Keeping and Breeding Isopods
Isopods (pill bugs, roly-polies) are crustaceans that thrive in captivity and breed readily with minimal care. They are kept as pets, used as bioactive cleanup crews in reptile and amphibian enclosures, and bred for sale. Popular species include Armadillidium vulgare, Porcellio scaber, and Cubaris sp.
50Animals
3Months
Set Up Housing
Description: Use a plastic tub with a ventilated lid. Add 5 to 8cm of a substrate mix (coconut fiber, sphagnum moss, leaf litter, and calcium-rich additives like crushed oyster shell). Maintain a moisture gradient: wet on one side, dry on the other.
Feed the Colony
Description: Offer leaf litter, dried mushrooms, fish flakes, cuttlebone, and vegetable scraps. Remove uneaten fresh food after 48 hours. Leaf litter is the staple diet and enrichment material.
Encourage Breeding
Description: Stable temperature (20 to 24 Celsius), consistent moisture, and adequate calcium trigger breeding. Females carry eggs in a brood pouch for three to four weeks. Do not disturb females during brooding.
Colony Setup Checklist
Source healthy starter culture (50 or more animals)
Prepare substrate with moisture gradient before adding isopods
Add hiding spots: cork bark, egg crate, dried leaves
Supplement calcium with cuttlebone or crushed eggshell
Check moisture level weekly and mist as needed
Remove any dead animals or excess food promptly
Isopods are escape artists. Ensure the lid fits tightly and the tub walls are smooth enough that they cannot climb out. Petroleum jelly on the inner rim is an effective barrier.