Beginner Isopod Setup (Canada) | Bioactive Guide

Simple, reliable, bioactive—Soil Health Starts Here.

Isopods are the chill roommates of the terrarium world. Give them good soil, steady moisture, and something leafy to munch, and they’ll do the rest. Here’s the quick, no-stress setup I use for beginners in Canada.

 

Quick start (the short version)

 

• Container: 2–5 L bin or enclosure with a lid.
• Ventilation: No holes in the lid. Add a modest grid of small holes on two opposite sidewalls near the top.
• Substrate (5–8 cm): Organic soil base + mixed leaf bits; keep one end damp, the other end drier.
• Top cover: 2–3 layers of whole leaf litter.
• Hides: A couple bark arcs or pods.
• Calcium: Cuttlebone or a calcium block.
• Cleanup crew: Add a clay culture of springtails.
• Food: Leaf litter is the staple; small pinches of Pill Diet/veggie scraps 1–2× per week.
• Temps: 20–24 °C is the sweet spot.

What to buy (easy mode)

 

Humid starter (tropicals):

• Organic soil 
• Bag of Leaves
• Clay Springtails (Albino Lilac or Tropical White)
• Calcium Block
• A few botanicals/hides (seed pods, bark)

Arid/moderate starter:

• Organic soil + extra dry leaf mix
• Bag of Leaves
• Clay Springtails (Tropical White do fine)
• Calcium Block
• A couple airy hides (pods, bark)

 

Tip: If you prefer not to guess, grab the Beginner Bioactive Kit – Humid or – Arid and you’re basically done.

 

Step-by-step setup

 

1. Vent & container
   Leave the lid solid so humidity stays stable. Add small holes in a chessboard pattern along the upper sidewalls on two opposite sides. Start modest—you can always add a few more if needed.
2. Lay the base
   Pour in 5–8 cm of organic soil. Mix in a handful of crushed leaves. Pat one end slightly firmer (this end holds moisture better).
3. Make the moisture gradient
   Mist one third of the enclosure until the top looks evenly damp—but never soupy. Leave the rest only lightly moist. This “damp → dry” gradient lets the colony self-regulate.
4. Top with leaf litter
   Add 2–3 layers of whole leaves. This is both food and shelter. Keep a small stash of extra leaves nearby to top up weekly.
5. Add hides & calcium
   Tuck a couple bark arcs/pods so isopods can hide under and climb over. Place a cuttlebone or calcium block somewhere easy to check.
6. Seed with springtails
   Pour half your clay culture into the damp end and half under a hide. Springtails keep mould in check and jump-start bioactivity.
7. Introduce your isopods
   Gently tip them onto the leaf layer. Lights off for an hour = instant calm. They’ll disappear under leaves (that’s good).
8. First feeding
   A tiny pinch of Pill Diet or a sliver of veg (zucchini, carrot). If anything remains after 24–48 h, you fed too much—halve it next time.

Care rhythm (weekly, not fussy)

 

• Moisture: Mist the damp end 2–3× per week (your room decides the pace). The dry end should stay… dry.
• Leaves: Keep that top layer thick—top up weekly.
• Food: Small pinches once or twice a week. If you ever smell “funk,” you’re overfeeding.
• Temp: Aim 20–24 °C. Short dips to 18 °C are fine. Avoid long sits below ~16 °C or above ~28 °C.
• Top-ups: Every month, scratch-stir a quarter of the surface and sprinkle a little fresh flake soil.

 

Troubleshooting quick hits

 

• They’re clinging to walls? Usually too dry—increase the damp zone.
• You see fuzzy mould? You fed too much or airflow is low. Remove leftovers, add springtails, or add a few more side vents.
• Grain mites? Pause protein, feed less, keep the dry end truly dry for a week.
• No babies yet? Give them time and cover. More leaves + stable temps usually does it.

Canada notes

• Water: Tap is fine if it’s not super chlorinated; otherwise let it sit 24 h or use dechlorinator.
• Seasonal swings: In winter, rooms get dry—mist the damp end a little more, don’t soak. After cold-weather shipping, let colonies settle 24 h before feeding.
• Room choice: Away from exterior doors/vents = fewer temp swings.

 

Beginner species to consider

Friendly, forgiving options that don’t need fancy tricks:

• Porcellionides pruinosus (many colours)
• Porcellio scaber
• Armadillidium vulgare
  Pick based on your enclosure’s humidity: pruinosus for moderate to arid, scaber/vulgare for moderate.

 

 

 

Wrap-up

 

That’s it—no complicated gear, just good soil, steady moisture, and leaves for days. If you want zero guesswork, the Beginner Bioactive Kit (Humid or Arid) plus a clay springtail culture and flake soil starter will cover everything. Questions? Pop into the Discord and show your setup—we’re happy to help.