Powder Blue isopods are highly active and among the biggest creatures of the Isopoda family. People like to breed them for various reasons, like keeping the environment clean. They consume a wide range of things, from pet feces to plant or leaf litter.
Additionally, Powder Blue isopods serve as sources of nutrients for plants. Their excreta is consumed by the plants in the environment, which helps them grow and stay healthy.
Moreover, they are excellent feed for reptiles like lizards and even amphibians. Best of all, these isopods make for a great pet as it is a pleasure to see them play around.
Fortunately, they are also suitable for beginner breeders and require less care.
In this guide, I will help you find out how to take care of your Blue Powder isopods. You will gain information about vital things like enclosure and substrate to use.
The guide will also cover how to breed Blue Powder isopods and other relevant questions.
Common Size of Powder Blue Isopods
As noted earlier, Powder Blue isopods can grow to big sizes. They can become around 1 cm or about half an inch when adult.
Among isopods, they are taken as medium-sized. As a result, you can watch them for hours and enjoy having them as your pets.
You may not be able to see these isopods with your naked eyes when they are born. With time, they grow in size, and you can spend hours just watching them.
However, keep in mind that Powder Blue isopods can multiply very quickly. As a result, your environment can become full of these creatures.
This is also an important consideration in choosing the habitat or enclosure for these isopods. They appear bluish in color, which gives them their name.
However, in humid climates, they may take on an orange tinge. Yet, you shouldn’t mistake them for Orange Powder isopods. They are different types of isopods and appear different.
The Lifespan of Powder Blue Isopods
Isopods, in general, may live 2 to 4 years. However, isopods that become big in size tend to die earlier.
Powder Blue isopods have a similar lifespan of 3 to 4 years. They can live longer if they get the right environment and living conditions.
However, even with good care, some of them may perish without any explanation. This is a general tendency of isopods, and you cannot do anything to change it.
Caring for Powder Blue Isopods
Powder Blue isopods tend to have the softest bodies among all isopods. They have a soft body, which makes them perfect snacks for amphibians and reptiles.
Additionally, Powder Blue isopods are voracious eaters and clean through dead plant material and litter. They are also easy to keep in moist and well-ventilated enclosures. The ideal humidity to maintain would be around 80% to 90%.
Moreover, they prefer low-light conditions and survive on a range of feed. Most importantly, Powder Blue isopods prefer to live between temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees F. Even beginners may be able to care for these isopods without much trouble as they are easy to maintain. Powder Blue isopods live natively in the Mediterranean.
They are also common in many warm regions around the world. You can also find them in marine environments and around water bodies. They are also present in forests and areas with trees like oak. Therefore, they need similar conditions to live their full lifespan.
Difficulty Level
Powder Blue isopods are highly adaptable. As a result, you can take care of them easily, even if you are a novice.
Additionally, they thrive in most environments once you fulfill a few requirements, like humidity and temperature.
Moreover, you would not need to worry about food, as Power Blues eat dead plants and leaves.
Enclosure for Powder Blue Isopods
Powder Blue isopods survive well in terrarium/vivarium environments. However, you can also keep them in most containers you would find around the home.
For example, a shoebox or a plastic lunch box are suitable enclosures to keep these isopods.
However, Powder Blues need a well-ventilated enclosure. Therefore, be ready to make holes in the box you choose to keep your isopods.
Please note that small holes make way for better ventilation. Additionally, they allow the air to move around in the container and keep your isopods happy. Moreover, small holes make it less likely for your isopods to find a way out of the enclosure.
In addition, you would want to maintain a good humidity level.
Powder Blue isopods can reproduce faster than many animals. So, you may have to consider getting another box or a bigger one in the future.
Substrate for Powder Blue Isopods
The substrate for Powder Blue isopods should be able to sustain a bioactive environment. It should also be able to hold in the moisture to keep the isopods healthy.
Therefore, you may have to create 2 to 3 layers of substrate for Powder Blue isopods.
The base layer of the enclosure maybe 2 to 3 inches tall. You can create the base layer by mixing equal amounts of:
- Peat moss
- Coconut fiber
You would also want to moisten the layer. However, refrain from submerging the whole substrate in water.
