Isopods and millipedes

[Jonathan6303]

I really would like to get in to the hobby. I was wondering what were good beginner species. I was looking at the a. klugii but I don’t know if that is an advanced species. What are the most colorful beginner species for millipedes and isopods.

 

[xXTristinaXx]

Idk for millipede, I just have a giant African millipede but bumble bees ik are easy and ivory, these are pretty common and h to err are a few other very similar ones. What’s your budget? I can list you a few good isopod species, clowns are definitely not hard and are super active

 

[Jonathan6303]

Idk for millipede, I just have a giant African millipede but bumble bees ik are easy and ivory, these are pretty common and h to err are a few other very similar ones. What’s your budget? I can list you a few good isopod species, clowns are definitely not hard and are super active

For isopods(sorry I’m going to use some common names) I saw the zebra stripe species, Armadillidium gestroi looks really cool, the powders are alright not my favorite, dairy cow is a little tempting, Porcellio sp. I like, and Cubaris are really cool. I would do fine with bumblebee millipedes. Isopods are relatively cheap so I’m not to concerned. I would probably get 1 sp of isopod for now.

 

[xXTristinaXx]

I love cubaris species, some cheaper ones are murinas (papaya are one of the prettiest), pak chong, panda kings, and rubber duckies are pretty cheap from the right places. Diary cows are dirt cheap so you could get them with another isopod species if you want to. All the armadillidium species work great. I’m about to buy some gestroi myself along with quite a few other species.

 

[Farouche]

Porcellio laevis (dairy cows and other) are very easy and reproduce fast. Armadillidium vulgare adapt to various conditions including drier one, and you can find different colour morphs like punta cana or magic potions if the regular ones are too drab to your tastes. But I don't think you'll have any issue with A. klugii or gestroi if they're the ones you like! They're not difficult.

I tend to like the Porcellio species like P. haasi, P. ornatus and such because they're larger and colorful, but many are also not very tolerant of very moist conditions; and they don't reproduce as quickly as P. laevis so starting a colony may be frustrating to beginers. I don't recommend you start with Cubaris species but if you want to go that route, the murina are the least fussy.

I would advise to not start with a too huge container if you have few individuals or they won't reproduce easily, but definitively don't cram them in a tiny box either or you won't be able to get any sort of humidity gradient in there. Gradients are your best friends to minimize mistakes, it will give enough room for your critters to adapt and go where they feel the best. If you see them always on the dry side, maybe there is too much moisture overall. If they're only ever in the moist side, maybe the habitat is too dry for them. You can provide small piecess of cork bark in different places or larger ones that cross the entire length of the setup and you will often find your pods there.

On a last note, I've found it helpful to put springtails with my isopods (and millipedes), they will prevent fungal bloom by eating mold and keeping everything clean, they won't bother your critters (but do take away leftover food within 24-36h 'cause sprintails can't make miracles either if there is rotting food in there).

I hope that helps!

 

[Aquarimax]

I really would like to get in to the hobby. I was wondering what were good beginner species. I was looking at the a. klugii but I don’t know if that is an advanced species. What are the most colorful beginner species for millipedes and isopods.

You can’t go wrong with Armadillidium maculatum’Zebra’ as a beginner isopod and bumblebee or ivory millipedes as beginner millipedes.
I love Porcellio laevis ‘Dairy Cow’, but many beginners are not prepared for it’s very prolific nature.

 

[xXTristinaXx]

You can’t go wrong with Armadillidium maculatum’Zebra’ as a beginner isopod and bumblebee or ivory millipedes as beginner millipedes.
I love Porcellio laevis ‘Dairy Cow’, but many beginners are not prepared for it’s very prolific nature.

Dairy Cows are too easy to care for

 

[Jonathan6303]

Yea. I don’t really want to be hands deep(literally) in p laevis dairy cow

 

[xXTristinaXx]

Yea. I don’t really want to be hands deep(literally) in p laevis dairy cow

There super aggressive too, I hand feed them dog food that they’ll readily take and they’ll literally carry it under a leaf or cork bark and I’ve seen them fight over it and play tug war

 

[Egon]

I have Armadillidium maculatum (zebra isopods) in my bioactive snake enclosure and really like them. In addition to their clean up duties, they are very attractive. I've kept ivory millipedes and really like their look and the fact that they like to hang out on the surface quite a bit, so you get to see them often.

Good luck.

 

[Jonathan6303]

You can’t go wrong with Armadillidium maculatum’Zebra’ as a beginner isopod and bumblebee or ivory millipedes as beginner millipedes.
I love Porcellio laevis ‘Dairy Cow’, but many beginners are not prepared for it’s very prolific nature.

I love the Armadillidium maculatum ’Zebra’ look. Totally getting these. Thank you for all the amazing videos. I really enjoy them.