The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your Pet Woodlouse: A Comprehensive Handbook

Woodlice, also known as pillbugs, roly-polies, or sowbugs, are fascinating little crustaceans often found hiding under logs and stones in our gardens. These tiny creatures, while not traditional pets, can be incredibly rewarding to observe and care for. Their unique behaviors, simple needs, and low maintenance make them an excellent choice for beginner keepers, especially children. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating the perfect habitat for your pet woodlice and ensuring their health and happiness.

Understanding Your Pet Woodlouse

Before bringing your new friends home, it’s important to understand their natural environment and needs. Woodlice are not insects; they are isopods, a type of crustacean, which means they are more closely related to shrimp and crabs than to beetles or ants. They are detritivores, meaning they primarily feed on decaying organic matter. This diet makes them excellent decomposers in their natural habitat and simplifies their care in captivity. Here’s a breakdown of their key characteristics:

• Respiration: Woodlice breathe through modified gills located on their pleopods (abdominal legs). They need a moist environment to facilitate gas exchange.
• Diet: Primarily feed on decaying plant matter, such as leaf litter, rotting wood, and vegetable scraps.
• Habitat: Prefer dark, moist environments with plenty of hiding places.
• Molting: Woodlice shed their exoskeletons as they grow. This process is called molting, and it occurs periodically throughout their lives.
• Reproduction: Female woodlice carry their eggs in a pouch under their abdomen until they hatch into tiny versions of the adults.
• Nocturnal Behavior: They are generally most active during the night.

Setting Up the Perfect Woodlouse Habitat

Creating a suitable habitat is crucial for the well-being of your woodlice. Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your terrarium:

1. Choosing the Right Enclosure

• Size: A small to medium-sized plastic or glass container with a lid will work perfectly. A container that is approximately 30cm x 20cm x 20cm (12 inches x 8 inches x 8 inches) is suitable for a small colony. Avoid using containers that have been used for storing chemicals or toxic substances.
• Material: Clear plastic or glass is ideal as it allows you to easily observe your woodlice. Glass tanks provide excellent viewing and are durable, but plastic bins are lighter and more affordable. Ensure the container is robust and not easily damaged.
• Ventilation: Adequate ventilation is vital to prevent the build-up of harmful gases and maintain moisture balance. Drill small holes in the lid or sides of the container, or use a lid with a mesh opening. Make sure the holes are small enough that the woodlice cannot escape.
• Lid: A secure lid is essential. Woodlice are excellent climbers, and without a proper lid, they will likely escape.

2. Creating the Substrate

The substrate is the material that covers the bottom of the enclosure and forms the base of the woodlice’s home. It needs to retain moisture well and provide a suitable medium for their activities:

• Base Layer: Start with a layer of about 3-5cm (1-2 inches) of organic potting soil. Choose soil that is free from pesticides and fertilizers, as these can be harmful to your woodlice. Avoid using garden soil directly as it might contain harmful insects or pathogens.
• Leaf Litter: Add a generous layer of dried leaves on top of the soil. Oak, maple, and beech leaves are excellent choices. Collect leaves from areas that are free from pesticides. Alternatively, you can use commercially available dried leaves for reptiles or invertebrates.
• Decaying Wood: Place pieces of decaying bark, branches, and small logs within the habitat. The wood will serve as food and shelter for the woodlice. Ensure the wood is naturally decaying and not chemically treated. You can collect decaying wood from natural areas, but make sure you’re not disturbing protected areas.
• Sphagnum Moss: Add some sphagnum moss to the substrate, preferably in one area. This helps to maintain humidity and provides a humid spot for your woodlice to retreat. Ensure the moss stays moist but not waterlogged.
• Optional Substrate Additions: Small pieces of cuttlebone can be added to the substrate as a source of calcium which is crucial for their exoskeletons.

3. Providing Hiding Places

Woodlice are nocturnal and prefer to stay hidden during the day. Therefore, it’s essential to provide them with plenty of hiding places:

• Cork Bark: Small pieces of cork bark can be placed on top of the substrate and will act as excellent shelters.
• Small Rocks: Flat rocks can be placed in the terrarium, creating crevices and spaces underneath for woodlice to hide. Ensure rocks are stable and won’t collapse on the woodlice.
• Terracotta Pots: Broken or small terracotta pots placed on their sides also make for good hiding places.
• Leaf Clusters: Thick layers of leaves also provide ample opportunities for hiding.

4. Maintaining Moisture and Humidity

Woodlice need a consistently moist environment to thrive. Here’s how to maintain the right level of humidity:

• Misting: Regularly mist the substrate and leaf litter with water. Use a spray bottle to lightly mist the habitat every 1-2 days, or more frequently in drier conditions. Do not saturate the substrate. Over-watering can lead to mold growth and harm your woodlice.
• Moisture Monitoring: Check the moisture level of the substrate regularly. The soil should be moist but not waterlogged. If the substrate is drying out quickly, mist more often or add a water dish (see below).
• Water Dish (Optional): You can place a small, shallow dish filled with water and pebbles in the habitat. The pebbles will prevent the woodlice from drowning and allow them to drink water. You can also use a small bottle cap filled with water, but be vigilant about refilling it to avoid it drying out.

