First Time Isopod Terrarium Advice

[Stygia]

I've recently made a terrarium that seems to have settled in quite well and hosts a population of springtails, some nematodes and maybe a few fungus gnats (the later two seem to have snuck in on some moss I got outside). I've been thinking of adding some isopods to add bigger critters to look at but wanted to make sure it'd be okay before doing so and wouldn't just result in a bunch of dead isopods. I guess I have a number of questions it'd be nice to have cleared up:

Is the terrarium I have large enough for a self sustaining isopod population? (picture attached)

Will they harm my mosses and plants? I'm pretty sure they wont but figured I'd ask.

Is getting isopods from outside a pest risk? What can I do to mitigate that?

My substrate contains orchid bark and sphagnum moss which I assume will be their primary diet, is it likely they will consume all of this in a short time and I will have to supplement their food supply? If so what sort of feeding schedule would I be looking at? Would it be reasonable to stick in a larger interesting bit of wood in there for them to slowly munch on?

I've read isopods need calcium in their diet I assume for their shells, does sticking little bits of bone into the substrate help with this or should I get some supplements?

I want this to be a mostly self sustaining terrarium foremost, opening occasionally for maintenance so I guess if isopods would significantly up the maintenance that'd be good to know.

Thanks!

 

[Aquarimax]

In my opinion, adding isopods would increase the maintenance, especially of a small terrarium like that. I love isopods, but I think you are better off with the microfauna you already have for that particular Vivarium (which looks very nice, by the way.)

 

[Stygia]

Thanks! I guess I'll wait then until I have a larger terrarium that isn't as densely planted and can accept more leaf litter without covering everything up. Changing out the substrate on this one would feel really silly when I'd have to remove every plant just to get to it. I've just gotten into this hobby and I'm loving all the little critters that live in dirt!

 

[AuroraLights]

If you want a variety of sizes you might be able to find some different larger springtails. I have at least three different springtail species in my millipede vivarium and the largest are about 3mm. Admittedly not the scale of an isopod but I still find them fun to watch and easy to spot, and I know here in the UK there's at least one species twice that size (more than 1cm if you count the antenna as well!). I'm not sure what you have where you are, but I know that springtails come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours so I'm sure you could find a nice variety if you look hard enough.
I personally love watching my springtails, and I find it particularly interesting to see the differences in behaviour between the species and the ways they interact with one another. Plus, it means there's always something to look at even when my millipedes are all burrowed underground!

 

[StampFan]

Isopods would likely take over a little terrarium like that in no time. Some species breed like rabbits.

 

[Stygia]

If you want a variety of sizes you might be able to find some different larger springtails. I have at least three different springtail species in my millipede vivarium and the largest are about 3mm. Admittedly not the scale of an isopod but I still find them fun to watch and easy to spot, and I know here in the UK there's at least one species twice that size (more than 1cm if you count the antenna as well!). I'm not sure what you have where you are, but I know that springtails come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours so I'm sure you could find a nice variety if you look hard enough.
I personally love watching my springtails, and I find it particularly interesting to see the differences in behaviour between the species and the ways they interact with one another. Plus, it means there's always something to look at even when my millipedes are all burrowed underground!

Ooh that does sound fun, I've already seen a black springtail and I'm not sure if that was in the springtail kit I got online or if it was hiding in the outside moss I harvested. I'm in California and I don't think we have any giant ones but seeing lots of different ones would still be cool! Do you think the level of risk of disease/pests is acceptable to make a trap and gather wild springtails? Theres already some wild stuff in there but directly gathering bugs does seem a little more risky.

 

[Stygia]

Isopods would likely take over a little terrarium like that in no time. Some species breed like rabbits.

I've been reading forum posts on them and they actually do sound a bit terrifying with how voracious they are!

Wrong subforum but would small wild millipedes be something that could live in here? Apparently we have many greenhouse millipedes which stay quite small (1 inch), there's at least 3x their length in all directions. If they're a bit less voracious maybe their food needs would be easier to meet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_millipede

Oh although I'm reading they might nibble on live plants so maybe that's a bad idea lol

 

[AuroraLights]

Do you think the level of risk of disease/pests is acceptable to make a trap and gather wild springtails? Theres already some wild stuff in there but directly gathering bugs does seem a little more risky.

It's up to you really, but lots of people gather springtails from the wild to use in their bioactive enclosures so I think it should be fine, especially since you don't have any pet inverts. I guess there is a chance you might accidentally introduce a plant pest, but I would personally take that risk.

Wrong subforum but would small wild millipedes be something that could live in here? Apparently we have many greenhouse millipedes which stay quite small (1 inch), there's at least 3x their length in all directions. If they're a bit less voracious maybe their food needs would be easier to meet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_millipede

Oh although I'm reading they might nibble on live plants so maybe that's a bad idea lol

I've never kept small millipedes but I know that the giant ones are very fussy about their substrate, so I wouldn't recommend it. In particular orchid bark often comes from conifers and they contain oils that are bad for millipedes. Plus, I think you're right about that species nibbling on plants. I doubt they would while there were alternatives available but once the substrate got depleted or if they didn't like it that would probably be a different matter.
Maybe your next terrarium could be built with them in mind? Just use a safe and nutritious substrate (lots of white rotten wood and leaf litter, no conifer products or cocofibre) and leave a patch of substrate clear for adding leaf litter and rotten wood when they need a top up. Ideally most millipedes like their food mixed into the substrate, but if this species is adaptable enough to spread round the world in greenhouses I think it would probably be fine to just add stuff on the top.

 

[Stygia]

Alright that makes sense, gathering wild springtails and seeing all the varieties will be fun!

I have found a source of nice leaf litter conveniently near where I work so it'll be fun incorporating that into a millipede terrarium. Thanks for all the help!