Dairy Cow Isopods Not Eating

[Edoggerson]

I purchased 20 Porcellio Laevis about two weeks and some back, and have been trying to feed them a number of different things in varying quantities.. But as far as I can tell they're stubborn and won't take it. First, I mixed up some of that new repashy morning wood and crumbled it in a few spots of the tank, only to come back the next day and see that none took more than a morsel. I've tried sweet potato chunk, deli chicken scrap (tiny pieces), and am going to order baby dried shrimp. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I've been conscious about overfeeding them, and only leave tiny crumbles every day rather than one large piece of food every few or so days. Hopefully as they multiply their appetites will increase.. I saw two actually breeding today so that's really promising!

 

[LizardStudent]

Really odd, mine have always been absolute garbage disposals for any food. Can you post a picture of their setup? It being very wet or dry could affect their behavior, etc

 

[Edoggerson]

Really odd, mine have always been absolute garbage disposals for any food. Can you post a picture of their setup? It being very wet or dry could affect their behavior, etc

They get a heating pad on the left that dries out while warming the dirt very slightly, and keeps the tank at 73 degrees Fahrenheit. It also makes a gradient from left to right. Plenty of shade, and misted once every 3 days to ensure against it being too dry. I keep food in the bottom right for one group that hangs around there, one in the top left, and one morsel in the middle. I hardly see them eaten, maybe only nibbled out of. You can even see one of the buggers below the lower cork bark

 

[Polenth]

They usually eat anything, but you don't have that many, so it wouldn't surprise me if they don't finish things. I'd avoid meat for now, as you don't want to leave that in for a few days. Try things like carrot, peas and so on. You can drop those in and leave them.

 

[Edoggerson]

They usually eat anything, but you don't have that many, so it wouldn't surprise me if they don't finish things. I'd avoid meat for now, as you don't want to leave that in for a few days. Try things like carrot, peas and so on. You can drop those in and leave them.

I did leave chicken in for more than a day, and got some pink mold originating from something involving the nitrates added to it? It was strange, removed it all very quickly

 

[LizardStudent]

View attachment 376394
They get a heating pad on the left that dries out while warming the dirt very slightly, and keeps the tank at 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Plenty of shade, and misted once every 3 days to ensure against it being too dry. I keep food in the bottom right for one group that hangs around there, one in the top left, and one morsel in the middle. I hardly see them eaten, maybe only nibbled out of. You can even see one of the buggers below the lower cork bark

The bottom of that pic is looking pretty saturated, it could just be the photo but I think you might be keeping it a little too wet. I have found overtime that my cows really enjoy a real dry patch to retreat to and burrow into. They could also be just settling into their new place if you just got them- most of my pods have exhibited a settling period, like most other pets do, when I first acquire them

 

[LizardStudent]

Also ordering the dry shrimp is probably overkill. You can do it if you really want to, but it's not necessary at all

 

[Edoggerson]

Also ordering the dry shrimp is probably overkill. You can do it if you really want to, but it's not necessary at all

I was thinking of using it instead of just throwing in whatever I have so I don't have to sweat rotating between whatever veggie was for dinner that night lol.That and repashy morning wood, but honestly the bugs seem to like the morning wood the LEAST.. Surprising considering it's literally built for derterivores...

 

[LizardStudent]

One of my pod breeder friends uses the morning wood as 80%-90% of their pods diets, including the cows, so I don't think its that they don't like it per say i just think yours don't want to eat right now. It's true with only 20 pods they're really not gonna eat that much, and probably they're eating their substrate and the leaf litter, so they may be eating more than you think. But I wouldn't worry too much, just give them some time and a dry corner to retreat to and they'll be fine if your ventilation and everything else checks out

 

[Edoggerson]

One of my pod breeder friends uses the morning wood as 80%-90% of their pods diets, including the cows, so I don't think its that they don't like it per say i just think yours don't want to eat right now. It's true with only 20 pods they're really not gonna eat that much, and probably they're eating their substrate and the leaf litter, so they may be eating more than you think. But I wouldn't worry too much, just give them some time and a dry corner to retreat to and they'll be fine if your ventilation and everything else checks out

Yeah ventilation has been fine. I leave the lid cracked instead of poking holes because they dont mind the humidity.. I'll work on making the bottom right patch a dry spot. Thank you!

 

[isopodgeek]

I purchased 20 Porcellio Laevis about two weeks and some back, and have been trying to feed them a number of different things in varying quantities.. But as far as I can tell they're stubborn and won't take it. First, I mixed up some of that new repashy morning wood and crumbled it in a few spots of the tank, only to come back the next day and see that none took more than a morsel. I've tried sweet potato chunk, deli chicken scrap (tiny pieces), and am going to order baby dried shrimp. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I've been conscious about overfeeding them, and only leave tiny crumbles every day rather than one large piece of food every few or so days. Hopefully as they multiply their appetites will increase.. I saw two actually breeding today so that's really promising!

I am sure they are eating, Isopods are secretive eaters and usually scurry under anything when the container is opened. I am sure they are eating even though you don’t see them eating. Isopods eat small amounts at I time so if you offer lots of food, you probably won’t notice that they even ate from it. Since you have a few, only offer what they can eat in 24 hours. After this time, take out whatever is left. I feed my dairy cows twice a week, spray them three times a week and they went from 10 to 50 in two months Just make sure you always have leaf litter on hand. Did I forget to mention that your set up looks very ideal? Very nice and nicely done. Just feed, water and wait and you will have a lot of Isopods in no time

 

[marsdex]

FWIW, I find that my isopods enjoy the Repashy products more in the powder form, without mixing it up. I just sprinkle a couple little clumps of it in the tank and my Porcellio scaber go crazy.

 

[LizardStudent]

FWIW, I find that my isopods enjoy the Repashy products more in the powder form, without mixing it up. I just sprinkle a couple little clumps of it in the tank and my Porcellio scaber go crazy.

I do this as well and they seem to enjoy it more, and it seems to mold less frequently in their enclosures than if it's in gel form