Behavior and Death?

[Tired Teacher Vibes]

I set up an enclosure to hopefully grow out my isopods, but they've yet to populate and are slowly dying off.

• I cleaned off the plants/roots (incase of pesticides or pest bugs) before planting.
• I used substrate from a previous, healthy set up. With some fresh substrate (untreated/no fertilizer).
• The sphagnum around the fern is for humidity/wet spot.
• I've been letting the wet spot dry out a bit (not completely) before watering the creeping oak.
• It's a critter keeper, so the lid is nothing but ventilation.

I added some mealworm beetles to the tank (so my crickets wouldn't eat them) and they ONLY hang out on the wood and refuse to go anywhere else.

I have no idea why the isopods keep dying and why the beetles won't leave the wood. I must've messed something up, I feel like the beetles refusing to leave the wood is a sign something's up with the substrate?

 

[CutThroat Kid]

You didn't mention anything in the substrate that isopods actually eat.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

You didn't mention anything in the substrate that isopods actually eat.

What do they eat again decaying leafs and wood and other bugs ? Or something… yeah no food source explains it you’ve found the problem !!

 

[Tired Teacher Vibes]

You didn't mention anything in the substrate that isopods actually eat.

My bad, I do feed them.

I add dying leaves from other plants, carrots and potatoes (take out after a couple of days), and different fish foods. I added dry oatmeal once I put in the beetles too.
It's definitely not a lack of food.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

My bad, I do feed them.

I add dying leaves from other plants, carrots and potatoes (take out after a couple of days), and different fish foods. I added dry oatmeal once I put in the beetles too.
It's definitely not a lack of food.

Can you get a side view picture, and maybe a close up of the tiny isos? How deep is the substrate these things are very moisture dependent as you already know. Good luck.

 

[Tired Teacher Vibes]

Can you get a side view picture, and maybe a close up of the tiny isos? How deep is the substrate these things are very moisture dependent as you already know. Good luck.

Substrate is 4 inches on the side with the creeping oak and about 2 inches with the peacock fern.

Soil Mites? are fine. But the beetles REFUSE to leave the wood and I haven't seen any isopods not on the wood either.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Substrate is 4 inches on the side with the creeping oak and about 2 inches with the peacock fern.

Soil Mites? are fine. But the beetles REFUSE to leave the wood and I haven't seen any isopods not on the wood either.

Been ages since I tried keeping isopods and it didn’t end up well i had to much ventilation and it dried out too fast , rookie mistake . Not tried it again yet ! We’re doing fine wetter .

 

[WhiteMoss]

What type of isopods are they? Also what type of leaves are you using and sourced where?
Try adding a slice of cucumber.