Isopods a danger?

[EpicEpic]

I bought 25 dwarf tropical isopods from Josh Frogs. I then asked which other species I could put in to the enclosure.

The response much to my surprise was "Remove the spider, as isopods will chew on it when it is soft and molting"

I thought Isopods were safe to use.

Should I move her and throw away the isopod culture?

Very confused.

Thanks for always helping guys,
Peter

 

[BoyFromLA]

Should I move her and throw away the isopod culture?

Well, just keep them separate.

 

[EpicEpic]

Well, just keep them separate.

I know a lot of people here keep isopods with their T's. Hoping to hear some more opinions.

 

[BoyFromLA]

I know a lot of people here keep isopods with their T's. Hoping to hear some more opinions.

It depends on the situation. For what tarantulas, with how many isopods, in what enclosure contion.

 

[EpicEpic]

It depends on the situation. For what tarantulas, with how many isopods, in what enclosure contion.

25 dwarfs, P. cambrodgei, 6 X 6 X 12 roughly.

 

[BoyFromLA]

25 dwarfs, P. cambrodgei, 6 X 6 X 12 roughly.

If you ask me, I wouldn’t put any isopods in Psalmopoeus cambridgei enclosure. For I’d keep it dry, with minimal substrate.

 

[NMTs]

Every time I've ever tried to put isopods in with my T's they just end up getting eaten, or at least murdered. It's funny watching a 5" T try to catch and eat 1/4" isopods,

 

[EpicEpic]

If you ask me, I wouldn’t put any isopods in Psalmopoeus cambridgei enclosure. For I’d keep it dry, with minimal substrate.

I've always kept it slightly moist as advised here few years ago.. Then added springtails and dwarf isopods.

[Edit] it's a tough tank to navigate/clean. Arboreal and cluttered so I figured id add a janitorial crew to help with poop, bolus and such.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Those bugs are incredibly overrated, I never bothered with those. Just the old good spot on cleaning + the proper ventilation. Done.

 

[me and my Ts]

Dwarf whites are tiny and they need a more tropical substrate, so cambridgei probably wouldn’t be the best option but they wouldn’t hurt the tarantula I don’t think

 

[Dorifto]

Hi peter!!

They will ate your finger if you place it in their enclosure!! Be caref....


No, they won't pose any threat, even less if you got some trichorhinas.

Only the bigger ones "can" pose a real risk, and in very specific ocasions, like if they were starving etc, and even in those cases, the T should be very weak or very vulnerable.

People should understand that they stay away from Ts, as Ts are predators of them, if they can, they will exterminate them, specially the small ts.

This is what they are really interested:
View attachment VID_20220714_013203.mp4

Ps: it's a bolus

 

[liquidfluidity]

I've used dwarf whites, dwarf purples, and Montenegro Clowns. No issues other than the clowns like to chew on live plants, so, I threw in some leaf litter and that slowed that down.

 

[Matt Man]

Isopods are pretty damn pricey these days. If you can set up a swank bioactive like @Dorifto they can have value. In standard terrariums, they are typically too dry for the Isopods to do well, or if damp enough for the Isopods to thrive, too damp for the T.
@dorito, what lights are you using to keep your plants so healthy?

 

[Dorifto]

In standard terrariums, they are typically too dry for the Isopods to do well, or if damp enough for the Isopods to thrive, too damp for the T.

I keep my enclosures far from damp, they don't need so much moisture, just moist humid spots to hide. Once night arrives they go out and look for food. Adding some leafs, small cork peaces and keeping that side moister should be enough to thrive them.

The video was just after watering the plants so obviously it's moister than usual

what lights are you using to keep your plants so healthy?

I managed to get two 120cm fish tanks light for cheap, I don't remember if I paid 40 or 60€ for both, something like that, but any full spectrum led stripe or lamp should work flawlesly.

 

[EpicEpic]

I've decided I'm going to remove them and rehouse to be on safe side (could've sworn they were considered safe 2 years ago lol) Do you think any may have went to a nearby enclosure and post a threat to any other specimen? Theyd have to get out, and climb down and up a little bookshelf. Should i even be worried at all? Are these really that dangerous? Btw hi @Dorifto

Thanks for responses guys.

 

[Dorifto]

I've decided I'm going to remove them and rehouse to be on safe side (could've sworn they were considered safe 2 years ago lol) Do you think any may have went to a nearby enclosure and post a threat to any other specimen? Theyd have to get out, and climb down and up a little bookshelf. Should i even be worried at all? Are these really that dangerous? Btw hi @Dorifto

Thanks for responses guys.

Trichorhina tomentosas (dwarf whites) are harmsless, so there isn't a risk, as they only will feed from death items, they don't hunt actively, at least not preys bigger than them.

So do not worry.

Only with bigger species like scabers I'd keep an eye on them. And with keep an eye, I mean to check that they have an easy food source. As long as they have food, they will stay away from Ts, and even without it, they will try to stay away.

If you want to remove any dwarf white that got in any other enclosure, simply place a fruit slice inside and wait.

 

[EpicEpic]

Trichorhina tomentosas (dwarf whites) are harmsless, so there was any risk, as they only will feed from death items, they don't hunt actively, at least not preys bigger than them.

So do not worry.

Only with bigger species like scabers I'd keep an eye on them. And with keep an eye, I mean to check that they have an easy food source. As long as they have food, they will stay away from Ts, and even without it, they will try to stay away.

If you want to remove any dwarf white that got in any other enclosure, simply place a fruit slice inside and wait.

Thank you so much man. I won't worry now and get the rehouse done with time instead of rushing. I appreciate the help.

 

[Dorifto]

Thank you so much man. I won't worry now and get the rehouse done with time instead of rushing. I appreciate the help.

You are welcome my friend

Personally, I would not remove them, as they will get rid of boluses and mold outbreaks. Also 25 is a very small quantity, I have tenths if not hundreds of bigger species like pruinosus, laevis and some scaber, zero issues.

A lot the myth came because they get rid of any decaying or dead bodies, so what happens if a T dissapears? Isopods? Nope, pretty sure that it was dead prior to isopods getting nearby.

I personally saw a scaber dragging a dying small roach, and that's why I recommend smaller species and only with bigger Ts, to be even safer.

Should I post her again?

IMG_20181128_171014.jpg

• Dorifto
• Jul 19, 2022
• 18

Tarantula vs isopods