What Do Isopods Eat? Feeding Guide for Healthy Colonies

People always ask me, what exactly do you feed isopods? It seems simple but getting the diet right is the difference between a small colony and a massive booming one. I’ve been experimenting for ages and found the perfect mix to keep them breeding fast.

First off, they get most of their food from their substrate. Leaf litter and rotting wood are their natural diet and they need that to graze on all the time. Oak, Beech and Birch leaves are the best. Don't use leaves from gardens that have been treated with chemicals though!

But you do need to top them up with fresh food too. They love veg - carrot, cucumber, squash, even sweet potato. Just put small slices in and take it out after a day or two before it goes mouldy. They aren't fussy, they will eat most kitchen scraps.

The most important part though is PROTEIN. This is something a lot of people forget. Isopods need calcium and protein to grow and moult properly. Without it, they might start eating each other or bothering other animals in the tank. I give them dried shrimp, fish flakes or bug gel once a week. It’s cheap and makes such a difference to their size and numbers.

Calcium powder is also good to sprinkle in sometimes, especially if you are keeping them on their own rather than in a bioactive tank. Basically, keep them fed, keep them varied and they will thrive.

If you are looking to start your own colony, we sell healthy, well-fed cultures here at Terra-Pods. Check out our range and get some pods that are already strong and ready to grow!

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