Isopods are the hardest-working animals in the bioactive hobby and the most collectible invertebrates going. We source starter colonies and cleanup crews from specialist breeders, confirm the exact species and count is available, and quote the exact total before anything is charged.
Beginner species breed fast and forgive mistakes — the right choice for a first cleanup crew. Collector species like Rubber Duckies breed slowly and want specific humidity; they're worth it, but they're not where to learn.
The hobby's most wanted isopod: yellow "bill," slow to breed, and genuinely charming. Humidity-dependent and unhurried — a patient keeper's species.
IntermediateSlow breederHigh humidityThe cleanup-crew workhorse: big, bold, protein-hungry, and one of the fastest breeders in the hobby. The standard crew for larger bioactive enclosures.
BeginnerFast breederTop cleanup crewBlack-and-white striped pill isopods that actually roll up. Hardy, visible, and a favorite display species for planted enclosures.
BeginnerDisplay speciesSoft-bodied, fast, and always grazing — the crew keepers reach for in humid tropical vivariums, including dart frog tanks. Powder Blue available on request.
BeginnerTropical vivariumFast breederTiny, parthenogenetic, and unstoppable once established. The substrate-level half of a complete cleanup crew — pair with springtails and a surface species.
BeginnerBioactive stapleThe mold patrol. A seeded culture on charcoal/clay that you tap into enclosures as needed; keep the master culture and it produces for months.
BeginnerMold controlSelf-sustaining cultureThe warm-humidity counterpart for tropical vivariums. Same culture format, species suited to frog and gecko enclosures that stay above 70°F.
BeginnerTropical vivariumMold controlOne box, whole crew: Dairy Cow or Powder Orange isopods (your pick), Dwarf Whites, and a springtail culture — matched to your enclosure size in the confirmation step.
BeginnerBundleSized to your tankWe are a sourcing service, not a warehouse. Colonies shouldn't sit counted-out in cups on a shelf waiting for a buyer.
Typical timeline: confirmation within 1 business day; most breeders ship live orders Monday–Wednesday only, so a Friday request usually ships the following Monday. We'll always tell you the ship date before charging you.
Isopods and springtails ship well by invertebrate standards — they're hardy, small, and travel in their own substrate — but they are still live animals. Orders ship early in the week (Mon–Wed) to avoid weekend warehouse stays. During extreme heat or cold, shipments may be held until a safe window — we email you before any hold, and you may cancel for a full refund instead of waiting. "Hold for pickup" at your local carrier hub is available on request and strongly recommended in summer and winter.
If a significant portion of your order arrives dead, email us within 24 hours of the carrier's delivery scan with a clear photo of the shipment as received. We will, at your choice: reship once at no charge, or refund the item price (shipping refunded if the carrier/supplier accepts responsibility for a transit delay). Normal transit stress — a small number of losses in a bulk count — is not DOA; as a working rule, losses above roughly 10% of a counted order qualify. We never ask you to ship dead animals back.
Live goods cannot be returned and restocked — that would be unsafe for the animals and for other customers. Cancellation is free any time before your card is charged (i.e., before you approve the confirmed total). After shipment, the DOA policy above is the remedy. Wrong species or count? That's on us: reship or full refund, your choice.
Cleanup crews are captive-bred livestock, not native wildlife. Never release isopods or springtails outdoors, and never dump enclosure substrate outside — freeze or bake used substrate before disposal. Several common hobby species are not native to North America, and "it's just a roly-poly" is exactly how invasive populations start. If a colony outgrows your enclosure, contact us — we'll help you rehome or responsibly reduce it.
Most isopods and springtails ship to most states, but invertebrate import rules vary and a few species face state-level restrictions. Our confirmation step checks your destination for your exact species before any charge — state legality is confirmed before charging, never assumed — and we will not ship a species we know to be restricted where you live. [Placeholder: final restriction matrix to be completed before launch.]
For a cleanup crew, 10–25 of a fast-breeding species seeds most 10–40 gallon enclosures; they multiply to match the waste supply. Collector species like Rubber Duckies are usually kept as their own colony, not used as a crew. Tell us your tank size and inhabitant in the request notes and we'll sanity-check the count during confirmation.
No — hobby isopods need the humidity and food supply of an enclosure or leaf litter. Escaped individuals dry out and die indoors. They're detritivores, not pests, and they can't damage a home.
Temperate springtails suit room-temperature and temperate setups; tropical springtails are for warm, humid vivariums (dart frogs, crested geckos). Both ship as producing cultures, not a one-time sprinkle — keep the master culture fed and it keeps producing.
Never at request time — only after breeder confirmation and your approval of the exact total. Can't source it at that price? Hold released, you pay nothing.
Yes, with breeder-standard packaging (insulated box, phase pack as needed) and Mon–Wed shipping windows. In extreme weather we'll hold and tell you first — a delayed colony beats a dead one. Our DOA policy covers arrival losses with a photo within 24 hours of the delivery scan.
Prototype form — submitting does not place an order or charge anything. In the live version, this form opens the concierge flow described above.