I just started the hobby about 1-2 months ago, and I now have 5 colonys of different species and morphs. I also have different breeding projects planned and a project for wild isopods.
I’m culturing a colony of powder oranges to try as feeders soon. They are soft bodied, fast moving, and naturally very high in calcium. Bonus, if they get into the substrate they function as a clean up crew. Seems to make a lot of sense.
You can feed them crested gecko food ! The stuff they have left . Place your day old crested gecko cups upside down & they will eat that . Upside down so they don’t get stuck in it . Plus they will happily eat egg shells.
I had to see if the Pod God himself came to comment on this video. Am not disappointed. 😂 Also Wally, even though it hasn’t been that long since I got the dwarf whites from you, they’re already breeding. I’m scared of what I got myself into. Hahaha!
@@robbysreptilesWill do also Im also on your website now . Im a fan . I appreciate how you articulate your points . You are a true teacher !! It's a lost art form so people can't orate properly. All you see regurgitated non sense this is refreshing content.
When I saw the video topic I thought, ‘Oh know he seems like the kind of person that would get sucked into the hobby of isopod keeping.’ When you reached for your second colony I knew it was already too late. I bake the leaves and wood that I use for isopods. I’m too fearful of an unwanted infestation. Your collection is looking great so far!
How is your first tub doing of wild Armadillidium vulgare and powder blues doing now? I’m a little concerned the powder blues may outcompete the Armadillidium vulgare after some time due to me seeing mostly powders in there plus the low ventilation and high moisture levels. I would also recommend adding leaf litter to all of your enclosures as it’s isopods primary food source other than the substrate (which your substrates seem very nutritious). I would also remove food that’s molded over. Only feed as much to the isopods as they can eat in about a day or so. I find that most supplemental food like bug burger starts to mold after that. I’ve never heard of isopods being able to climb plastic before. I don’t secure my lids very will and I’ve never had any problems with escapes. Babies may be able to climb plastic only if there is a thin film/layer of dirt on the walls but I’ve never had that issue before. The main reason people may want to get a sealed container is to prevent pests from getting in, not isopods crawling out. The main ways isopods can get out is of they escape while you are working in the enclosure or you leave a leaf stem leaning against the wall to the lid. When is comes to collecting stuff outside, it is generally good to bake it because they can come with various pests, especially if you collect dirt outside. You don’t have to and me and lots of other people have had success collecting everything from outside but it does come with risks. Something I like to do with leaf litter is submerge leaves from outside in a bucket of water and wait a few days or weeks. After this time the leaves will grow beneficial bacteria which is very nutritious to isopods and the water will kill any pests. It’s a win win situation. Keep it mind that even if you sanitize everything, beneficial bacteria will grow over time. FYI Isopods don’t eat mold
Yes, keep in mind this was my first few weeks keeping them so excuse my ignorance! I now have a great hold on feeding proper amounts to prevent mold, I've cultured all the springtails to full populate every enclosure and they eat all the mold, I have leaves stacked to the top of the lids nearly on all the enclosures, the vulgare are still doing fantastic so that culture is going on a year and a half or so and they're all still booming! I've separated some of that culture into isolated powder blue and vulgare cultures as I primarily use them to be in all my gecko enclosures whoch I recently have made all bioactive except for babies! I still don't bake just because if found it makes mold grow like crazy. Main issue for me has been the damn fungus gnats however I've since won the war, every now and then they have a rebellion and uprising to try and overtake but my tape and mosquito bits and springtails all fight the good fight! Thank you for your in depth comment!
I love the cubaris sp. Sre amazing..Side note I've heard dairy cows are typically protein hungry and If given the chance they will eat your geckos and eggs in bioactives can't confirm this but I've used power blues and powder oranges for my bioactives and never had issues with them🌿🍃
I love my crested geckos and i really wanted to do a bio actove container so i watched your other video which then brought me here and now i have isopods coming to me in the mail.
Flake soil is a major key! The substrate needs to be full of food. Once I started putting rotten wood and flake soil and old soggy leaves into my substrate, my colonies exploded!
