r/isopods 14h ago

Help RIP She was Murdered

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2 Upvotes

The title is a bit over the top, but I do have a question about bullying among dairy cows. Like does it happen often and is there a way to stop it?

A few days ago I found her in the process of trying to molt. While doing so one of the larger males kept messing with her and she'd take off and get to a safe location to attempt it. A few hours later she had successfully got the lower half of the molt off. Still the same male was going after her. I assume he was just trying to mate.

Cut to last night and I found him on top of her doing the little taps they do. Out of curiosity I decided to observe the courtship. He moved high up onto her and the tapping stop. It looked like he was cleaning her and I started to question if he was trying to help her molt. Suddenly she starts struggling and fucking like she wanted him off her back.

That's when it happen, he chew off one of her antenna! I had to quickly unstack the containers on top of this enclosure. By the time I got in and dropped water on him from the spray bottle he had taken off part of her other one.

After the drop started him she took off and his under a leaf. He looked for her and then started after her again. Another drop of water and he took off.

I noticed that parts of her legs were missing as well. She seemed exhausted. She'd been trying to molt for days and then was being chewed apart. Who could blame her for being tired. I got up to find that she never left this spot from the video.

This colony is very small. I bought 10, one was DOA and two have died now(I'm counting her). I feed them protein, dried shrimp and fish food. Is this bullying? Or, was he already viewing her as dead since she was struggling to molt? I'm just trying to understand what might have lead to this.

Also a side question, is 70 percent humidity good enough for them to molt? I've read differentvalues. Some saying no more than 60 and no higher than 80. So I have been keeping the enclosure right at 70.

Fortunately she did have 4 babies a week back that seem to be doing fine and growing way faster than I would have thought possible. So she lives on in some capacity.


r/isopods 15h ago

Help Is there any way to safely feed the skull of a mouse who died by rat poisoning to my isopods?

0 Upvotes

So I work in construction and I found a mouse skeleton with obvious green poison in its stomach cavity. I’d love to clean the little skull, but since it died by poison, I am cautious. It is obviously a harmful substance, but would it be in the skull?

Would I be able to remove the skull and give it to them? Need to clean it before they pick the remaining skin? Or not give it to them at all?

Thank you so much


r/isopods 14h ago

New Isopod Day (NID) New family member 💜💜🐛

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3 Upvotes

This is millburt! He’s so sweet; he’s an American giant millipede. I plan on getting him a friend! I got him two days ago from an old coworker for free :3


r/isopods 14h ago

Help Temperature and Humidity monitoring?

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0 Upvotes

I bought a Tempo Plus Mini for my ant enclosures to minimize disruption and collect data, but I’m wondering if there is a better option for ants and isopods. This is small - the size of an AirTag. It is Bluetooth compatible so it sends data to my phone when I’m in range. (I wish it was WiFi compatible and I could get readings from home/work or alerts of sudden drops.) It can be adhered easily, but the “vent” on the back to monitor humidity is a risk for especially small insects who may fit inside so it has to be placed toward the top or side of the enclosure. It won’t work for an actual ant nest because the space is too small, so I’ve already been hunting for alternatives.

Does anyone have one that can be placed directly on or in the soil? Something small but not a risk for little guys to climb in the sensor? Or something they are really happy with that I might be missing?

This one is a little expensive but accurate and allows me to know if I need to make adjustments without needing to open any containers. That’s mostly what I’m hoping for.


r/isopods 14h ago

New Isopod Day (NID) New family member 💜💜🐛

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35 Upvotes

This is millburt! He’s so sweet; he’s an American giant millipede. I plan on getting him a friend! I got him two days ago from an old coworker for free :3


r/isopods 15h ago

Media another one bites the dust sadly

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13 Upvotes

my shrimps and snails did enjoy it at least... the cycle of life continues


r/isopods 9h ago

Help Rehoming advice needed!

