Pill bugs/Sow bugs/Rollie-Polies

[dbolack]

In the Hermit Crab community there are a number of people who use Sow bugs as a tank cleaner. The eat up all the decomposing food, reproduce at a low enough rate not to overwhelm, and cohabitate well.

Would this work with my Grey Tree Frog, or would he gorge himself on the little beasties?

Thanks.

[Paul Rust]

They make a great froggy snack.

[dbolack]

They make a great froggy snack.

Will I have to worry about overeating?

[hyla]

I believe overeating is not a concern with male gray treefrogs as much as the females. I have read the females will gorge themselves but I have a female gray and she stops when she is full. I guess it depends on the individual frog. But overall I would not be concerned with it.

[adawinters]

I have a colony of clean-up-crew sow bugs in my viv. If they are getting eaten, it's at a slower rate than they reproduce.

[dbolack]

I have a colony of clean-up-crew sow bugs in my viv. If they are getting eaten, it's at a slower rate than they reproduce.

Do you remember about how many you needed to start the colony?

[adawinters]

I should confess that I did not start the colony deliberately, but they hitch-hiked in on some item that I did not clean properly. My guess is that I rinsed a clump of moss that had some manner of sow bug eggs that survived the soaking/washing, and then hatched. I don't know how many there were at first. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how many are in there now. All I know is that, whenever I turn over a rock or piece or birch bark that's in the tank, there they are, scooting around. I occasionally see one drowned in the water dish, as well.

[dbolack]

I should confess that I did not start the colony deliberately, but they hitch-hiked in on some item that I did not clean properly. My guess is that I rinsed a clump of moss that had some manner of sow bug eggs that survived the soaking/washing, and then hatched. I don't know how many there were at first. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how many are in there now. All I know is that, whenever I turn over a rock or piece or birch bark that's in the tank, there they are, scooting around. I occasionally see one drowned in the water dish, as well.

I suspect they forget that even though they are crustaceans and have gills, they need to stay above the water's surface.

[KennyDB]

I give them to aquatic newts to, they survive long enough underwater to attrackt the newts and get eaten.

[Tropicok]

I rate sow bugs right up there with roaches on the yuck meter but if you say tiger sallies will eat them I guess I will collect some and try it.

[Kurt]

Tigers will eat anything and everything.