Behavior and Death?

Tired Teacher Vibes

Arachnopeon
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May 14, 2023
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28
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?

Enclosure.jpg
 

Ultum4Spiderz

Arachnoemperor
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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 !! :cool:
 

Tired Teacher Vibes

Arachnopeon
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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

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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

Arachnopeon
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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

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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 ! :sad: We’re doing fine wetter .
 

WhiteMoss

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Apr 26, 2022
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66
What type of isopods are they? Also what type of leaves are you using and sourced where?
Try adding a slice of cucumber.
 
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