Isopods (Bioactive Clean-Up Crew)

Isopods are a bioactive clean-up crew — they break down waste, leaf litter and mould in terrariums and vivariums.

Keep them in a bioactive terrarium or vivarium with leaf litter and a moist zone at moderate to high humidity.

Leaf litter, decaying wood, and calcium and protein supplements.

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Hardy, fast-breeding species make the best clean-up crew. Dwarf white isopods (Trichorhina tomentosa) suit small, humid tropical vivariums. Porcellio scaber and Porcellio laevis suit larger or drier setups. Collector species such as Rubber Ducky isopods (Cubaris sp.) breed slowly and are better kept as display isopods. Our clean-up crew is a hardy, beginner-friendly culture. WhatsApp +91 81416 96983 to confirm the current species.

Give them a moisture gradient: damp at one end, barely moist at the other. Add a thick layer of leaf litter, some rotting wood and cuttlebone for calcium. Keep them at about 20–28°C, out of direct sun, with real airflow. Mist only the damp side. Summer heat is the main risk in India, as our isopods in India guide explains.

Yes, lightly. Leaf litter and rotting wood are their staple food, so keep both topped up. Dried Indian almond leaves work well. Animal waste and mould alone rarely sustain a colony. Leave cuttlebone in for calcium, and once or twice a week offer a pinch of fish flakes or a thin slice of carrot. Remove leftover flakes or carrot after 24–48 hours.

Only lightly. A working bioactive enclosure should not be stripped and scrubbed, because isopods and springtails break down waste and most mould for you. Remove uneaten food and large droppings, wipe the glass with plain water, top up leaf litter and trim plants. Replace the substrate only if it turns sour, stays waterlogged or smells, which usually means poor airflow or overwatering.

An isopod is a small crustacean, not an insect: a relative of crabs and shrimp with a flat, segmented body and seven pairs of legs. Land isopods such as woodlice and pill bugs eat leaf litter, decaying wood and waste, which is why keepers use them as a bioactive clean-up crew in terrariums and vivariums.

No. The land isopods kept in bioactive setups do not bite, sting or carry venom, and they are safe to handle. The huge “giant isopod” seen online is a different, deep-sea marine species. As with any live culture, wash your hands after handling the substrate.