Isopod collection trip to bring in new blood.

[Gail]

So it was super nice today, the warmest it has been. I needed some rotten wood for my collection and decided that while I was at it, I'd see what new specimens I could collect while out hiking in the woods for... well... wood. I did come across some premium rotted logs - the kind that are just moist sponge - isopod Ambrosia. Collected about 1.5 pounds of it. For this stuff, I actually did go through the bother of baking it to ensure no pests since I wanted to use it in the enclosures for my more expensive isopods.

Here are pics of some of the new skirted beauties I found several caches of. Setting up a new colony with these as they were collected far from home and obviously not related to those I have collected more locally. I like to keep the localities separated to see what colors come up, then selectively breed across cultures. In all I collected about 20 to 25 individuals, with one that has significantly lighter skirting.

 

[Edoggerson]

What state are you in that it's warm enough to find isos, or more importantly what's the weather like for you? Those O. Asellus (I believe) are very pretty, especially the bottom one. Over here in PA it's still only 55-70 so there hasn't been many buggies.

 

[Gail]

What state are you in that it's warm enough to find isos, or more importantly what's the weather like for you? Those O. Asellus (I believe) are very pretty, especially the bottom one. Over here in PA it's still only 55-70 so there hasn't been many buggies.

Actually I am in PA - just outside of Pittsburgh. I was out for a walk at lunch today and collected three more skirted isopods in the park up the road from me. Took a peek under a fallen log just off the path and there they were This species is pretty cold tolerant, but I have also recently collected a. vulgare from my back yard as well.

 

[Edoggerson]

Actually I am in PA - just outside of Pittsburgh. I was out for a walk at lunch today and collected three more skirted isopods in the park up the road from me. Took a peek under a fallen log just off the path and there they were This species is pretty cold tolerant, but I have also recently collected a. vulgare from my back yard as well.

Im taking a trip to the forest today with a hammer for log peeling and hoping I bring back some new ones! I'm towards philly in the suburbs, conveniently at an oak grove for leaf litter/hardwood too . I was afraid it's too cold to find any right now but I'm wrong clearly

 

[Edoggerson]

Actually I am in PA - just outside of Pittsburgh. I was out for a walk at lunch today and collected three more skirted isopods in the park up the road from me. Took a peek under a fallen log just off the path and there they were This species is pretty cold tolerant, but I have also recently collected a. vulgare from my back yard as well.

Update! Went out and hunted for a long while today, awesome finds on Oniscus Asellus! 5 juveniles and one bigger juve, made them a sweet crib!

 

[Gail]

Update! Went out and hunted for a long while today, awesome finds on Oniscus Asellus! 5 juveniles and one bigger juve, made them a sweet crib!

Excellent! So glad you were able to find some! The are a lovely isopod and given the right conditions, breed quite well. The thing you need to watch out for with Oniscus asellus is to not over heat them. They will tolerate other 'mistakes' fairly well - such as too damp or too dry for a short time - but if you heat them up too much (or let it get too hot in your bug room during the summer months) they can start to die off quickly and those that survive won't breed as well.

Also, if you want them to reach really incredible sizes, keep the population density low in your colonies and feed them a diet rich in minerals and rotted wood (or Morning Wood). I keep crushed cuttle bone available to most of my 'pods, but make especially sure my skirts have plenty.

 

[Edoggerson]

Excellent! So glad you were able to find some! The are a lovely isopod and given the right conditions, breed quite well. The thing you need to watch out for with Oniscus asellus is to not over heat them. They will tolerate other 'mistakes' fairly well - such as too damp or too dry for a short time - but if you heat them up too much (or let it get too hot in your bug room during the summer months) they can start to die off quickly and those that survive won't breed as well.

Also, if you want them to reach really incredible sizes, keep the population density low in your colonies and feed them a diet rich in minerals and rotted wood (or Morning Wood). I keep crushed cuttle bone available to most of my 'pods, but make especially sure my skirts have plenty.

Oh temp isn't a problem, it's usually about 65-68 in my house at room temps. Their diet is likely going to be all morning wood and veggies, and egg shells sprinkled throughout. Cheers and thanks for all the tips!

 

[Gail]

~Cheers and thanks for all the tips!

You are most welcome