The EASIEST PETS to keep | D colony
Summary
TLDRIn this episode, the host introduces isopods as low-maintenance pets, perfect for hobbyists. They discuss their experience with different isopod species, showcasing their ease of care and benefits as 'janitors' in ant farms. The video provides a step-by-step guide on setting up an isopod enclosure with the right substrate, humidity levels, and hiding spots. It also covers their diet, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between isopods and other pets, and the joy of handling these creatures.
Takeaways
- π The video is about showcasing the low-maintenance nature of keeping isopods as pets, alongside the narrator's experience with ant keeping.
- π¦ Isopods can be kept in microwavable containers or specially made enclosures, highlighting their adaptability to various environments.
- π± The narrator has been breeding isopods for years and has recently started keeping them as pets, finding the process relaxing and enjoyable.
- π Three species of isopods are mentioned: the 'magic potion' pill bug, the 'dairy cow' isopod, and the 'cubery's murina', each with distinct characteristics.
- πΆ Isopods reproduce quickly and can surprise their keepers with the number of offspring they produce, as the narrator discovered after forgetting about them for a month.
- π½οΈ Isopods are voracious eaters and require a continuous supply of dried leaves, with occasional treats of high-protein foods like dried shrimps.
- π‘ The setup for an isopod enclosure includes a substrate mix of soil and peat moss, calcium sources, and a balance of moist and dry areas for the isopods' comfort.
- πΏ Hydration is crucial, with the enclosure needing a humid area covered by moss and a dry area that is never watered or misted.
- π³ Hides such as cork bark or driftwood are essential for the isopods to feel safe and to molt, and they also serve as a climbing structure.
- π Springtails are mentioned as beneficial companions in the enclosure, aiding in maintaining a healthy environment, though they are optional.
- π Isopods can be handled and petted, offering an interactive aspect to keeping them as pets, in addition to their role as 'janitors' in cleaning setups.
Q & A
What are isopods, and why are they considered low maintenance pets?
-Isopods, also known as pill bugs or woodlice, are small crustaceans that are considered low maintenance pets because they can survive for extended periods without daily care and are easy to keep in an enclosure with minimal requirements.
What is the speaker's experience with keeping isopods as pets?
-The speaker has been breeding isopods for years and has started keeping them as pets a few months ago. They have experience with creating enclosures and substrates for the isopods and have found the process relaxing and enjoyable.
What are the three species of isopods mentioned in the script?
-The three species of isopods mentioned are the 'magic potion' isopod, the 'dairy cow' isopod, and 'Cubery's murina'. The speaker also mentions a fourth species collected from their backyard.
How did the speaker find the isopods' ability to survive without attention for a month?
-The speaker was surprised and pleased to find that the isopods had not only survived without attention for a month but had also produced many offspring during that time.
What is the role of isopods in a bioactive setup?
-In a bioactive setup, isopods act as janitors, helping to clean up by consuming waste and dead insects, thus contributing to a healthy and balanced ecosystem.
What are the main components of the isopod enclosure substrate?
-The substrate for isopod enclosures is a mixture of 60% soil and 40% peat moss or coco peat, with added calcium powder for the baby isopods' exoskeleton development.
Why is a combination of moist and dry areas important in an isopod enclosure?
-A combination of moist and dry areas is important because it provides the isopods with the necessary environmental conditions to thrive, allowing them to choose their preferred habitat within the enclosure.
What are some of the food sources for isopods mentioned in the script?
-The food sources mentioned include dried leaves, which are their main diet, as well as fish flakes, dried beans, dried fish, vegetables, feeder insects waste, and dried shrimps as a treat.
How often should the isopod enclosure be checked and maintained?
-The enclosure does not need daily checks; a weekly check on food, calcium sources, and moisture levels is suggested, with occasional misting if the enclosure dries up quickly.
What is the purpose of adding springtails to the isopod enclosure?
