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- Oct 23, 2007
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- 1,145
Since all my tanks are natural settups, I always add a selection of isopods to my vivariums.
In my large semi-aquatic tank that I have been running for 2 years I had isopods that maxed out at 1-1.5 cm in size. They did extremely well.
Until I added my Vietnamese Mossy Frogs.
Well let's just say all the large isopods disappeared and I only saw babies and juveniles (maxing out at 0.25cm). My first thought was all the adults had been consumed and only could reach a point where they could lay some eggs before they were devoured.
But after I removed the frogs after 8 months of Froggy carnage I still noticed that there were no "adult" isopods. Now 3 months later I finally realize my previous assumption was only half valid. All the large adults were eaten, but a "pygmy" size of isopod that went unoticed by the frogs developed. The genes for a larger isopod were weeded out completely. The population keeps breeding, but no 1-1.5cm isopods have been witnessed for nearly a year. Instead all my rotting leaf litter is covered by 0.25cm isopods, which are prolific breedings, great detrivores, and no predator seems to care about them.
Just a random blurb I thought I'd share.
In my large semi-aquatic tank that I have been running for 2 years I had isopods that maxed out at 1-1.5 cm in size. They did extremely well.
Until I added my Vietnamese Mossy Frogs.
Well let's just say all the large isopods disappeared and I only saw babies and juveniles (maxing out at 0.25cm). My first thought was all the adults had been consumed and only could reach a point where they could lay some eggs before they were devoured.
But after I removed the frogs after 8 months of Froggy carnage I still noticed that there were no "adult" isopods. Now 3 months later I finally realize my previous assumption was only half valid. All the large adults were eaten, but a "pygmy" size of isopod that went unoticed by the frogs developed. The genes for a larger isopod were weeded out completely. The population keeps breeding, but no 1-1.5cm isopods have been witnessed for nearly a year. Instead all my rotting leaf litter is covered by 0.25cm isopods, which are prolific breedings, great detrivores, and no predator seems to care about them.
Just a random blurb I thought I'd share.
