[Ricky Ortiz]

I use them in my tarantula cages to as a clean up crew for cricket waste and parts that are not eaten. Has anyone tryed them out with Uroplatus tanks as a active cleaning crew? I dont think they would do any damage to the geckos themselves and possibly even provide a meal.

[MauricesExoticPets]

I'd go with second generation isopods just for the safety factor (the WC factor). But otherwise yes they are fine as a clean up crew. A loose moist substrate helps them survive, and they will likely breed in the enclosure. As feeders they are not bad assuming they arent eating anything bad in the first place. The sowbug is a bit softer than the pillbug (rolly polly) and might be a tad better, but thats just a guess on my part.

Maurice Pudlo

[Ricky Ortiz]

Originally Posted by MauricesExoticPets

I'd go with second generation isopods just for the safety factor (the WC factor). But otherwise yes they are fine as a clean up crew. A loose moist substrate helps them survive, and they will likely breed in the enclosure. As feeders they are not bad assuming they arent eating anything bad in the first place. The sowbug is a bit softer than the pillbug (rolly polly) and might be a tad better, but thats just a guess on my part.

Maurice Pudlo

Oh yes I would not use WC all the ones I use are CBB Thanks for your input. and I agree with the sowbug being softer.

[David]

I regularly feed my juvies with the small tropical ones

I use garden ones to help cleaning my adults enclosures

they are great source of minerals and help diversify the diet

you need to watch carefully the oviposition, because they can damage the eggs (as well as snails if you offer some too)

[qiksilver]

I have a colony of Spanish Orange in a henkeli cage. They've been a big help in cleaning, but they are just large enough to generate interest from the geckos, but not large enough to eat.

[gollum]

I use trichorhina tomentosa with good results, sometimes I feed my baby Calummas with them.

Originally Posted by David

you need to watch carefully the oviposition, because they can damage the eggs (as well as snails if you offer some too)

David, are you sure? I don't think they can damage the eggs, it's a news for me.

[GeckoFiend]

I keep 4 species of isopods with various gecko species and they haven't caused any problems. I can't speak on them damaging eggs though.

[David]

Originally Posted by gollum

David, are you sure? I don't think they can damage the eggs, it's a news for me.

hey Simone! long time no see!

I just think so but indeed never saw one eating directly an egg

I breed t. tomensa in a box with small tropical snails (forgot the name, bought them last hamm show), when I put some sepias/shells for the snails, they also go on it

I found 1 or 2 times damaged eggs (but not broke) in crickets-free enclosure, the only occupants were the gecko and the woodlice

so I just imagine that isopods sometimes look for calcium source

any feedback are welcome, I don't know anything precise about their biology

[allen]

As you say, the isopods and snails will probably eat the outer layer for there own calciumneed. But isopods usually only eat dead/decaying material of im not mistaken.
Other invertebrats like crickets/millipeds etc are more dangerous to eggs i think.

[krypticrhacs]

so where can i find some of these?