HELP! Which isopods and springtails are best for my needs? With almost 15 years of experience with isopods, springtails, and bioactive terrariums, here is what I have learned over the years to help you make an informed decision.
Slow Reproducing Isopods
*A. vulgare (Wild Type, St. Lucia, Gem Mix, Magic Potion, etc.)
*P. scaber isopods (Lottery Ticket, Dalmatian, Orange, Orange Koi, Ghost, Snow Koi, Lemonade, Whiteout, Lava, Piebald, Orin's Calico, etc.)
Quick Reproducing Isopods and Springtails
*P. pruinosus (Powder Orange, Powder Blue, Party Mix, Whiteout, Pink, Orange Cream, Oreo Crumble, Red Koi, etc.)
*P. laevis (Dairy Cow, Gray, Orange, White, Milkback, etc.)
*Trichorhina tomentosa (Dwarf White)
*Pseudosinella violenta Bylas Ant springtails
*Coecobrya communis Pink/Tropical springtails
*Folsomia candida springtails
Isopods and Springtails that Spend Most of Their Time in the Substrate
*Trichorhina tomentosa Dwarf White
*Venezillo parvus and Venezillo parvus Dalmatian
*Seira dowlingi Silver springtails
*Proistoma minuta springtails
*Lepidocyrtus fimicolus 24K springtails
*Dwarf Purple isopods
*Ceratophysella sp. Lilac and Yellow springtails
*Folsomia candida springtails
*Neanura growae Florida Orange springtails
*Yuukianura Orange springtails
*Lobella sp. Red springtails
*Pseudosinella alba Prospector springtails
Isopods and Springtails Suitable for a Plant Terrarium (plants may get nibbled by isopods)
* A. vulgare (Wild Type, St. Lucia, Gem Mix, Magic Potion, etc.)
*P. scaber (Lottery Ticket, Dalmatian, Orange, Orange Koi, Ghost, Snow Koi, Lemonade, Whiteout, Lava, Piebald, Orin's Calico, etc.)
*Cubaris murina (Little Sea, Papaya, Party Mix, Anemone, etc.)
*Neanura growae Florida Orange springtails
*Yuukianura Orange springtails
*Lobella sp. Red springtails
*Pseudosinella alba Prospector springtails
*Folsomia candida
*Ceratophysella sp. Lilac and Yellow springtails
Isopods and Springtails for Arid, Desert, and Semi-Arid Enclosures (must have a damp area in the enclosure for isopods and springtails to retreat to)
*P. pruinosus (Powder Orange, Powder Blue, Party Mix, Whiteout, Pink, Orange Cream, Oreo Crumble, Red Koi, etc.)
*P. laevis (Dairy Cow, Gray, Orange, White, Milkback, etc.)
*Trichorhina tomentosa (Dwarf White)
*Seira dowlingi springtails
*Lepidocyrtus fimicolus 24K springtails
*Coecobrya communis Pink/Tropical springtails
*Pseudosinella violenta Bylas Ant springtails
Extremely Forgiving Isopods and Springtails
*P. pruinosus (Powder Orange, Powder Blue, Party Mix, Whiteout, Pink, Orange Cream, Oreo Crumble, Red Koi, etc.)
*P. laevis (Dairy Cow, Gray, Orange, White, Milkback, etc.)
*Trichorhina tomentosa (Dwarf White)
*Seira dowlingi springtails
*Coecobrya communis Pink/Tropical springtails
*Pseudosinella violenta Bylas Ant springtails
Best Beginner Isopods and Springtails
*P. pruinosus (Powder Orange, Powder Blue, Party Mix, Whiteout, Pink, Orange Cream, Oreo Crumble, Red Koi, etc.)
*P. laevis (Dairy Cow, Gray, Orange, White, Milkback, etc.)
*Trichorhina tomentosa (Dwarf White)
*Coecobrya communis Pink/Tropical springtails
*Pseudosinella violenta Bylas Ant springtails
*Seira dowlingi Silver springtails
Best Isopod and Roly-Poly Pets
*P. laevis (Dairy Cow, Gray, Orange, White, Milkback, etc.) *Very active pet bug
*A. vulgare (Wild Type, St. Lucia, Gem Mix, Magic Potion, etc.) *Traditional roly-poly, slower breeding pet bug