The Beauty of the Clean-Up Crew in Bio-active Set-ups.

Whether you keep reptiles, amphibians or inverts, bioactive set-ups are undoubtedly a great way to maintain your beloved pet's enclosure. If you like the natural environment, or are just looking for a more self-sustaining habitat, isopods may just be the creature you’re looking for.

Isopods are small crustaceans that thrive in damp environments where there is plenty of leaf litter and rotting wood, among other food sources. They feed on waste products, making them ideal as clean-up crew when used alongside springtails (tiny inverts that feed on fungus, algae and other nutrients) in many different kinds of pet tanks. Isopod waste, called frass, also fertilises the substrate which improves plant growth. Isopods also require a source of calcium such as Cuttlefish, Lava Rock or Oyster Shell to ensure they develop a healthy carapace and a portion of protein weekly.

As with many creatures, some species are better than others when it comes to the role of clean-up crew; most porcellio species prefer lower humidity, while cubaris prefer higher humidity, so it’s important to match your isopod to your environment. Some porcellio species, such as Dairy Cows or Giant Orange, do well in most set-ups and will soon multiply!

Some species of isopod are considered more challenging to keep and are more likely to be seen as pet’s rather than clean up crew. Ardentiella species (previously Merulanella) are very sought after due to their stunning colours, and (in my opinion) their personalities! Ember Bees are little escape artists, loving to climb twigs and munch on Lichen sticks. We found in our collection that the Ardentiellas are more adventurous and easier to lose if you’re not paying attention 😂

Keeping a bioactive environment ultimately means less cleaning for you, and less mould blooms as isopods take care of the waste, and springtails keep mould in check.

As always, if you’re stuck or have a question, feel free to email the Bug Hub at info@bugsandbeyond.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can! Happy bug keeping 🫶