60- Gallon Bioactive Clean Up Crew Bundle
What's more confusing than trying to find the right species of isopods for your bioactive enclosures? We've gone through and picked our top cleaner choices and simplified it here for you to choose from and slightly discounted the bundle. We also have our "Cleaner Guide" page with more information as well.
This listing is for a bioactive starter kit for enclosures/terrariums that are 60 gallons or less. Choose from a variety of isopods that are suitable for your specific needs. Each kit will come with 10+ isopods depending on species and a 100+ springtails. If you have a larger enclosure/terrarium, we offer a kit for 60 gallons or more bundle on a different listing. Please choose the option for the isopods you would like to receive.
**If you choose a tropical/humid isopod species, you will receive a 100+ count culture of either Folsomia candida "Temperate" OR Coecobrya tenebricosa "Tropical Pink" Springtails
**If you choose an arid to semi-arid isopod species, you will receive a 100+ count culture of either Pseudosinella violenta "Bylas Ant" OR Coecobrya tenebricosa "Tropical Pink" Springtails
*** Please note, if your enclosure is arid, it is CRUCIAL that you provide an area that is kept CONSTANTLY moist in order for them to survive as ALL species will need a damp area to retreat to in order to wet their gills. You can do this by keeping a deli cup of sphagnum moss in a corner or on top of the substrate covered by a piece of cork bark, or you can just keep an area of the enclosure damp.
Below you will find a list of isopods and a small amount of information about them to help you choose what might work best. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Pictures of all species are available on the site. The basic/cheapest and some of the more popular colors are listed here. There are individual listings with the other colors as well if you're wanting something with some pop and color.
All purpose (Good for all environments, including arid, considering the note above is take into account)
*Cylisticus convexus (All colors) - Very fast, blends in with surroundings, surface active, prolific, docile, doesn't eat live plants, less likely to be consumed by the tankmate
*Nagurus nanus - Mostly burrowing, moderate to quick breeders, docile, doesn't eat live plants
*Porcellio laevis (All colors) - Protein hungry and voracious, surface active and burrowing, quick breeders, can handle some heat, great for larger reptiles such as snakes, skinks, larger geckos, etc.
*Porcellio vulcanicus - Smaller burrowers but will be surface active, rather prolific, docile
Porcellionides pruinosis (All colors) Do enjoy some protein, voracious appetites, fast, prolific,can handle some heat, known to get picked off quickly by bug eaters. Starting your own breeding colony is typically recommended or using heavy ground cover on top of the substrate.
*Rhyscotus texensis - Fast, prolific, docile
Trichorhina tomentosa "Dwarf White" - These teeny tiny things are spawns of Satan. Tolerant of any environment, asexual so they are ALL having kids, will teleport to other enclosures, but they are docile and leave live plants alone and stay mostly burrowed. *(Will receive 25+)**
Arid (these are the species that don't don't like a lot of moisture so they didn't get added to the all purpose list) *Please pay attention to the note above about a moist area.
Porcellio dilatatus "Giant Canyon" (All colors) - A larger, mostly burrowing species but can be seen on the surface as their population grows. They are rather protein hungry so a supplemental source of protein will be appreciated by them. They are steady breeders.
*Porcellio echinatus - Surface active, prolifc, docile, tolerant of heat, may eat live plants
*Porcellio scaber (All colors) - Breeds slower in tropical environments, but is tolerant of humidity and heat, breed at a moderate rate, may eat live plants, but generally docile.
Semi-Arid to Tropical
*Agabiformis lentus (All colors) - Like it more on the moist side but don't mind having a drier area in the tank, docile. tolerant of some heat up to around 80 degrees, mostly burrowing, leaves live plants alone
*Aphiloscia annulicornis "Checkered" - Very fast, blend in with their environment, prolific, docile and leaves live plants alone, less likely to be picked off by their tankmate(s)
*Atlanoscia floridana "Florida Fast" - Fasted isopod in the world, blend in with their environment, prolific, docile and leave live plants alone, less likely to be eaten as snacks by their tankmate(s)
*Cubaris murina (All colors) - Smaller, does spend some time burrowed and on the surface, tolerant of semi-arid to more tropical and can handle some heat, docile roommates but may eat live plants.
*Porcellio echinatus - Surface active, prolifc, docile, tolerant of heat, may eat live plants
*Pocellio incanus - like it warm and humid but tolerant of semi-arid as well, docile and tend to leave live plants alone, surface active and prolific
*Porcellio lamellatus - prolific, burrowers and surface active, small/dwarf species, docile and leave live plants alone
*Trachelipus rathkii - prolific, can tolerate temps up to around 80 or so degrees, they do like a bit of a moisture gradient but are good in about 50% and up humidity, docile, good for larger animals
Tropical/Humid Only
*Porcellionides virgatus - moderate breeders, they do like it moist with lots of decaying matter, docile roommates, surface active, and fast
Trichoniscidae sp. Dwarf Purple - similar in size with dwarf whites, but the purples do require more moisture to thrive and will actually breed faster with high moisture. They do burrow for the most part but will come to the surface too. Good breeders, gentle on plants and tank mates.
*Venezillo canariensis - these are here for the ones looking for a slower breeder, burrowing small species, docile but may eat live plants
*Venezillo parvus (All colors) - Smaller but not quite dwarf, burrowing, like it wet but not real soggy, fine with warmer temps, docile but may eat live plants.
Springtails will be shipped in a deli cup on clay so you can just tap them from the cup straight into your enclosure.