-Springtails are added to the isopod enclosure to help maintain a healthy environment by consuming mold and decaying organic matter, thus contributing to the overall cleanliness and balance of the enclosure.
How can isopods be beneficial to a fire ants vivarium?
-Isopods can be beneficial to a fire ants vivarium by consuming the ants' food leftovers and waste, helping to keep the environment clean and providing a symbiotic relationship where both colonies thrive.
Outlines
π Introduction to Isopod Keeping
The video script introduces the concept of keeping isopods as pets, which are described as 'the lowest maintenance pets' the narrator has ever kept. The narrator, who is an experienced ant keeper, shares their experience with these creatures, which are also known as 'janitors' in the pet-keeping community due to their role in cleaning up enclosures. The script mentions that despite forgetting about them for a month, the isopods not only survived but also thrived and produced many offspring. The narrator promises to share their research and experiences on how to keep isopods easily using household items, and introduces the three species of isopods they are currently keeping: the 'magic potion' pill bug, the 'dairy cow' isopod, and the famous 'Cubery's Murina'. The video also hints at the symbiotic relationship between isopods and the narrator's ant colonies.
π‘ Setting Up an Isopod Enclosure
This paragraph delves into the practical aspects of setting up an isopod enclosure, emphasizing the use of clean, parasite-free substrates and the importance of maintaining a balance between moist and dry areas within the enclosure. The narrator suggests a mixture of soil and peat moss or coco peat, enriched with calcium powder, crushed eggshells, and powdered charcoal for the isopods' health. The enclosure is divided into a humid area with moss and a dry area, with the use of cork bark or driftwood for hiding places. Dried leaves are provided as the main food source, and the inclusion of springtails is recommended for a healthier environment. The setup is designed to be simple yet effective, requiring minimal maintenance and allowing for the isopods to thrive.
π Caring for Your Isopod Colony
The final paragraph provides guidance on the care and feeding of isopod colonies. It emphasizes the low-maintenance nature of isopods, suggesting that weekly checks are sufficient for monitoring food and calcium supplies. The narrator shares their feeding routine, which includes a variety of food sources such as fish flakes, dried beans, vegetables, and dried shrimps for protein and calcium enrichment. The importance of a continuous supply of dried leaves is highlighted, and the narrator expresses their enjoyment in observing and handling the isopods. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their thoughts on isopod keeping and a reminder of the benefits of this hobby, including the potential for future videos on the subject.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Pets
π‘Isopods
π‘Bioactive Setups
π‘Enclosures
π‘Substrate
π‘Hydration
π‘Feeding
π‘Molting
π‘Symbiotic Relationship
π‘DIY (Do It Yourself)
π‘Vivarium
Highlights
Introduction to the low maintenance pets: isopods, which are also known as 'janitors' in pet keeping.
Isopods can survive and even breed when neglected for a month, showing their self-sustainability.
The presenter has been breeding isopods for years and has recently started keeping them as pets.
Isopods are described as relaxing to handle and can be left alone as long as their enclosure conditions are met.
Three species of isopods are kept: the 'magic potion', 'dairy cow', and 'cubery's murina'.
The 'dairy cow' isopod is noted for its fast growth and mobility.
Cubery's murina isopods are observed to coexist peacefully with fire ants in a vivarium.
A simple isopod farm setup is demonstrated using regular plastic containers.
A mixture of soil and peat moss is recommended for the isopod substrate, with added calcium for their exoskeleton development.
The importance of maintaining both moist and dry areas in the isopod enclosure for their natural behavior.
Use of moss to retain moisture and the option to cover ventilation holes to control humidity.
The necessity of providing hiding places like cork bark for the isopods' comfort and safety.
Springtails are introduced as beneficial companions to isopods in the enclosure.
Dried leaves serve as the main food source for isopods, with additional treats like dried shrimps for protein and calcium.
Isopods can be fed a variety of foods including fish flakes, dried beans, and vegetables.
