The Great Invertebrate

No, isopods belong to a very large group of crustaceans that live on land. There are over 10,000 species with more being discovered each day! Isopods need damp or moist places to live because they breath through gills, however if the environment is too wet or flooded, the isopods will die.

For most species, yes! All you need are a secure enclosure, nutritious substrate, a calcium source, moss for a hydration area, some leaves and a piece of old wood or bark for a hide. The isopods eat all these things but people often give them extra food like shrimp or vegetables.

Isopods make a great addition to any bio-active enclosure as a clean up crew! Some isopods become snacks to the residents of these bio-active enclosures which offer them added protein and enrichment, so we wouldn't recommend an expensive species for that purpose. Other isopods like Porcellio Pruinosis "Powder Blue" and "Dairy Cows" have been known to munch on inhabitants with softer skin, so we would recommend caution with those isopods.