Two kinds of little white worms in my isopod container

[blooms]

I set up an isopod container to breed isopods. I tossed in some fish food, dog food, cucumber and rabbit food on top of the peat. I have seen an explosion of little white worms. One kind is about a cm long and chunky. The other type is about a cm long but the thickness of human hair. Should I try to dig out the isopods and start over, or should I leave them be? Any ideas?

 

[Pacmaster]

Sounds like fruit fly maggots to me . . .

Reduce the amount of food given.

 

[Matt K]

Worms = severe overfeeding. All you need are some dead leaves and a chunck of carrot. And maybe a very small piece of squash from time to time. They do not eat much until you have ALOT of them....

 

[blooms]

I read somewhere that they like oak leaves. I don't think i can get oak and I know some leaves could be toxic. I'm wondering would banana leaves or old palm fronds work? How about leaves from my garden...okra? chili pepper? Would these leaves work? For that matter, how about lettuce or cabbage leaves? Or rubber tree plant leaves from my ficus?

 

[Matt K]

Oak leaves or any leaves froma hardwood tree are what you are looking for, not just any leaf from any plant. What part of the world (country) are you in anyway?

 

[blooms]

I'm in China. I've not seen an oak tree anywhere around here. What other kinds of trees would be considered hardwoods?

 

[Matt K]

Not to state the seemingly obvious, but what kind of trees are growing near where you live?

Hardwood trees for the most part either make a fruit, nut, or are used to make furniture. You would want any of them that make a leaf, but not if it makes a needle like a pine tree.

I am in the USA and Googling trees in China led me in many directions and I dont know what province you live in. Use your computer and you can find answers.....

Maple? Dogwood? Crepe Myrtle? Teak? Mahogany? Bamboo leaves? There should be several species of hardwood trees in your area. China is full of them.

 

[blooms]

Thanks. I live in NE china. The reason i asked about palms, ficus and banana are first that I have some of those that i grow in containers, so i know they are pollution/pesticide free. Second, the isopods I got originally came off of a dying palm tree. Third, my Chinese is limited, and I wouldn't begin to know how to translate the names of trees. I googled those different types of trees and found that both palms and ficus are hardwoods, so problem solved. Thanks.