The Importance of Substrate for Isopods and Millipedes

Substrate is the key component for all detritivores. A rich substrate that is packed with organic matter is essential for raising isopods and millipedes. A high quality substrate is key for sustaining happy, well nourished and active millipedes and isopods. The substrate is also important for stimulating breeding behaviour. 

When keeping isopods and millipedes, your substrate should be used as your primary food source. Isopods and millipedes are both detritivores (an animal which feeds on dead organic material, especially plant detritus.) and can survive on substrate alone, if it is packed with enough nutrients.

The main nutrients in your substrate should be from decaying organic matter, leaves, wood and plants.

If you think about the environment where your millipedes or isopods came from in the wild, these would be places with an abundance of decaying organic matter, such as woodlands or forests. These critters would roam under the leaf litter and fallen trees looking for a good, nutrient dense meal.

Looking at the anatomy of detritivores, such as isopods and millipedes their mandibles are perfect for munching through soft foods. This is why we need to ensure that the food we offer to them is to a high level of decay as rotten wood and rotten leaves are nice and soft for them to eat with minimal effort.

Millipedes need substrate to burrow into and so do some species of isopod. These creatures feel safe in compact spaces away from light (in the wild, they would also be safer from predation).

Millipedes moult under the substrate, so it is important to have a firm substrate that can retain a good level of moisture for them to create a chamber to moult in.

Millipedes will also lay their eggs deep within the substrate and once these eggs hatch the baby millipedes will stay under the surface to feed on the substrate in order for them to keep growing.

Millipedes and isopods will use their substrate to control the levels of moisture they are exposed to. 

In the case of isopods, an adequate level of humidity is required in order for them to actually breathe, keep hydrated and to aid in the moulting process.