Q&A for How to Breed Isopods

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How do you tell a male isopod from a female?

Community Answer

Most of the time the uropods will tell which gender your isopod is. Males often have a longer last pair of legs. There are also some kinds which have differently coloured segmental plates. Porcellio silvestri females shine with a full and bright orange while the males are more plain in general.

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Question

How big of a tank should you have?

Community Answer

Any clear container can be used but a 5 or 10 gallon aquarium is recommended. Add bark or some other flat material to provide hiding places for the isopods.

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Question

Can I use decaying wood dirt too? I can't use sand.

Buglover848

Community Answer

Yes, you may use decaying wood dirt. In the wild, pill bugs feed on decaying wood.

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Question

I have mites in my reptile cage and am trying to save the isopods before I disinfect and de-mite the cage. Do isopods get mites on them and can they re-infest the lizard when I put them back?

Aliyah Adkins

Community Answer

Isopods, like many other insects, can get infected by invasive mites that tend to eat insects alive. This can be a big problem when it comes to the health of the reptile as well. Instead of risking giving the reptile infested isopods, you would be better off killing them or letting them go.

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Question

My pill bug is blackish what does that mean?

Aliyah Adkins

Community Answer

It is common for pill bugs to be dark in color. Some are even completely black.

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Question

Should my tank be closed or covered or leave open for fresh air?

Itzveamo

Community Answer

Drill holes in the side of the tub, three or more on each side, so you can have a lid,

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Question

Can you have only 10 to 15?

Itzveamo

Community Answer

The author above did say 20 is good. You can't control how many you have after they breed. So the simple answer is no, you can have over 20, unless you mean the vivarium. That's probably only for the breeding. Then just let 'em go at it.

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Question

Why do you say on caring #4 as an alternative to release them outside? That could alter our environment. They should be frozen first to cull then dispose. Be careful! Breed responsibly.

Community Answer

Pillbugs are everywhere. They are very common throughout the world. Releasing a few more isn't going to hurt the environment. Just more for birds and spiders to eat.

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Question

Can isopods eat fresh-fallen leaves?

Itzveamo

Community Answer

They eat decaying matter, you should bake them to make them more crunchy and decaying, baking is mostly used for disinfecting the leaves.

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Question

What is an easy way to tell if a rollie-pollie is female or male?

Itzveamo

Community Answer

Look at the stomach, or the spikes at their back end, the males have long ones and the females have shorter ones, the stomach difference is for specific species, like the terrestrial isopod. The males have more spiky looking stomaches, with longer spike-like "scales", the females will look like they have spiky bellies, but way shorter than the males stomach "scales."

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Question

Can a 10-year-old breed them?

Community Answer

Absolutely! Ask your parents to be sure it's OK.

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