Shopping List with Prices
- Ventilated tub (3L): around Rs.250
- Isopod substrate: around Rs.500 per kg (you'll use a fraction of this for a 3L tub)
- Leaf litter (50g): around Rs.150
- Calcium block: around Rs.40
- Starter culture (e.g. Dairy Cow, 5 pcs): around Rs.90
Buying substrate and leaf litter in bulk (1kg / larger packs) brings the per-tub cost down significantly if you're planning more than one enclosure.
Adding Ventilation
If you're repurposing a container rather than buying a ready-ventilated tub, melt or drill small holes on two opposite sides using a heated pin or a fine drill bit. Space holes a few centimetres apart - enough for airflow, not so much that humidity escapes too fast.
Mixing Substrate
Combine coco peat, crumbled dried leaves, a little decaying wood and a pinch of crushed cuttlebone. Moisten until it holds together when squeezed but doesn't drip. Layer it 5-8 cm deep in the tub.
Moisture Gradient
Spray one side of the substrate more heavily than the other, so isopods can move between a damp zone and a drier zone as conditions change. This single step prevents more die-offs than almost anything else in a beginner setup.
Adding Isopods
Release your culture onto the damp side and leave the tub undisturbed for 48 hours - no opening the lid to check on them. This settling-in period matters more than people expect, especially for a culture that's just been shipped.