The presenter's personal enjoyment in watching and handling isopods in their enclosure.
A call to action for viewers to share their thoughts on keeping isopods as pets and potential future content on the topic.
Transcripts
[Music]
good day buddies
today i will show you another side of
keeping pets where ant keeping brought
me the past
years if you're a fellow and keeper
i'm sure you've seen or maybe heard
about what i'm going to show you
on this episode lying on this enclosures
are different colonies
of cute and the lowest maintenance pets
that i've ever kept
anyway thank you buddies for coming back
and if you're new to the channel you're
also welcome
to d colony
[Music]
few months ago buddies i started keeping
this low maintenance pets
talking about how low maintenance they
are it happens i forgot about them for
one month just under a table
when i remember checking them i was too
nervous
in my mind they might all dead that time
but instead they surprised me when i saw
they have produced so many babies
okay buddies let's meet them considered
as janitors of ant keeping
and other pet keeping hobbies members of
our cleanup crew
a must have edition in our bioactive
setups
pleased to meet you the isopods
aren't they cute two buddies anyway iman
isopods breeding for years now
but only several months on keeping them
as pets
already bought and made them some
enclosures experimented on substrates
don't worry buddies cause i will share
to you on how easy to keep them without
worries
based on my research and my experiences
so far
whether for clean up crew on your setups
or keeping them as pets
we can simply keep them by only using
what's available on our homes
i kept mine on microwavable containers
when i started to collect
buy and breed isopods for my ant farms
that's when i started making bioactive
enclosures
but later on i found out that keeping
them was relaxing and enjoyable too
like what i feel on keeping my ant
colonies
so i started keeping them as pets and i
transferred them to these three
compartments enclosure
so that i can put them where my ant
tanks is located
and to also not forget about them
anymore
currently im keeping three species of
isopods buddies
i already collected my fourth specie in
my backyard but im still in the process
of trying to breed
and identify them we got this
pill bug or isopod known as magic potion
it's always relaxing to handle this guys
anytime
buddies but if you're having a busy day
don't worry about them
as long as you've provided what they
need on their enclosures
they will be fine on their own
[Music]
next let's check the other one we have
this rolly poly or isopod known as dairy
cow buddies
a larger specie of isopod compared to
the first one
bigger but faster than other isopods
species too
in terms of mobility and also in growth
rate
cause these guys grows fast in just few
weeks
this isopods are pretty voracious two
buddies
you should be checking their food supply
once in a while if ever you decided to
keep them
[Music]
and the third isopod we have may be the
most
common and the most famous of them all
named cubery's murina a smaller specie
compared to the first two
[Music]
i tried to collect some of them here for
us to have a look
buddies though most of them here are
still juveniles
if you are in the channel for a while
now you probably know that a colony of
these guys
are present on my fire ants vivarium
they're doing pretty good out there with
my ant colony
this isopod colony is also growing
massively
along with my fire ants maybe because of
the abundance of food from insects
carcasses
from the ants food leftovers and they
also consume the ants poop mountain
it's really rewarding to see your pets
living together symbiotically
and both doing well the fire ants don't
harm the isopods
the two colonies living on this vivarium
peacefully
now let me show you how easy to keep
isopods as pets
we can see here that they're having so
much babies
they definitely need more room soon so
let's set up a simple isopod farm we can
use regular plastic containers buddies
like tupperwares as long as the insides
are smooth
cause isopods can climb smooth surfaces
but since i got this smaller version of
acrylic cage
that we also use on our last diy video
so i'm using them in one
two three
anyway it's here on the i card in case
you've missed our previous video
i securely glued all the corners to
prevent leaks
next thing we need to prepare is our
substrate
not just any substrate but a clean
substrate
means free of parasites or any harmful
mites
i will put here on the icard on how i
clean my chews and substrate
once the video is uploaded i use 60
soil and 40 peat moss or coco peat in my
isopods substrate
i find this mixture great for the
