isopods cannibalism/death or moulting?
- Thread starter JHS
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- Dec 10, 2006
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I think that you're more likely to get a decent response from a palm reader than myself, but perhaps a few questions will give me an edge against the Mysterious Gupta. Let's play science for a moment and see how much we all really want to come to a conclusion about this.
1. How many isopods did you start with?
2. How many did you end up with (exact numbers are helpful)?
3. Do you see remains?
4. Do the remains look like translucent white husks/shells? (that's what molts [or "moults" if you're in the UK] look like)
5. How long have the isopods been in this container of questionable-chemical-origin and hyper-sterility?
All isopods die and molt. The question is...well, at least five.
1. How many isopods did you start with?
2. How many did you end up with (exact numbers are helpful)?
3. Do you see remains?
4. Do the remains look like translucent white husks/shells? (that's what molts [or "moults" if you're in the UK] look like)
5. How long have the isopods been in this container of questionable-chemical-origin and hyper-sterility?
All isopods die and molt. The question is...well, at least five.
yea, sorry i forgot to mention that there are remains.
I figured it was most likely moulting or death. I really only need to know if its cannibalism, so i can transfer to larger enclosure if it is.
I dont know how many i started with, but i havent lost significant numbers at all. I cleaned the baby wipes box with a mixture of warm water,white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. they have even started colonizing. Ive seen a couple dozen babys just in plain sight and it took about a month or more, so im assuming living conditions are at least up to par. I gathered them from outside my house and it looks like there are three different kinds. dont know if that is a problem for any reason? I was also wondering if they will eat the live babys?
---------- Post added 02-27-2013 at 02:55 PM ----------
just looked on your site and it seems i have a mix of gray and calico porcellio and a few armadillidium.
I figured it was most likely moulting or death. I really only need to know if its cannibalism, so i can transfer to larger enclosure if it is.
I dont know how many i started with, but i havent lost significant numbers at all. I cleaned the baby wipes box with a mixture of warm water,white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. they have even started colonizing. Ive seen a couple dozen babys just in plain sight and it took about a month or more, so im assuming living conditions are at least up to par. I gathered them from outside my house and it looks like there are three different kinds. dont know if that is a problem for any reason? I was also wondering if they will eat the live babys?
---------- Post added 02-27-2013 at 02:55 PM ----------
just looked on your site and it seems i have a mix of gray and calico porcellio and a few armadillidium.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2006
- Messages
- 721
They are known to cannibalize. It is probably more likely if they don't have other food options. I've never seen one eat a baby, but it would seem to follow that those would be an easier meal than an adult.
I don't see a lot of cannibalism in my bins. More likely, you may be seeing the effects of scavenging when an animal has already died or is weak and they feed on it as they would most any other organic remains. It's not too uncommon to see a little bit of mystery die-off in a new tank of WC isopods.
I'm not sure what a larger enclosure would offer. Cannibals still need to eat.
Anyway, it sounds like your colony is off to a roaring start. Thanks for the additional info.
I don't see a lot of cannibalism in my bins. More likely, you may be seeing the effects of scavenging when an animal has already died or is weak and they feed on it as they would most any other organic remains. It's not too uncommon to see a little bit of mystery die-off in a new tank of WC isopods.
I'm not sure what a larger enclosure would offer. Cannibals still need to eat.
Anyway, it sounds like your colony is off to a roaring start. Thanks for the additional info.