Please consider some P. hoffmannseggi the titans! They are awesome and even raise their mancae ! They grew on me they are mellow and take food off your hand
this is a late comment, but those vulgare will be gone soon, it's best to separate them, vulgare produces a lot of variant, it will be a waste if the powder blue out-competes them. They are known to out-compete others and iit can take couple of months. it might seems like they are doing pretty well at first, but in the future, you'll only see powder blues and powders blues only
I seperate as many powder blues as I can now cuz I am trying to really produce a ton of the powders to fulfill orders for people who want to do bioactive and myself included, so I've been keeping the population in check in that tub, there's just so damn many and the babies are so tiny lol rn it's like a 4:1 ratio vulgare to powder blue
Oh nice! For all of em or only adults? Would love to see how that turns out. I’d be very worried about mold considering how well these tubs you showed us contain humidity. One of the only things I’ve been struggling with using them. almost too good 🤣
@@robbysreptiles i understand but you might want to read more especially if you will get into more expensive species. You dont want your rubber ducky isopods which costs there i dont know about 20$ per one? To die because there are no leaves no humidity enoug ventilation or because mold was left there
Keeping isopods is so addictive! I’m obsessed with them. 😂
Me to
It’s such a rabbit hole! Start with a crested gecko, end up with many varieties of fancy pet isopods is what happened to me 😂
Exact same to me.. 😆
papayas are super underrated! just set up my first isopod enclosure with springtails and everything, going to be getting some panda kings
I have quite the booming colony of them, probably well over 2k
I'd recommend a little bit more leaf litter, seems like they are doing great either way though!
You can't even see the soil in my tubs these days! Lol
I just started the hobby about 1-2 months ago, and I now have 5 colonys of different species and morphs. I also have different breeding projects planned and a project for wild isopods.
Nice welcome!
I’m culturing a colony of powder oranges to try as feeders soon. They are soft bodied, fast moving, and naturally very high in calcium. Bonus, if they get into the substrate they function as a clean up crew. Seems to make a lot of sense.
Precisely what I was thinking! Didn't know they were higher in calcium
You can feed them crested gecko food ! The stuff they have left . Place your day old crested gecko cups upside down & they will eat that . Upside down so they don’t get stuck in it . Plus they will happily eat egg shells.
Yes I do this too :)
@@robbysreptiles Cool 😎
Isn't this an amazing world (isopods!). Seems like everyone is getting into these fascinating animals. How are yours doing now? Enjoy!
They're all booming!
@@robbysreptiles Fantastic! Congratulations.
I had to see if the Pod God himself came to comment on this video. Am not disappointed. 😂 Also Wally, even though it hasn’t been that long since I got the dwarf whites from you, they’re already breeding. I’m scared of what I got myself into. Hahaha!
This is so cool to watch id like to try someday .
Well just reach out on instragram if you ever want to get started!
@@robbysreptilesWill do also Im also on your website now . Im a fan . I appreciate how you articulate your points . You are a true teacher !! It's a lost art form so people can't orate properly. All you see regurgitated non sense this is refreshing content.
I appreciate the meaningful feedback@@DaveGrease-og8oo
My A. vulgare absolutely love the sheds from my western hognose. The dwarf whites don’t seem as enthusiastic about sheds though.
I love it every one you pull out is your absolute favorite
True lol
Love the orange hues! Welcome to the isopod gang!
Papayas and B.C. maples are my favorites too. Cappuccinos are still on my list but I haven’t pulled the trigger on those yet
I can probably hook ya up with a 10 count for a great price
This is great! Keep the blues away from your other tubs, especially the whites.
I have heard they spread like wild fire lol
Nice Collection!
When I saw the video topic I thought, ‘Oh know he seems like the kind of person that would get sucked into the hobby of isopod keeping.’ When you reached for your second colony I knew it was already too late.
I bake the leaves and wood that I use for isopods. I’m too fearful of an unwanted infestation.
Your collection is looking great so far!
Hahaha this is so true! Thank you man! I'm looking into all the spikey varieties rn
How is your first tub doing of wild Armadillidium vulgare and powder blues doing now? I’m a little concerned the powder blues may outcompete the Armadillidium vulgare after some time due to me seeing mostly powders in there plus the low ventilation and high moisture levels.
I would also recommend adding leaf litter to all of your enclosures as it’s isopods primary food source other than the substrate (which your substrates seem very nutritious). I would also remove food that’s molded over. Only feed as much to the isopods as they can eat in about a day or so. I find that most supplemental food like bug burger starts to mold after that.
I’ve never heard of isopods being able to climb plastic before. I don’t secure my lids very will and I’ve never had any problems with escapes. Babies may be able to climb plastic only if there is a thin film/layer of dirt on the walls but I’ve never had that issue before. The main reason people may want to get a sealed container is to prevent pests from getting in, not isopods crawling out. The main ways isopods can get out is of they escape while you are working in the enclosure or you leave a leaf stem leaning against the wall to the lid.
