Everything we wish we’d known when we started.
Isopods are wonderfully low-maintenance compared to most exotic pets, but a few basics make a big difference. Below you’ll find quick-start care guide, answers to the questions we hear most, and a full directory of species-specific care & feeding guides that we offer.
🏠 Enclosure
A plastic shoebox-sized container with a snug-fitting lid and a few small ventilation holes works for most species. Bigger isn’t always better – a smaller enclosure helps you keep humidity stable.
🌱 Substrate
A base of 70% organic topsoil, 10% flake soil, 10% milled sphagnum moss, 8% organics(mushroom compost, earthworm castings and leaf litter) and 2% calcium. Add bark or cork pieces for hides.
💧 Humidity & Temperature
Keep one side of the enclosure moist and the other drier. Room temperature (68–78°F) is ideal for most species. Cubaris like it a little warmer and more humid.
🍃 Food
Leaf litter and decaying wood are the staples. Supplement once or twice a week with fish flake, dried mealworms, or vegetable scraps. Add a calcium source (cuttlebone is easy).
Find your species below for a dedicated care page covering temperature, humidity, diet, and keeper tips. New guides are added as colonies are profiled – check back as our library grows.
Species without a linked guide yet show as plain textcoming soon
Armadillidium
Hardy roly-polies that tolerate a wide range of conditions – excellent for first-time keepers.
Cubaris
More temperamental, with stricter humidity and temperature needs. Kept primarily as display pets – many are stunning.
Nesodillo
Striking white and pale-bodied species prized for their translucent coloration.
Porcellio
Fast-moving, prolific isopods that work well as feeders and charismatic display species – generally hardy and easy to keep.
Porcellionides
Smaller and faster than Porcellio, with vivid coloration.
Dwarf & Other Species
Tiny species – some for cleanup crew others just are cool to look at!
Trogodillo
Compact, soil-dwelling species with understated but distinctive markings.
Not at this time. We sell in person at reptile shows and offer free local pickup and delivery within 30 miles of Escondido, CA. Outside that range we can arrange delivery for a small fee.
We’re at reptile expos and trade shows around Southern California throughout the year. Check our Shows & Events page for upcoming dates, or follow @isopod_paradise on Instagram for the earliest heads-up.
Yes – they’re one of the lowest-maintenance exotic pets you can keep. Most species need food once or twice a week, light misting to keep one side of the enclosure moist, and very little else.
For cleanup crew in a small enclosure, 10–15 is plenty. For a starter pet colony, 10 is a typical count and they’ll multiply from there over a few months.
Decaying leaf litter and hardwood are the base of their diet. Supplement with fish flake, dried mealworms, or thin slices of carrot, zucchini, or sweet potato. Cuttlebone or eggshell provides calcium.
Most species can climb smooth surfaces only slightly. A snug-fitting lid prevents escapes, and most isopods aren’t interested in leaving a well-set-up enclosure anyway.
Because we don’t ship, LAG doesn’t really apply to us. For in-person pickups and local deliveries, we hand-count every order and you can inspect everything before you leave with it.
Looking for a specific species guide?
If you don’t see a care page for the species you picked up at a show, just ask – we’re always adding more.
Contact us →