Australian Isopod Beginner Guide & Uses – Pet, Clean-Up Crew & Feeder Invertebrates

Isopods—often called “roly-polies,” “pillbugs,” or “woodlice”—are small crustaceans found in damp leaf litter, rotting logs and moist soil. They’re incredibly popular worldwide as bioactive clean-up crews and even as pets, but in Australia things are a bit different. While other countries have access to hundreds of colourful, patterned, selectively bred species, we currently have much more limited options due to strict biodiversity laws and our extremely small isopod-keeping community.

Even so, the species we do have are hardy, fascinating and versatile. Australian isopods can be kept purely as pets, used in planted terrariums and displays, or maintained as feeders for carnivorous invertebrates or herps—like my own pet funnel-web, trapdoor, and curtain-web spiders. Because they are nutrient-dense and easy to culture, they’re excellent prey for fast-striking ambush predators care has to be taken to only use soft bodied ones as feeders like Powder Blues.

The Reality of Australian Isopods

Australia’s native isopods are often overlooked because:

• We have strict import laws

• The hobby is still extremely young

• Very few breeders are working with selective traits

• Most species available are wild-type colours (browns, greys, charcoal)

That said, we DO have great species—just not the “designer” lines that are common overseas. And because our local isopods are adapted to uniquely harsh Australian conditions, they tend to be very hardy, tolerant of a range of humidity levels, and easy for beginners.

Even though they’re less flashy, they’re still incredibly interesting to watch as they burrow, graze, explore and reproduce.

Basic Isopod Care

Australian isopods require:

• Moisture – they breathe through gill-like structures

• A moisture gradient – one side damp, one side drier

• Leaf litter and soft woods – this is their main food source

• Hiding spaces – bark, cork, moss, leaf piles

• Consistent temperatures – not too hot or they’ll dehydrate quickly

A good basic enclosure includes:

• A sealed tub with ventilation holes

• Coco fibre, soil or your preferred terrarium mix

• Half kept damp, half kept slightly dry

• A thick layer of leaf litter (oak, magnolia, lilly pilly, eucalyptus in small amounts)

• Soft, rotted wood as a long-term food source

Isopods get most of their moisture from the environment rather than drinking, so humidity control is crucial. Misting the damp side every few days is usually enough.

Diet

Australian isopods aren’t picky. They mainly feed on:

• Leaf litter

• Decaying wood

• A tiny bit of soft vegetable like zucchini

• Fish flakes or calcium sources occasionally

Their digestive system is designed for decomposing organic material, so a steady supply of leaf litter is essential. Supplementary protein is fine but not required daily.

Isopods as Pets

Even common Australian isopods can be incredibly rewarding pets. They:

• Are low-maintenance

• Breed steadily

• Show interesting social behaviours

• Can be kept in compact enclosures

• Have different shapes and sizes (rollers vs sliders)

While we lack bright patterns or morphs, observing their natural behaviours—burrowing, grouping, exploring, and grazing—is surprisingly relaxing and meditative.

Isopods as Clean-Up Crew (Bioactive Use)

In planted terrariums, closed ecosystems, or moist reptile/amphibian enclosures, isopods play a vital role:

• Breaking down decaying leaves

• Cleaning up shedding material or uneaten food

• Contributing to soil health

• Aerating substrate

• Supporting beneficial microbes

They work best paired with springtails, as both fill different ecological niches—springtails handle mould and micro-fungi, while isopods process larger decaying material spot cleaning poop is necessary you cannot just expect these bugs to handle all the waste your animal makes just tiny bits you miss and keeping the enclosure free from hidden waste.

They can be used in:

• Moist tropical terrariums

• Temperate moss setups

• Frog enclosures

However, because we have fewer species available, most of our isopods are not as fast-breeding or as specialised as exotic ones. They still work incredibly well, but the system may take longer to stabilise compared to overseas setups.

Isopods as Feeders

In Australia, isopods make excellent feeders for a wide range of invertebrates—especially spiders.

I personally feed them to:

• Funnel-web spiders

• Trapdoor spiders

• Curtain-web spiders

Here’s why they work well:

• They contain moisture and nutrients suitable for ambush predators

• They behave naturally, encouraging natural hunting responses

• They don’t harm the spider (unlike some crickets that may bite)

• They are easy to culture in large numbers with minimal effort

Limitations & Challenges in Australia

Because the community is still small, we face a few limitations:

• Few species available legally

• Very limited morphs or colours

• Minimal selective breeding

• Harder to identify some wild types

• Small hobby community means fewer resources

But on the positive side:

• Our species are hardy

• They’re well-adapted to our climate

• They’re easy to culture

• They fit perfectly into naturalistic and Australian-themed setups

As the hobby grows, we may see more captive breeding efforts and better documentation of local species. For now, we make the most of what we have—and what we have is still pretty great.

Conclusion

Australian isopods may not be as flashy as overseas morphs, but they’re hardy, versatile, and useful in countless ways. From low-maintenance pets to essential clean-up crew members, to feeders for carnivorous invertebrates like funnel-webs and trapdoors or even for frogs and lizards, they’re an incredibly valuable part of any terrarium or herp keeper’s toolkit.

Be sure to explore the rest of our bug care series—including springtails, phasmids, and general invertebrate husbandry—and follow along for future additions as the Aussie isopod hobby slowly grows.