing the Clean-Up Crew
Where possible, add isopods and springtails before introducing the main animal. This gives the clean-up crew time to settle, reproduce and spread throughout the substrate.
Provide plenty of leaf litter, decaying wood and sheltered areas to help the colony establish.
Some reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates may eat isopods. Additional isopods may occasionally need to be added if the population becomes too low.
Routine Maintenance
A bioactive enclosure still requires regular maintenance.
Remove large amounts of uneaten food, excessive animal waste, dead animals, heavily mouldy material and anything producing a strong or unpleasant smell.
Top up the leaf litter, decaying wood and calcium when required. Check the moist area regularly to make sure it has not completely dried out.
Common Problems
Isopods Disappearing
Isopods may be hiding beneath the substrate, bark or leaf litter. They may also have been eaten by the enclosure occupant.
Check that the enclosure is not too dry, too wet, too hot or unsuitable for the isopod species being kept.
Mould
Small amounts of mould can appear while a bioactive enclosure is becoming established. Springtails can help control it.
Remove heavily mouldy food, avoid overfeeding and make sure the substrate is not constantly saturated.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats are often associated with excessively wet substrate and too much decaying food.
Remove uneaten food, avoid overwatering and improve ventilation where appropriate.
Rapid Population Growth
Reduce supplemental feeding if the isopod population becomes too large. Some isopods can also be removed and transferred into a separate suitable enclosure.
Choosing the Correct Species
Not every isopod species is suitable for every bioactive enclosure.
The enclosure temperature, humidity, ventilation, size and main animal must all be considered before choosing an isopod species.
Always read the individual product information before adding isopods to your setup.
Bio Forest provides this information as general husbandry guidance. Requirements can vary between species and individual enclosures.