A starter culture of 10–15 mixed-size isopods is enough to establish a colony in most vivariums. They breed steadily and build up to match the size of the enclosure over a couple of months.

Isopods eat leaf litter, rotting wood and decaying matter, plus a calcium source (cuttlefish bone or limewood) and the occasional protein top-up. They also process animal waste and leftover food in a bioactive setup.

Most species need a humid area with a moisture gradient so they can choose their comfort zone. Keep one side of the enclosure damp, provide good ventilation, and add plenty of hides and leaf litter.

Yes. Clean-up crew isopods are harmless to healthy animals and form a natural part of a bioactive enclosure, recycling waste and helping keep the substrate clean.

Isopods breed more slowly than springtails — expect a visibly growing colony over 2–3 months under good conditions, and longer for slower display species such as Cubaris.