What eats isopods?

[Nephaleim]

Can somebody PLEASE tell me what creature will eat isopods? I need to know for a jar terrarium. The isopods are reproducing fast, and I need something to complete the food chain.

 

[StampFan]

Pretty much everything carnivorous on this forum will eat isopods. Tarantulas and centipedes.

Is this one of those sealed jar terrariums like I see on Youtube? If so, that's a problem, the isopods will eat every bit of vegetation in sight and break down the ecosystem.

If its a locally caught jar terrarium, try some Lithobius stone centipedes if you can find them. They will clear out the baby isopods.

 

[BepopCola]

Scarites (big-headed beetles) like to pick off weak or dead isopods.

 

[schmiggle]

Dysdera crocata is specialized on isopods.

 

[Penn]

I second Dysdera crocata. They are quite a common species to find. Here is one I found in the spring. Those giant chelicerae and fangs are specialized to pierce the exoskeletons of isopods.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Yea woodlouse hunters are great!

 

[viper69]

Can somebody PLEASE tell me what creature will eat isopods? I need to know for a jar terrarium. The isopods are reproducing fast, and I need something to complete the food chain.

Arachnids

 

[Nephaleim]

Pretty much everything carnivorous on this forum will eat isopods. Tarantulas and centipedes.

Is this one of those sealed jar terrariums like I see on Youtube? If so, that's a problem, the isopods will eat every bit of vegetation in sight and break down the ecosystem.

If its a locally caught jar terrarium, try some Lithobius stone centipedes if you can find them. They will clear out the baby isopods.

Yup! It is. I've taken out the adults, but the babies are everywhere. I placed two centipedes in there and a wolf spider a while back. I'm not sure if they are doing something to lower the populations but we will see.
I'm currently on the lookout for the woodlouse hunter spider.

 

[Royalty]

The only thing is now you will need something to eat those if their population gets too wild. I think some mice or shrews would eat them...then you can maybe get a snake for the mice...hm

 

[DaveM]

Not I.
I draw the line at marine crustaceans.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Not I.
I draw the line at marine crustaceans.

Who keeps cooked shrimp and what is their care?

 

[The Toecutter]

If they come with gravy, and a biscuit I'll eat em.

 

[schmiggle]

Who keeps cooked shrimp and what is their care?

If they come with gravy, and a biscuit I'll eat em.

I tend to find that they do best with a spicy sauce and some rice, though as Toecutter said some people have had success with biscuits and gravy. Supposedly they can also be reared in martini glasses, a setup usually known as a "cocktail."

 

[DaveM]

Who keeps cooked shrimp and what is their care?

That's a great point, one I forgot to mention. I should have specified that my stomach usually takes care of them, with very little effort other than shoving them in my mouth, chewing, and swallowing.

But back to OP's probable intention: I expect that isopods are nutritious to a wide variety of organisms. I wonder if we could eat them as a last-resort survival food. With the splendid diversity of people here on AB, I'm hopeful that someone here will try, reporting back to us on taste, texture, and any ill effects. For myself, I'm sticking to my original position: Not I.

 

[Penn]

That's a great point, one I forgot to mention. I should have specified that my stomach usually takes care of them, with very little effort other than shoving them in my mouth, chewing, and swallowing.

But back to OP's probable intention: I expect that isopods are nutritious to a wide variety of organisms. I wonder if we could eat them as a last-resort survival food. With the splendid diversity of people here on AB, I'm hopeful that someone here will try, reporting back to us on taste, texture, and any ill effects. For myself, I'm sticking to my original position: Not I.

Check youtube. Apparently they are pleasant tasting.