Armadillidium vulgare

[Armadillidium king]

I've had a lot of luck breeding Armadillidium vulgare but recently the last 7 months I've been having die offs it's not due to any enclosure problems all conditions and materials are right. I assume it's due to some being weaker than others therefore dying earlier than most since I breed so many, I'm contacting a professional on the matter, so I'll see his opinion on the case.

 

[jbooth]

I only had them die from completely drying out. If it's collapsing, it may be the ph and need some baking soda if they've been going for awhile and there's tons.

 

[DerGraf]

My first thought was that it's winter in the northern hemisphere and they don't reproduce during that, but 7 months is too much.
How often do you change substrate? Correcting pH might help already but there are also (usually poop related) nitrate issues after a while. Depending on the amount of substrate and specimens in the enclosure it's not uncommon to have to change it every 6-12 month.

 

[Armadillidium king]

yes, I change it every 3 months.
also, it is winter and many of them are pregnant.
the substrate is peat moss with worm casting, oak bark chunks, oak leaves, moss. so, they have no reason to die there are no chemicals in the air the room is proper temperature and there is moist side and dry side.
I've kept these isopods for a long time now they breed faster than they die. the fact that the young ones die means it's not old age and it's not the tank requirements everything is correct. also, Jbooth I know it's not due to the tank being dry they have half moist and half dry I also know their lungs don't work if they dry out. and DerGraf its not due to me messing with them or the season also defiantly not the substrate being to old and full of ammonia. however, I do have small rove beetles, but they have never hunted them before.

 

[DerGraf]

What did you give them to hunt then? Most rove beetles are predators, so without knowing the species, that's just guesswork, since that's a very diverse group.

 

[Armadillidium king]

I give them spring tales.