Isopods for frogs?

[tjtreefrog]

Is anyone raising isopods for their frogs? I've never tried using isopods for frogs, but I'd assume some of the smaller frogs like darts and mantellas would like dwarf tropical varieties.

[John]

I've used them in the past to feed small salamanders and also Phyllobates terribilis. You should be able to purchase that kind of isopod under the name small tropical woodlice, or tropical isopods.

[tjtreefrog]

Yeah, I noticed Michael Shrom has orange isopod cultures for sale on Caudata.org. I just thought if darts and mantellas would eat them, they would be easier to manage than fruit flies.

[John]

They are not as prolific as flies, by a long way. And since when are fruit flies hard to manage? :P

[tjtreefrog]

Ok, when I said "manage" I meant contain. Fruit flies are hard to contain, at least in my experience. I find isopods easier to contain. I can see what you mean about not being as prolific. When it comes to being prolific, nothing beats fruit flies.

[John]

They're easy to contain if you have the appropriate lid on your tank .

[bshmerlie]

How do you keep them from crawling out the edges around the doors or vents on the Exo Terra?...they can fit through. I'm assuming the top screen you're just replacing with glasss and sealing it correct?

[Greg M]

I really like isopods as feeders for young frogs/toads. Apparently, the calcium content is really high (came across that fact in an article on the nutrient composition of bird prey)...