Ingredients
Coco peat (the moisture-holding base), dried crumbled leaves (food and texture), decaying hardwood or wood chips (long-term food source and aeration) and crushed cuttlebone or agricultural limestone (calcium). All four are easy to source in India - coco peat and limestone from a garden supply shop, leaves and rotting wood collected locally and dried.
Ratios
By volume: 50% coco peat, 25% leaf litter, 15% wood, 10% calcium source. This isn't a rigid formula - more leaf litter makes a richer, more food-dense substrate; more coco peat makes it hold moisture longer between mistings. Our ready-mixed Isopod Substrate uses this same base ratio if you'd rather skip the mixing.
Moisture Test
Squeeze a handful of mixed substrate - it should hold its shape without crumbling apart, but no water should drip out between your fingers. Too dry and it won't hold humidity; too wet and it risks mould and anaerobic pockets.
How Deep
5-8 cm is right for most tub sizes. Deeper substrate holds a more stable humidity gradient and gives burrowing species more room, but isn't necessary for small starter cultures.
When to Replace
Healthy substrate can last many months to a year with regular top-ups of leaf litter. Replace it fully if you see persistent mould that doesn't clear after reducing moisture and food, a strong ammonia-like smell, or after a colony crash where the cause is unclear.