Enter the terrarium size and climate: the calculator tells you how many isopods and springtails to add, how many litres of substrate and drainage, and when to add your animal.
| Terrarium | Isopods | Springtails | Substrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 cm | 14 | 1 | 8 L |
| 45 × 45 cm | 32 | 1 | 17 L |
| 60 × 45 cm | 42 | 2 | 22 L |
| 90 × 45 cm | 63 | 2 | 33 L |
| 120 × 60 cm | 111 | 3 | 58 L |
Average values. Colonies grow on their own: better to start small and wait.
A 60 × 45 cm terrarium, tropical, dwarf isopods, animal that does not eat them. Area = 2,700 cm². Isopods = 2,700 ÷ 65 = 41.5, rounded up to 42 isopods. Springtails = 2,700 ÷ 2,500 = 1.08, rounded up to 2 cultures. Substrate = 2,700 × 8 ÷ 1,000 = 21.6, so 22 L. Drainage = 8.1, so 9 L. Leaf litter ≈ 7 L.
Sources: common bioactive keeping practice and commercial clean-up crew kits (The Bio Dude). These are guidelines: start small, the colony grows on its own.
No. Climate only changes the substrate depth (10 cm in a desert setup instead of 8 cm) and removes drainage in a dry terrarium.
The calculator multiplies by 1.5 or 2 to make up for the ones that get eaten. Also keep a separate culture to restock.
Allow 4 to 6 weeks so the isopods and springtails can settle in.
Below that, a colony struggles to get going, even in a small terrarium.
Write to me: I fix the numbers and improve the calculator.