Now, the top layer should provide feed and a living environment for Powder Blues. You can make the layer with dead leaf matter from maple or oak trees.
In addition, you may mix wood or bark from the same trees.
Suitable Temperature for Powder Blue Isopods
Powder Blue isopods thrive between temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees F (21 to 27 degrees C). This temperature range is available in most homes.
Therefore, you won’t need to arrange anything extra to maintain the temperature.
However, put the enclosure in a warm area of your residence if you live in colder temperatures. If needed, you can also use a warm mat under the box to attain the required temperature range.
Suitable Humidity for Powder Blue Isopods
You should try to achieve a humidity level of 50% or more to keep Powder Blue isopods. However, it is best to maintain humidity levels of 80% to 90%.
Most importantly, the substrate and top layer should always be humid or moist.
Most people would be able to maintain the required humidity level in their homes. However, spray some water into the enclosure from time to time if you live in arid conditions.
Be careful so that the habitat doesn’t become too dry.
Best Diet for Powder Blue Isopods
Powder Blue isopods are ready to eat anything you throw at them. However, they survive on dead and rotten plant materials in wild environments.
In addition, these isopods consume dead and decaying insects and bugs.
In bioactive environments, Powder Blue isopods will derive the food from organic matter. So, you will need to feed your isopods less frequently.
For isolated cultures, you may not have to feed them more than a couple of times a week.
In addition, wait till the isopods consume all the food in the enclosure before putting in new food.
So, what can you feed Powder Blue isopods?
The list includes many things that are available in the kitchen. You can feed these isopods small bits of vegetables and fruits.
However, some people prefer to feed vegetables as fruits may invite other pests.
Moreover, Powder Blue isopods eat fish pellets and flakes. You may also add wood and tree bark to the list.
In addition, you may feed leaf or plant litter to Powder Blue isopods.
Keep in mind that you need to fulfill the nutritional requirements of your isopods. They also require protein, which can come from animal sources only.
Therefore, feed Powder Blue isopods fish flakes or similar foods from time to time. You may also try feeding unwanted meat parts and scrapings.
Additionally, these isopods prefer to consume mold and fungus. You can even feed brewer’s yeast to these creatures.
However, never overfeed Powder Blue isopods. Take more precautions in setup environments with ample decaying material.
Such conditions don’t need you to feed these isopods too often. Just ensure there is enough decaying material.
Breeding Powder Blue Isopods
Breeding Powder Blue isopods are pretty simple. They multiply quite fast and don’t need much attention to reproduce.
You just need to make sure they have the right conditions to live.
Powder Blue isopods are available in both genders. Male and female isopods mate to carry on the reproduction process.
You need to introduce both genders in your enclosure and wait for the isopods to mate. Keep the temperature and humidity levels optimum to facilitate breeding.
In addition, ensure there is enough food for the isopods during the whole time. Take care to maintain the moisture level in the substrate too.
You may also want to ramp up the heating a bit. Powder Blue isopods multiply faster and thrive better in warm conditions.
Female Powder Blue isopods lay numerous eggs after they mate with male isopods. After that, they carry these eggs in a tiny pouch under the body.
The eggs will require around 3 to 4 weeks to mature and hatch. You should keep maintaining the right conditions during this time to help the eggs develop.
Next, tiny isopods come out after some days after the eggs hatch. They are completely formed at this stage.
However, they are still not fully visible with naked eyes. You have to wait for a few days before they turn big enough to be seen.
If you are doing a culture, you will need a few weeks to breed these isopods.
Powder Blue isopods can mate and reproduce even before they grow to their full sizes. Female isopods become ready to reproduce after 6 months of being born.
They generally hatch up to 400 eggs during the whole of her life.
You don’t need to do much after the two genders of Powder Blue isopods are introduced in the enclosure. They will breed by themselves and give rise to a colony over time.
For this reason, many environments do not need the active breeding of these isopods.
That being said, Powder Blue isopods are simple to breed. So, they are a good choice for beginners to try their hands at caring for and breeding species from the Isopoda family.
