What do isopods eat

One of the reasons isopods are such successful decomposers in nature is their incredibly flexible diet. If you are keeping isopods at home, understanding what isopods eat will help you maintain a healthy colony and support steady growth and reproduction. In the wild, isopods feed primarily on decaying organic matter found on the forest floor.

Leaf litter, rotting wood, and organic debris form the foundation of their diet. In captivity, most colonies continue to thrive when these natural foods are available, with occasional supplemental feeding to support colony health. If you are new to the hobby, our Isopod Care Guide explains the basics of maintaining a stable colony.

The Natural Diet of Isopods

Isopods are detritivores, meaning they consume decomposing organic material. On the forest floor they play an important role in breaking down leaves, wood, and other organic debris. As they feed, they help recycle nutrients within the soil ecosystem.

This behaviour also makes them extremely useful in terrariums and vivariums, where they are often used as part of a bioactive clean up crew. By consuming waste and organic debris, isopods help maintain healthy substrate conditions within the enclosure. If you are building a bioactive enclosure, you can explore suitable species in the Clean Up Crew Isopods collection.

Leaf Litter: The Most Important Food Source

For most species, leaf litter should form the core of the isopod diet. A thick layer of dried leaves provides both food and shelter within the enclosure. As the leaves slowly break down, isopods graze on the decaying plant material and the microorganisms that grow within it.

This is why many experienced keepers maintain a constant leaf litter layer in their enclosures. Our Isopod Habitat Setup Guide explains how leaf litter forms part of a healthy enclosure ecosystem.

Supplemental Foods for Isopods

While leaf litter forms the base diet, many keepers provide additional foods to support colony growth and reproduction. Supplemental foods can provide additional nutrients and help maintain strong, active colonies.

• Vegetable scraps such as carrot, courgette, and squash
• Decaying wood and bark
• Dried leaves and forest litter
• Specialised isopod foods
• Small amounts of protein-rich foods

Supplemental foods should be offered in moderation to prevent mould or uneaten food accumulating in the enclosure.

Protein in the Isopod Diet

Although isopods primarily consume plant material, small amounts of protein can be beneficial for colony development. In the wild, they may feed on decomposing insects or animal matter that they encounter within the forest floor environment.

In captivity, keepers sometimes provide occasional protein sources to support reproduction and growth. However, too much protein can encourage mites or mould growth, so moderation is important.

Calcium for Healthy Exoskeletons

Isopods require calcium to maintain strong exoskeletons and support successful moulting. Many keepers provide calcium sources within the enclosure so isopods can access them as needed.

• Cuttlebone
• Crushed eggshell
• Calcium powder
• Limestone fragments

Providing a small calcium source area within the enclosure helps ensure that colonies remain healthy and capable of moulting successfully.

Feeding Different Types of Isopods

While most species share similar dietary needs, their feeding behaviour can vary slightly depending on their lifestyle. Active surface species often gather around fresh food quickly, while burrowing species may spend more time feeding beneath the leaf litter layer.

For example:

• Porcellio species are active roamers that often feed visibly on the surface.
• Cubaris species may spend more time feeding within the substrate or beneath bark shelters.
• Armadillidium species often graze slowly across leaf litter and organic debris.

You can explore these genera in collections such as Porcellio Isopods, Cubaris Isopods, and Armadillidium Isopods.

How Often Should You Feed Isopods?

Because isopods constantly graze on leaf litter and organic material, they do not require frequent feeding. Supplemental foods can be added occasionally and removed if they are not consumed within a few days.

Many keepers observe their colony behaviour to determine feeding frequency. Active feeding responses often indicate that the colony is growing and requires additional nutrients.

Common Feeding Mistakes

• Removing leaf litter and relying only on fresh food