The appropriately named “Florida Fast
Honestly, nothing even comes close to the natural speed of Atlantoscia floridana isopods. They’re so fast it’s hard to keep your eyes on them as they dart around.
So maybe not the best
But as a bioactive cleanup crew on steroids? Yes, I think I will.
Find out how to care for and culture these absolute speed demons and how to put them to good use in a terrarium setup.
Hit the gas; let’s gooo!
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A Quick Intro to Florida Fast Isopods
Unsurprisingly, Florida Fast Isopods are indeed native to the sunshine state of Florida.
Though, they’ve since found their way south to a variety of South American countries, all the way from Brazil to Argentina.
So you can probably deduce their preference for climate already – warm and wet.
They’re part of the genus Atlantoscia, and they’re actually the only one of their kind in the
But who knows what turbo-colored morphs we might have in the future.
To me, Florida Fast Isopods look a little like Dwarf Purple Isopods. Sharing a similar muted grey/purple coloration and a relatively small body, averaging under 1cm in size. Though they are much thinner, maybe it’s aerodynamics at play.
Here’s why you should consider them for your next project.
- Being of tropical origin, they’re a natural fit for terrariums and vivariums.
- Much like the Dwarf White and Dwarf Purple Isopods, they establish and reproduce incredibly fast.
- They are excellent bioactive custodians, making short work of organic material.
- As a soft-bodied species, they can also serve as a good feeder insect for the right vivarium animals (if they can catch them!).
👉 Sound good? Grab a culture of Florida Fast Isopods here.
Next up, we’re switching gears and exploring how to best care for these speedy critters.
Florida Fast Isopods Care
These are relatively small isopods, so you can definitely get started with a standard 6-quart container. Just note, their rapid reproduction rate may necessitate an upgrade later down the line…
[image] I’d start with something like this inexpensive vented container on Etsy.
Now, as you might expect from Floridian natives, these critters like it warm, humid, and moist.
So, choosing an isopod soil mix with a healthy amount of moisture retention will help a lot in boosting humidity and maintaining those conditions. I’d also add a high degree of earthworm castings to provide plenty of that, along with some consistent nutrients.
Next, a large “hydration area” of sphagnum moss can help here too.
Sphagnum moss is the best material for holding onto water, so you can use it liberally in one corner of the container that will stay wetter than the rest.
That said, you don’t need a steep moisture gradient here – you can go ahead and mist the whole enclosure.
(Pro tip – A super moist substrate can lead to mold and pest issues. Consider culturing them with springtails to help keep mold in control).
Finally, be sure to add some cork bark to your setup to give your isopods some static hiding places, too.
Food
Florida Fast Isopods respond well to the classic isopod diet of decomposing wood, organic substrate material, and leaf litter.
Interestingly, @BigRedsIsopods over on YouTube found that they don’t seem to enjoy vegetable scraps and only care for minimum protein supplementation.
On the whole, that’s pretty unusual for isopods.
So feeding Atlantoscia floridana isopods seems to be very straightforward – just keep the leaf litter plentiful and flowing!
👉 You can grab bags of organic leaf litter right here.
That said, I do think it’s best to add some calcium supplementation too. So throw a few crushed egg shells bits in there every now and again for good measure.
Breeding
These isopods are naturally prolific breeders.
This 2005 population study on Atlantoscia floridana said, “Its most remarkable characteristic is its high reproductive investment.” It also found that “reproduction is considered continuous; however, reproduction peaked during autumn and spring.”
So, that’s helpful to know when to expect a population boom.
Personally, I love how the experts at Rubber Ducky Isopods have labeled this species as “Comically Easy” under their breeding difficulty… I think that says it all.
Where to Buy Florida Fast Isopods
Florida Fast Isopods are a pretty popular species these days – they’re easy to source online.
Being both inexpensive isopods and rapid reproducers means they’re an easy investment to make!
I recommend getting your isopods from the team over at Rubber Ducky Isopods. You’re in good hands with their expert service and committed support.
Securely shipped in a culture start-up system that contains: Organic Sphagnum Moss, RDI House Blend Superfood, and Sprinkled Oak Leaves.
From our partners, Rubber Ducky Isopods. (Shipping included).
Crossing the Finish Line
Alright, that’s a wrap on this speedy run-through of the Florida Fast Isopods.
How do these isopods stack up for you?
If you need bioactive alternatives, you might also want to check out our isopod species guide.