Buy both male and female Powder Blue isopods to start breeding your colony.
Evan Tunis, President of Florida Healthcare Insurance, talked to the Icy Whiz team about the advanced tips for enhancing Powder Blue isopod health and breeding success:
“To ensure the well-being of Powder Blue isopods, it’s crucial to offer them a diverse and nutritious diet. In addition to the vegetables and fruits mentioned in this guide, these tiny creatures also enjoy eating decaying leaves, wood, and other organic matter found in their natural environment.
Consider adding some oak or maple leaves, as well as pieces of rotting wood or bark, to their enclosure. This will not only provide the isopods with essential nutrients but also stimulate their natural foraging behavior.
Powder Blue isopods thrive in a humid environment, and maintaining the right level of moisture is crucial for their health and well-being. Too little humidity can cause dehydration and death, while too much can lead to mold and bacterial growth.
Using a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels in the enclosure is recommended. Mist the substrate and sides of the enclosure regularly, but be careful not to oversaturate it.”
Powder Blue Isopods FAQ
- How can you care for Powder Blue isopods?
You need to create a warm and humid enclosure to care for Powder Blue isopods. Additionally, provide leaf litter and vegetable cuttings for food.
- How big do Powder Blue isopods grow?
The biggest among Powder Blue isopods can grow to about half an inch. They are considered medium-sized isopods among the Isopoda family.
- What should you feed Powder Blue isopods?
Powder Blue isopods can feed on decaying plant materials. You may also feed them fish pellets, small pieces of vegetables or fruits, and tree bark.
Final Thoughts
Powder Blue isopods are good as pets or food for your pets. They live well in hot and humid environments with ample decaying organic materials.
These isopods are easy to breed and suit even beginners. You need to get a container the size of a shoebox and make it well-ventilated.
Powder Blue isopods breed quickly and don’t need much attention. In addition, they can maintain their colony if they get the right living conditions.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on April 30, 2024 by sanjana
Author
concise and informative piece that not only introduces Powder Blue isopods but also provides practical tips for their care
I found this guide on caring for Powder Blue Isopods incredibly insightful. It provides a comprehensive overview, covering their activity, environmental benefits, and even their role as feed for reptiles. The inclusion of practical tips on enclosure, substrate, and breeding makes it a valuable resource, especially for beginners like myself. Watching these isopods play around as pets sounds like a delightful experience!
Soubhik, your guide on caring for Powder Blue Isopods is comprehensive and informative. The detailed information on their size, lifespan, and characteristics provides a clear understanding. The emphasis on choosing the right habitat and substrate is valuable. Your insights into their soft bodies, feeding habits, and preferred conditions make it an excellent resource for both beginners and experienced breeders.
Diving into the care of Powder Blue Isopods through this guide was a quick and informative experience. The article highlighted their role in environmental cleanup, serving as plant nutrients, and being excellent feed for reptiles. The mention of them as enjoyable pets, suitable for beginners, caught my interest.
Learning about their size, growth, and considerations for habitat provided practical insights. The guide’s coverage of their lifespan and the acknowledgment of natural tendencies added depth to the information. In just a short read, I gained valuable knowledge on caring for Powder Blue Isopods.
This guide serves as a helpful resource for individuals interested in caring for and breeding Powder Blue isopods. It effectively balances detailed information with practical tips, making it accessible for both beginners and those with some experience in isopod husbandry.
After reading this post, taking care of powder blue isopods will be easy for me. Thanks for the tips on how to take care of them. My pets are about to get a feast and they have you to thank for this informative post.
your guide provides a thorough and engaging resource for anyone considering welcoming Powder Blue Isopods into their lives. The mentioned additions could further enrich the information by offering visual aids, suggesting seasonal adjustments, providing troubleshooting tips, and encouraging ethical considerations.
This guide on caring for Powder Blue Isopods is a fantastic resource. The details on their size, lifespan, and breeding process are concise and informative. The substrate and humidity recommendations make it easy for beginners to provide an ideal environment. Overall, a must-read for anyone interested in keeping these unique creatures.