What species of isopod are these and can i culture them?

[Bunyan van Asten]

Hey everyone! I have a 'terrarium' (plastic container) with a few local insects, but i keep seeing these mini isopods every now and then, ever since the beginning and they haven't grown, they're white and have a black spot on the back of thier back. What species could this be and how can i culture them as a cleaning crew?

 

[Ellenantula]

Could it be Armadillidium vulgare -- like, a common wood louse/roly-poly/pill bug?
Google the name -- you're in best position to ID.

[these seem to be common in many places around the world -- but I've been wrong before and will be again -- lol]

 

[Bunyan van Asten]

O

Could it be Armadillidium vulgare -- like, a common wood louse/roly-poly/pill bug?
Google the name -- you're in best position to ID.

[these seem to be common in many places around the world -- but I've been wrong before and will be again -- lol]

Oh no, i mean the really tiny isopod in front of the bigger one, it's probably unidentifiable because of the blur.

 

[Ellenantula]

Oh -- those aren't just nymphs of the wood louse?
That would have been my guess.

 

[LawnShrimp]

There are many species of small, pale isopods. The first that come to my
mind are T. tomentosa but since they are a tropical sp. they could not coexist with the Oniscus shown here. The picture is not clear enough to tell what sp. this is, but try searching for species in the Trichoniscidae family.

As far as culturing them, prepare a small container with similar features to your larger terrarium. Any time you see a small isopod, remove it and place it there. If conditions are right, then they will breed and can be used as cleaners.

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Those are probably baby Oniscus. Oftentimes females will give birth immediately after capture, and it takes a little while for them to start growing.

 

[Bunyan van Asten]

There are many species of small, pale isopods. The first that come to my
mind are T. tomentosa but since they are a tropical sp. they could not coexist with the Oniscus shown here. The picture is not clear enough to tell what sp. this is, but try searching for species in the Trichoniscidae family.

As far as culturing them, prepare a small container with similar features to your larger terrarium. Any time you see a small isopod, remove it and place it there. If conditions are right, then they will breed and can be used as cleaners.

Will do! I already placed a few in a smaller container i keep a bit of moss inside of.

 

[LawnShrimp]

My guess is also baby isopods, often known as 'mancae'. Depending on how long it's been since capture of the larger ones, they may just have not grown. Regardless, culturing them can't hurt.

 

[Bunyan van Asten]

My guess is also baby isopods, often known as 'mancae'. Depending on how long it's been since capture of the larger ones, they may just have not grown. Regardless, culturing them can't hurt.

I caught them about a week ago and the small ones were in the moss.

 

[Deanimator]

Something very similar photographed last night on the wall of my apartment building:

 

[LawnShrimp]

That is Armadillidium nasatum.