When is comes to collecting stuff outside, it is generally good to bake it because they can come with various pests, especially if you collect dirt outside. You don’t have to and me and lots of other people have had success collecting everything from outside but it does come with risks. Something I like to do with leaf litter is submerge leaves from outside in a bucket of water and wait a few days or weeks. After this time the leaves will grow beneficial bacteria which is very nutritious to isopods and the water will kill any pests. It’s a win win situation. Keep it mind that even if you sanitize everything, beneficial bacteria will grow over time. FYI Isopods don’t eat mold
Yes, keep in mind this was my first few weeks keeping them so excuse my ignorance! I now have a great hold on feeding proper amounts to prevent mold, I've cultured all the springtails to full populate every enclosure and they eat all the mold, I have leaves stacked to the top of the lids nearly on all the enclosures, the vulgare are still doing fantastic so that culture is going on a year and a half or so and they're all still booming! I've separated some of that culture into isolated powder blue and vulgare cultures as I primarily use them to be in all my gecko enclosures whoch I recently have made all bioactive except for babies! I still don't bake just because if found it makes mold grow like crazy. Main issue for me has been the damn fungus gnats however I've since won the war, every now and then they have a rebellion and uprising to try and overtake but my tape and mosquito bits and springtails all fight the good fight! Thank you for your in depth comment!
@@robbysreptiles Thanks for the reply! Great progress you’ve made in that time
I have rollie pollies all in my backyard underneath the oak trees
Epic
I love the cubaris sp. Sre amazing..Side note I've heard dairy cows are typically protein hungry and If given the chance they will eat your geckos and eggs in bioactives can't confirm this but I've used power blues and powder oranges for my bioactives and never had issues with them🌿🍃
Woah that's metal AF
I love my crested geckos and i really wanted to do a bio actove container so i watched your other video which then brought me here and now i have isopods coming to me in the mail.
Nice!
Flake soil is a major key! The substrate needs to be full of food. Once I started putting rotten wood and flake soil and old soggy leaves into my substrate, my colonies exploded!
I'm doing the same!
Nice video! Was fun talking to you about isopods in person.
It was! Glad we all could get dinner after tinley :)
@@robbysreptiles Will you be there for the March show or just October?
Not 100% sure yet! But probably
Please consider some P. hoffmannseggi the titans! They are awesome and even raise their mancae ! They grew on me they are mellow and take food off your hand
Woah they raise their babies?! That's crazy!
Where can I find these lava isopods I want to get that coulture
Contact me on Instagram I can hook you up with a bunch for a great price!
I bought orange for my hermit crab cage now I’m concerned because you said they climb out.
They shouldn't unlessnits really dirty. Plus they will die if they don't have water
just got some powder oranges, orange creams, and kois for bioactive setups, but now im debating buying more after watching this lol
I gotchu!
@@robbysreptiles do you have any pods for sale at the moment? I saw pricing on your website but wasn’t sure if they were available
I do just dm me on instagram I'll send you everything I've got available!
@@robbysreptiles Sweet, thanks! the dm will be from geckoplateau
@@robbysreptiles Sweet, thanks! Dm will be from geckoplateau
this is a late comment, but those vulgare will be gone soon, it's best to separate them, vulgare produces a lot of variant, it will be a waste if the powder blue out-competes them. They are known to out-compete others and iit can take couple of months. it might seems like they are doing pretty well at first, but in the future, you'll only see powder blues and powders blues only
I seperate as many powder blues as I can now cuz I am trying to really produce a ton of the powders to fulfill orders for people who want to do bioactive and myself included, so I've been keeping the population in check in that tub, there's just so damn many and the babies are so tiny lol rn it's like a 4:1 ratio vulgare to powder blue
Of that were the case wouldn't they crawl out through the vent holes?
Some how they haven't so far lol but for most my tubs now I use a fine mesh to cover the 1inch gaps
I think they are called cappuccino
Sorry, just rewatched the video and realized you’ve already said it
pak chongs my all time favorite 🙏
I have some but find them really boring tbh, I like red tigers the most and rubber bees
what do u do for heat?
I have my gecko room/house set to 74 degrees :)
I feed mine the leftovers of dried out repashy from my Geckos
Same!
I’ve been waiting for this video 😂❤🎉
Glad I could deliver!
It’s Real Isopod Hours!!!
For real!
have you started feeding them to your geckos yet?
Occasionally, but I'm mainly wanting ti make bioactive tubs ;)
Oh nice! For all of em or only adults? Would love to see how that turns out. I’d be very worried about mold considering how well these tubs you showed us contain humidity. One of the only things I’ve been struggling with using them. almost too good 🤣
your setup is awful with not enough ventilation and almost no leaf litter
This is my first ever set-ups from about a year ago. Now I don't even put soil in there! (Sarcasm)
@@robbysreptiles i understand but you might want to read more especially if you will get into more expensive species. You dont want your rubber ducky isopods which costs there i dont know about 20$ per one? To die because there are no leaves no humidity enoug ventilation or because mold was left there
@dror843 I've got a strong colony of 100+ duckies for the past year now, started with a small count
@@robbysreptiles that is great to hear :)
Im getting tomorrow my blonde duckies and snowbee cubaris