Feeding Your Pet Woodlouse

Woodlice are not fussy eaters, but providing them with a varied diet ensures their nutritional needs are met:

• Leaf Litter: The primary food source for woodlice is decaying leaf litter. Replace the leaf litter as it breaks down.
• Vegetable Scraps: Supplement their diet with small pieces of vegetable scraps such as carrot peelings, potato peelings, and cucumber. Avoid feeding them heavily processed foods or foods that are known to be toxic to insects and other invertebrates.
• Fruit Scraps: Occasionally, small pieces of fruit, like apple or banana, can be offered. However, remove any uneaten fruit after a few hours to prevent mold growth.
• Dead Plant Matter: Provide occasional dead leaves, dried grasses, or dead flowers.
• Cuttlebone: Include a small piece of cuttlebone in the terrarium as a calcium source. They will rasp at it to consume needed calcium.
• Avoid Feeding: Do not give citrus fruits, onions, garlic, or processed foods to your woodlice, as these can be harmful to them.
• Feeding Frequency: Food should be provided in small amounts to prevent overfeeding and mold growth. They eat quite a small amount of food. Replenish food every 2-3 days, or as necessary. Remove any uneaten food before it becomes moldy.

Maintaining Your Woodlouse Habitat

Regular maintenance is key to a healthy woodlouse colony:

• Cleaning: Spot-clean the terrarium weekly, removing any uneaten food, dead woodlice, and visible mold.
• Substrate Change: Replace the substrate every 2-3 months, or as needed. If you see a lot of build-up or the substrate smells bad, it’s time for a change. Remove about two-thirds of the old substrate and replace it with fresh, clean substrate. Be careful not to harm any woodlice during this process.
• Watering: Check the humidity levels regularly and mist as needed.
• Observation: Regularly observe your woodlice for signs of illness or distress. A healthy woodlouse will be active, have a smooth exoskeleton, and move without difficulty.
• Molting: Don’t be alarmed when you find exoskeletons. Molting is a normal part of their growth cycle and they eat their molted exoskeletons to recycle nutrients.
• Temperature: Woodlice thrive at temperatures between 15-25 degrees Celsius (59-77 degrees Fahrenheit). Avoid placing the terrarium in direct sunlight, or near heat sources or drafts.

Common Problems and Solutions

While woodlice are generally low-maintenance, there are a few common problems you might encounter:

• Mold Growth: If mold appears, remove the affected substrate and ensure there is adequate ventilation. Adjust your misting frequency. Also, check that you’re not adding more food than they consume before it goes moldy.
• Mites: Occasionally, small mites might appear in the terrarium. These are usually harmless, but if there are too many you should remove and replace the substrate and thoroughly clean the terrarium. You can also use a beneficial mite species (like predatory mites) to control them.
• Drowning: Provide a water dish with pebbles to prevent the woodlice from drowning.
• Escapees: Check your terrarium for gaps and ensure that the lid is securely fitted and that the ventilation holes are small enough that your woodlice can’t escape.
• Lack of Activity: If your woodlice become inactive, check the moisture levels and provide fresh food. The problem might also be related to temperature.

Observing and Learning

One of the most rewarding aspects of keeping woodlice is observing their fascinating behaviors:

• Nocturnal Activity: Watch them during the evening and night to see their active side.
• Feeding Habits: Observe how they consume leaf litter and other food items.
• Social Interactions: Notice how they interact with each other within their colony.
• Molting Behavior: You might be lucky enough to witness a woodlouse molting. It’s an interesting process to see and understand.
• Breeding: Observe them reproducing. The females carry their eggs in a pouch under their abdomen until they hatch.

Ethical Considerations

When keeping woodlice, it’s crucial to consider these ethical points:

• Sourcing: Collect woodlice from your garden or an area with abundance. Avoid over-collecting and disturbing their natural environment. If you need a large colony consider buying captive bred woodlice from reputable sources.
• Releasing: If you decide to no longer care for your woodlice, release them in a safe outdoor location that is similar to the one from where you collected them. Do not release non-native species to new locations.
• Responsible Care: Provide them with a suitable habitat, appropriate food, and proper care.

Conclusion

Keeping pet woodlice can be a fun, educational, and rewarding experience. Their simple care requirements, low maintenance, and intriguing behaviors make them excellent pets, especially for those new to keeping invertebrates or for children. By following this guide, you can create a thriving habitat for your little crustaceans and enjoy observing their fascinating world.