isopods to borrow easily
im also adding a calcium powder to the
substrate for the manky
or baby isopods to feed on they needed
to develop their exoskeletons
for the calcium source you can offer
reptile calcium or cuttlebone from
reptile stores
but we can also use a free calcium
source i just crushed eggshells and
offer it
to my isopods i will also crush dried
hardwood leaves
this is also for the baby isopods the
powdered leaves will be easier for the
manky to devour
some charcoal and powdered charcoal
this will act as filter in the soil and
in the air
this will make the isopod farm healthier
we just need to mix all of them well
before putting it in the containers
[Music]
we need more than an inch or two for the
substrate
like our ant farms isopods farm also
needs hydration
a humid part and a dry part is necessary
for the moist area we need to put a
patch of dried or living moss
we can put it on any of the two sides
and it should be covering
20 to 30 percent of the enclosure
the moss will hold the moisture for a
longer period of time
you just need to water this side
whenever it's beginning to dry up
you can mist it weekly but it also
depends on your enclosure's ventilation
and substrate thickness in this
enclosure
i can cover this ventilation holes in
the moist side
to make evaporation slower and make the
enclosure humid for a longer time
in the second tank i'll be trying to put
a living moss that i grew on this lava
rock
and surround it with dried sphagnum moss
about the dry side of the setup we only
need to keep it dry by never watering
or misting cause the isopods need one
side dry at all times
next we need some hide for the colony
and also them
the isopods best friend springtails
they will help to make the enclosure
more healthy
but you can have them optional it's your
choice
this cork bark will be the height of our
isopods
it will make them relax and feel safe
while under it
it's better if we have hides both on the
moist and dry
side so that the isopods can always
choose where to rest and gather
they will surely gather here they will
also climb on top anytime they need to
dry out
or they need to get some air while
molting
for the hides we can use cardboard
and egg crates too but corkbark or
driftwood is still the best
aside from they looks so natural isopods
will also take a bite on them once in a
while
dried leaves this will be the main food
source of the colony
so we can't miss them on the enclosure
you can also bury some on the moist
substrate to soften the leaves
for the baby isopods to consume them
easier
we can put a thick carpet of dried
leaves
just make sure that they will not reach
the vents
to prevent the isopods from escaping at
last
we can now let the isopods take over
this land
i'll put the magic potions first i have
20 plus adults and sub-adults
and some babies i'm placing them one by
one
bodies cause i don't want to mix their
old substrate here with the new one
[Music]
then our dairy cows
sorry buddy we got also 20 plus adults
and so many babies
this guy's eats a lot no wonder why they
grow faster than the other isopods that
i keep
isopods buddies are very easy to keep
you don't need to check on them on a
daily basis
weekly maybe you can check their food
and calcium sauce on the dry
side and give them some if it needed
some refill
or weekly mist of water if their
enclosure dries up that fast
anyway we can feed them fish flakes
dried beans
dried fish vegetables your feeder
insects waste
or carcasses for them to have a variety
of food aside from their main diet of
dry leaves
to help their colony thrive
this week i'm giving them a treat of
dried shrimps
fats high in protein and calcium i also
feed this to my ant colonies anyway
we just need to add more leaves once a
month or based on how thick the leaves
you give them
and how long they will last just give
them a continuous supply of dried leaves
like my ant colonies once in a while
i also enjoy and admire watching my
isopods on their own little
world with a bonus cause we can pet
and handle them anytime we're not busy i
will be soon including this new isopods
on my future and terrarium builds
or maybe an isopod terrarium itself
after watching this episode you now
learn the basics of keeping pill bugs as
pets
and how low maintenance they are what do
you think of keeping an isopod colony as
a hobby buddies
should we make more videos about isopods
keeping
feel free to share your thoughts on the
comments
i just hope you have learned something
from this video guys
be a genie for the first time by
granting my wish in tapping the like and
share button
that would help a lot this is d colony
saying goodbye for now but hoping to see
you on my next videos
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