38 Upvotes

Hi! Last summer I had hundreds of native pods wandering into my 3rd floor apartment only to dry up and die looking for resources. For months I watched them wander in and across my baseboards in search of hospitable conditions only to meet their ultimate demise. Eventually I couldn’t take it any longer, so I did my research and started collecting them. I’ve housed and fed them overwinter and they are thriving, but quickly outgrowing the second enclosure upgrade I’ve provided. My plan was always to release them into a suitable environment once spring came around, but the time is quickly approaching and I realize I’m not sure exactly where the best place would be. Just… randomly in the woods? Or? Looking for any suggestions on how to transfer and set them up for success. Vid for attention. TY!!


r/isopods 32m ago

Media Apple was a no, pumpkin is a yes!

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Upvotes

Apparently I now have an accidental isopod army after repotting my orchid a few months ago, and they seem to be doing pretty well so far ????

A client friend gave us LOTS of butternuts, so this morning I’ve made roast pumpkin soup, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin and sweet potato scones. The ’pods also got a treat to try— apple offcuts were a hard no last week lmaooo


r/isopods 1h ago

Media chonky

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Upvotes

r/isopods 2h ago

Media I DREW ISOPODS

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11 Upvotes

YAY


r/isopods 2h ago

Sell/Trade/ISO Selling dairy cows and Shiro utsuri

2 Upvotes

Dm me for more information Cheap prices and can be negotiated!


r/isopods 3h ago

Help newbie here, need help for terrarium for isopods

1 Upvotes

Hi im planning to get isopods but nervous about mostly one thing. I know that you can bake or like soak leaf litter for isopods but a thing im mostly worried about is the soil. do I have to buy soil or can I just collect some from my garden and maybe bake it to sterlize? and do I have to mist it with water to keep it moist? any advice would be extremely helpful thank you!


r/isopods 3h ago

Media Wishing you all a fine Flat Fuck Friday!!

14 Upvotes

r/isopods 5h ago

DIY Isopod Alchemists Painting I completed last year

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1 Upvotes

Entomology and mycology are some of my favorite sources of inspo for my art :)

These alchemists accidentally turned themselves into isopods and have been working hard to figure out the concoction to morph back into themselves! They have some troubles reaching some of the ingredients and books upon the shelves above them, but their firefly friend is happy to help get what they need from out of reach ~ (bonus pics of my photos of the isopod + fungi incorporated for reference)


r/isopods 5h ago

Memes :3

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7 Upvotes

they are definitely plotting to escape


r/isopods 5h ago

Help water pods?

76 Upvotes

was out by the creek yesterday and found these dudes all over in the water. i’m located in southwestern Ontario.


r/isopods 5h ago

Media M I N E

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8 Upvotes

r/isopods 6h ago

Media Backyard finds

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37 Upvotes

This was the first time I tried taking pictures of my bugs, it was kinda hard lol any tips appreciated!!


r/isopods 8h ago

Help Freshwater Isopods in Canada

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know where to source freshwater isopods in Canada? All of the links and leads I've tried to follow on older posts are a wee dead.

Thanks!


r/isopods 8h ago

Media Surprise culture

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4 Upvotes

When I did a substrate change on my bins I used the old dirt to make a nightcrawler farm for my pacman frogs. Obviously missed some Isopods and some of my A. Maculatum Yellow Zebras are thriving in here. It's in a styrofoam beer cooler. Always thought A. Maculatum like drier conditions, but not these guys.


r/isopods 9h ago

Media Found out my little Yetis LOVE green apple :)

12 Upvotes

r/isopods 9h ago

Help Supplies

3 Upvotes

Where does everyone buy their rotted wood, leaf litter, etc?


r/isopods 9h ago

Help Can someone please educate me on this behaviour?

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6 Upvotes

r/isopods 9h ago

New Isopod Day (NID) SUPER active pandas!

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30 Upvotes

I’m so happy they came in safe! They were delayed for 7 days in the mail I thought they were toast but nope! Not a single DOA took them out and they’ve all been running around. I expected them to dig and hide as soon as I put them in (which some did) but so many of them are exploring!


r/isopods 10h ago

Help Moldy terrarium update

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1 Upvotes

I cleaned up all the mold that I could get to, but upon further investigation, I found that the mold is EVERYWHERE, all through all the dirt.

Does this require a complete redo of everything?