Do your isopods escape without a lid?

[Gail]

I am curious as to what others experiences are with isopod enclosures that either are left without a lid or with a lid that has a ventilation window cut into it but no screening.

Personally, I have not had any escapes (yet, or that I have found). I use various sizes of clear plastic tubs - everything from shoe boxes to deeper tubs. On most, I cut large 'windows' in the lids for ventilation and/or drill a lot of holes - no screening over the holes/windows. For those species that really need good ventilation I keep them in deeper bins with no lid at all. I make sure that the plastic is clean and the substrate depth leaves at least 3" to the top of the container. They seem to be unable to climb the plastic, and also not really inclined to try. My collection has been getting a lot larger as of recent, what with on going color morph projects and new species added, so I figured I would ask here just to be sure that there isn't some escape disaster waiting to happen that I just have been lucky enough not to encounter yet

 

[Poonjab]

If isopods can climb glass or acrylic then your answer would be yes.

 

[Polenth]

They can't climb smooth plastic, so mine can't get to the lid (which has spaces big enough around the lid that they would be able to get through, if they could climb). But the lid helps keep in moisture and keep dust and debris out, so I wouldn't go without any sort of lid at all.

 

[goliathusdavid]

I keep mine with a lid, but have had a couple escapes when I have it off for maintenance. Interestingly enough the bin is smooth plastic so slightly in contradiction to @Polenth.

 

[Edan bandoot]

When I kept mine I kept them lidless, when sediment/minerals accumulate on the side of the enclosure they are able to climb out though, so be aware

 

[Dry Desert]

I keep mine with a lid, but have had a couple escapes when I have it off for maintenance. Interestingly enough the bin is smooth plastic so slightly in contradiction to @Polenth.

I think what is meant by smooth surface is either Acrylic or Glass, anything else they can get a foot hold on

 

[isopodgeek]

Isopods can't climb smooth surfaces. If you have any wood or leaves on the sides of the container close to the top, they will get out. Other than preventing escapees, a lid will help keep in humidity.

 

[ccTroi]

i keep mine in a container with a lid and ventilation holes with no screen. i haven’t had any escape. i make sure the materials in the container don’t allow for isopods to reach the holes. i keep them in containers that are around 5” tall so i don’t need crazy amounts of vent holes

 

[Matts inverts]

The lid is more for humidity and not letting other animals in. You would not need a lid for a dry species if you had tons of hides that are stuffed with sphag moss but I don’t think that’s a good idea especially with cats or other animals in the house

 

[Matts inverts]

You also risk losing them if you drop the tanks

 

[Polenth]

I keep mine with a lid, but have had a couple escapes when I have it off for maintenance. Interestingly enough the bin is smooth plastic so slightly in contradiction to @Polenth.

They can't climb a smooth surface... so if they can climb, it isn't smooth. Things can stop it being smooth, like dust and sediments building up on the side or damage to the surface. This is where high sides help, as it'd take a lot of dirt to make a ladder for them all the way to the top. I do wipe down the inside walls to prevent this.

 

[goliathusdavid]

They can't climb a smooth surface... so if they can climb, it isn't smooth. Things can stop it being smooth, like dust and sediments building up on the side or damage to the surface. This is where high sides help, as it'd take a lot of dirt to make a ladder for them all the way to the top. I do wipe down the inside walls to prevent this.

That makes sense. The leaf litter is also fairly high, perhaps sufficiently high enough to allow them to make the rest of the way on a semi-smooth surface.

 

[Gail]

Thank you everyone for your feedback on this, it has been super helpful. Having been away from the boards for some time and operating on my own, I was wondering if I had just been getting lucky, but your input all makes sense. I am a fanatic about keeping the sides of the containers clean and substrate/leaves/hides low enough that they can't be used as escape points, so as per your replies, those are likely my saving grace.

 

[Gail]

especially with cats or other animals in the house

Ah yes indeed, and I do have cats. But all my isopods are in a single room, with door and said wee beasties are not allowed in that room because, even with a lid, they would find a way to make a mess of things lol.