Feeding Isopods

[musihuto]

I was just wondering... do isopods actually need any food,
or do they just eat plant matter found in the substrate? (like coco fibre, peat, soil, etc)

thanks!
- munis

 

[Bigboy]

They eat left over bits of food, and plant matter. Wouldn't hurt to give them a few oak or maple leaves to chow down on every now and then.

 

[Scourge]

I usually put a bit of flaked fish food in there with 'em, they seem to eat it.

 

[the_frog_kid]

as i have said fish food is not good or inverts because of the phosphorus
i feen mine coco fiber ,mites, dead roaches , spilled roach diet and other decaying matter




thanx froggy

 

[Timmy]

Isopods are the 'rolley pollies', right? If so, what use do you have for those?

 

[the_frog_kid]

they keep tanks clean
eat extra food and eat mites if you have the right specie
and yes they are rolly polies




thanx froggy

 

[Kimo]

What are those right species? Could I somehow collect them from outside somehow, because I can not find them in my country.Thanks!

 

[bugmankeith]

I've seen them munch on cat or dog kibble,romaine lettuce,apples,carrots,white bread, and then you have the natural stuff from outside like leaves and such.

 

[musihuto]

well... ok, see my main question is, if their purpose is to "clean up" how do i know if there's enough stuff for them to clean up? or if i feed them, will they be satisfied with the food i'm giving them and neglect their clean-up duties?

thanks!
- munis

 

[the_frog_kid]

they will eat the roach left overs and if your roaches have food the isopodes have food
ie always have food lol




thanx froggy

 

[P.jasonius]

I was considering getting some isopods for my tank, did you get them from a supplier or collect them wild? Does anyone sell them sanitized? The dangers are probably minimal, and maybe I'm just being anal, but I don't want to infect my tank with anything.

 

[the_frog_kid]

why would you need them sanitized
they are cleaners
thats their purpose
lol
i collect them and culture them then use the young by the thousand
and my colonie just died out lol i didnt water them enough
gotta go find more lol




thanx froggy

 

[Digby Rigby]

Sanitized...for your protection

I do believe he means captive born and bred. So as not to introduce parasites or pesticides or other contaminants into his cultures. They are scavengers. You can feed them dandruff flakes, scabs, toe jam, puss;P , molds, fungus, molted skins, aka feces,:} , as well as fresh foods always good to give them dead leaves. Depending on species some can be good feeders, like the pygmy and dwarf white isopods as well as the philoscia, in fact send me a private message with your name and phone number and we can get you more info on availability and such of captive bred.

DigbyRigby@exoticfeeders.com

My feeders are cooler than your pets!:razz: