Woodlice - Culturing - How to...

[ricky]

In the summertime, there is many insects around outside, but in the wintertime it get difficult to get "fresh" bugs for my frog.
Ofcause the pet store sell bugs, but I like the idea of having my own supply.

I have a million - almost - woodlice in the garden and my frog just loves them.
So, I thought i would try to start a culture with Woodlouse, to have nice (and cheap) supply of nice fresh bugs for the winter time.

Went quite well !
I couldn't find a similar thread about woodlice culturing, therefore here is a How to...!

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- I bought a plastic box with lid, like the one you use for kids toys storage etc.



This one around 60 x 30 x 15 cm, but can be smaller.

- Then I drilled some ventilation holes on the side and lid - 6 mm.




- Fill the bottom with a layer of soil. I used some garden soil mixed with spagnum.

Woodlice feed on any decomposing organic material like wood, leaves, fruit.
Put in some old piece of wood for the woodlice to hide in.

I filled it with bush and apples from our apple tree

I removed the all the leaves for a better view

Then I collected a handfull of woodlice form the garden.
You should look for moist dark places like under rocks or big pieces of tree.

This video is after 2 weeks
http://vid46.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2fe3c83e.mp4
Culture just exploded in a few weeks!

I also feed them with a handfull of fish flakes now and them. Been told that you could use turtles pills too.

woodlice are not sensitiv creatures, but keep the box out of direct sunlight, avoid sub zero temperature and keep them fairly moist.
I watered the soil 1-2 times a week.

Enjoy!

[flybyferns]

Hi ricky,
This is a wonderful post !!! Thank you ,so very much, for taking the time to share the photos and your video.
Your frog is very luck !

What species of frog are you feeding!

[LilyPad]

Great thread!

[ricky]

Hi ricky,
This is a wonderful post !!! Thank you ,so very much, for taking the time to share the photos and your video.
Your frog is very luck !

What species of frog are you feeding!

You are welcome


I just made a second culture. Then I can switch between the cultures so they have time to reproduce

I have a painted frog - chubby frog. :P
Planing to get a few more soon

[Mentat]

Thanks for thread post and video Ricky ! How big are them as adults? Those can be of use in a vivarium as part of cleaning crew; right?

[ricky]

Thanks for thread post and video Ricky !

How big are them as adults?
The largest I've seen as around 2 - 2,5 cm.


Those can be of use in a vivarium as part of cleaning crew; right?
Indeed, so even if the frog refuse to eat them, they can be helpful in the viv with contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles.

It is quit fun to watch them "exercise" my frog, as it needs to hunt them around the viv to catch them

[DigitalPunk]

Thanks for the post and for sharing! I culture Isopods as well, though our methods vary a bit, but the frogs just love them that is for sure. I like to add in some extras at night while the frogs are sleeping so I can get a colony build up in the Vivarium to help my Springtails out with cleaning

[ricky]

Thanks for the post and for sharing! I culture Isopods as well, though our methods vary a bit, but the frogs just love them that is for sure. I like to add in some extras at night while the frogs are sleeping so I can get a colony build up in the Vivarium to help my Springtails out with cleaning

I did the same, but seems my frog ate them all

[Ash]

Good "How - to" When collecting Isopods/Woodlice from the wild make sure they as well as your materials are as close to sterile as you can get them ie: heating substrate and materials to destroy invaders. If you see Woodlice that are discolored (Bluish for example) do not collect those. Make sure Isopods/ Woodlice are free from mites. Feeding a variety of decomposing food is key to production, give them some eggshell every so often for calcium and the occasional dead cricket.. Isopods/Woodlice & Springtails are great feeders as well as part of an effective Cleaner Crew for frog enclosures.

[ricky]

Thanks for the post and for sharing! I culture Isopods as well, though our methods vary a bit, but the frogs just love them that is for sure. I like to add in some extras at night while the frogs are sleeping so I can get a colony build up in the Vivarium to help my Springtails out with cleaning

How does your method vary ?