Pill bugs

[VeiledOwner87]

what do you guys think of them? does anybody use them as feeders? or could they be used as good cleaners?

 

[sandrachameleon]

I like them. the chameleons LOVE them. Yes you can use as feeders, but better to use ones you raise yourself rather than wild caught ones (parasites and also they are heavy metal bio-acumulators). High in calcium. Not super easy to digest, like any shelled prey, so I would limit offering to no more than weekly. Make excellent cleaners in my frog enclosures.

 

[jr andrade]

lol mind me but whats a pill bug?

 

[sandrachameleon]

lol mind me but whats a pill bug?

Its a small terrestrial isopod.
You might be familiary with the term "Wood sow" or "rollie pollie" or "wood louse"
The ones pictured here are wood sow or wood louse (they dont roll up into balls like the related pill bugs)

and These are pill bugs
http://www.shadesofgreensa.com/images/pill%20bug.jpg

 

[Elizadolots]

we call them "rolly polly's"....they are related to lobsters. When you try to pick them up they roll into a little ball...hence the name...

 

[VeiledOwner87]

very cool guys... lol ive always called them potato bugs how would one breed and raise these lil guys?

 

[weezyboi94]

Do they breed as effeciently as dubias or longer..? I've offered Melea a few before and she took straight to them. I would'nt mind trying to breed them as long as they take too much time.

 

[Miss Lily]

I think sandrachameleon has a blog on this. I tried to raise a few before, but didn't have much success, lol!

Edit - just found some info that she posted:https://www.chameleonforums.com/isopods-16457/

 

[sandrachameleon]

very cool guys... lol ive always called them potato bugs how would one breed and raise these lil guys?

this blog entry explains how I've raised them.
very simple to do, but patience is necessary. Will take awhile before you have big enough offspring to use.