Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Or do most of you just collect them from outside? Don't want to use the wrong species...
Thanks!
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Todd
Gainesville, FL

I got both pillbugs and sowbugs from Carolina Biological Supply. They look similar, but pillbugs can roll up all the way and sowbugs cannot.

Is there an advantage to one over the other in the vivarium?
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Todd
Gainesville, FL

both are good. they each have their own duties though. rollies are best as they will live in the dirt and help your plants. the wood lice will just live in wood that is eatable; decaying and that's about it. both are good for herps to eat. we breed our own from those in the back yard with a shoe box of dirt, topped with leafs and gold fish flakes. vent the top good though! mold sucks. you can find resources for this online but ask me fir a link if you can't find one.
home

i collect mine from outside, and im working on culturing them at the moment before i really start to use them. fairly abundant outdoors, we've got both pillbugs and sowbugs here, and im culturing both. seems like the pillbugs might get a little bit bigger, however they also seem to have a tougher exoskeleton which probably means harder to digest.
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-Mike Martin
North Carolina

Are you concerned about them getting a hold of any deposited eggs? I've read a couple of horror stories about crickets, but they're a tad larger than an isopod.
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Todd
Gainesville, FL

isopods like roaches won't harm your eggs.

I just remembered the only good place i've found, not dd's either is great. they have isopods, snails and i should have remembered them sooner. you might have to have a petshop order though, need usda clearance but here is their link.
snails and pill bugs link

How many do you need?
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Michael Garrett
The Gecko Zone
Houston TX

COMING SOON!
www.thegeckozone.com

It's a 55 gallon, I was thinking about ten?
If they are the same as the ones outside then I could just go collect some (from a pesticide-free area of course). On the topic of introducing "pests" into the vivarium:
Having experience in breeding burms and big boas, which thrive in sterility, adding decayed leaves ripe with fungus and bacteria pains me greatly. Can someone please assure me this would be best for my satanics? Would it still be wise if they were captive born specimins without a pre-existing parasite load?
Thanks!
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Todd
Gainesville, FL