Isopods?!

[Kristen]

Just curious, if you had wood in your tank would they eat that too?

[JeffreH]

I've never noticed any kind of substantial damage the rotting wood even with large amounts of them in a very small space - I think they actually feed on fungi that may be starting on it or bits that have decayed to a point where they are very, very soft. I wouldn't be concerned at all about wood structures in the vivarium with them = ) I probably made them seem like termites or something by saying they "munch" when in reality it just more of a hiding and moisture resevoir that also serves as a place where food may grow.

[kueluck]

I raise them also, and like Jeff said they are super easy to raise. My toads and frogs won't eat them. If they grab one they spit it out when it rolls up.

[GrifTheGreat]

I've been debating on adding these to my Viv or Springtails. Would you say the Wood Louse is better than Springtails or to they equally serve the same purpose?

[kueluck]

For me it's the same. The springtails do die off if the tank gets to dry, they like 100% humidity. Like I said they won't eat the pill bugs, but they seem to enjoy the hunt.

[JeffreH]

You could always try both if you have room for a couple of 6qt sterilite bins to decide which works better for you (or use both together)- The isopods you can obtain locally in the woods, breed them, and keep a constant supply on hand with minimal needs for free and replenish those in the vivaria as necessary. Springtails will cost for an inital culture but are effortless to raise and you can have an infinite supply within a month's time if you move them into a shoebox bin with soil and their starting media and sprinkle some yeast, fish flakes or some other grain based product on them every now and then.

But then again, not everyone likes to keep a variety of random invertebrates. I like to keep a heated rack system at the ready for all my buggies :3 *snorts*

[kueluck]

I'm right there with ya. The "guest" room has turned into the bug room. Dubias, turkish, pillbugs, earthworms and once in a great while crickets, butter worms or silk worms.

You could always try both if you have room for a couple of 6qt sterilite bins to decide which works better for you (or use both together)- The isopods you can obtain locally in the woods, breed them, and keep a constant supply on hand with minimal needs for free and replenish those in the vivaria as necessary. Springtails will cost for an inital culture but are effortless to raise and you can have an infinite supply within a month's time if you move them into a shoebox bin with soil and their starting media and sprinkle some yeast, fish flakes or some other grain based product on them every now and then.

But then again, not everyone likes to keep a variety of random invertebrates. I like to keep a heated rack system at the ready for all my buggies :3 *snorts*

[J Teezy]

I have some springs (i've only had them for a little over a week), what i've been doing is every couple of days i flood the container they came in (from Josh's frogs they come in a plastic container) and pour the water in with whatever springs go with it.

[Froggiefressh]

I'm right there with ya. The "guest" room has turned into the bug room. Dubias, turkish, pillbugs, earthworms and once in a great while crickets, butter worms or silk worms.

How often is it okay to feed frogs butter and silk worms?