Clean-Up Crew Isopods for Bioactive Vivariums
A clean-up crew turns a vivarium into a living, self-cleaning ecosystem. Isopods eat droppings, shed skin, mould and leftover food, and keep the substrate loose and healthy.
For a clean-up crew you want species that are hardy, breed quickly and cope with life alongside a reptile, frog or tarantula. These are the ones we recommend and use ourselves. For humid tropical setups (crested geckos, dart frogs) we suggest Mandarin Cubaris murina; for drier or room-temperature setups, hardy Magic Potion Armadillidium vulgare.
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Questions
How many isopods do I need for a vivarium?
For a typical vivarium, 10–20 isopods is a good start. Add them alongside springtails if you can, and give them a couple of weeks to settle before relying on them.
Will my gecko or frog eat them?
Some will, especially insect-eaters. With plenty of leaf litter and bark to hide under, a colony usually breeds faster than it gets eaten.
Which is best for a leopard gecko?
Magic Potion, provided there's a permanently damp hide or moss patch. Fully arid tanks are hard on any isopod.