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What an isopod colony really costs
A starter culture of 10 Porcellio laevis isopods costs about $27–$55 delivered, because live shipping is often more than the isopods. A plastic tub, isopod substrate, leaf litter, cork bark and a spray bottle add about $20–$155 (typically about $65), and prepared food, calcium, leaf litter and fresh substrate run about $70 a year, less if you use kitchen scraps and backyard leaves. Check the legal side first: USDA APHIS says many isopod species need a federal permit to own.
- Life expectancy
- 2–3 years
- Size
- Sold at ¼ in or larger; P. laevis is one of the larger hobby isopods
- Care level
- Low
- Price
- $27–$55
- Setup
- About $60
- Insurance
- Not offered
Estimate for: A starter culture of 10 Porcellio laevis (a large, hardy, fast-breeding isopod) bought online with live shipping, kept at room temperature in a plastic tub on isopod substrate and leaf litter and left to grow into a breeding colony. Lifetime figures cover the founders' 2–3 year lifespan; a healthy colony keeps going at the yearly cost. Space needed: A 6-quart plastic tub for a starter culture, moving to a 37-quart tub as the colony grows (Josh's Frogs).
Where the money goes each year
A typical year for an isopod colony, with typical spending in an average-cost area.
- Leaf litter top-ups$24
- Prepared isopod food$20
- Substrate replacement$15
- Calcium supplement$9
- Typical year$70
Most years land between $10 and $130. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.
Setup and the first year
For isopods, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.
Getting set up
- Price (starter culture of 10 from an online dealer (including live shipping))$41
- Plastic tub (6 qt starter, then 37 qt as the colony grows)$25
- Isopod substrate, 3–4 in deep$15
- Leaf litter (food and cover)$12
- Cork bark pieces for hiding$7
- Spray bottle for misting$5
- Upfront$110
Running costs in year one
- Prepared isopod food$20
- Calcium supplement$9
- Leaf litter top-ups$24
- Substrate replacement$15
- Year-one running costs$70
First-year total: $170.
Make it your estimate
Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.
$6 a month in a typical year.
- Leaf litter top-ups$24
- Prepared isopod food$20
- Substrate replacement$15
- Calcium supplement$9
- Typical year$70
What to buy
The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to an isopod colony. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.
- Plastic tub (6 qt starter, then 37 qt as the colony grows)Setup, typically about $25See on Amazon
- Isopod substrate, 3–4 in deepSetup, typically about $15See on Amazon
- Leaf litter (food and cover)Setup, typically about $12See on Amazon
- Cork bark pieces for hidingSetup, typically about $7See on Amazon
- Spray bottle for mistingSetup, typically about $5See on Amazon
- Prepared isopod foodOngoing, typically about $20 a yearSee on Amazon
- Calcium supplementOngoing, typically about $9 a yearSee on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.
Health costs to plan for
| Condition | What it is | Typical treatment | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drying out | Isopods need moisture: Josh's Frogs gives 55–80% humidity for P. laevis, reached by misting when the enclosure starts to dry, and says its substrate retains moisture so isopods stay hydrated. A tub that dries out can lose the colony. Source | Mist more and keep part of the substrate damp; a lost colony costs $27–$55 to restart | $0–$55 |
| Calcium depletion | Josh's Frogs says clean-up crews such as isopods quickly use up a substrate's calcium, and its care notes call for a calcium supplement alongside food. Source | MicroCal substrate supplement ($8.99) or a calcium-enriched substrate such as Milli Mix ($29.99) | $9–$30 |
| Mold and mites from leftover food | Pod Power's instructions say to remove food not eaten within 24 hours to avoid attracting pests or mold, and Josh's Frogs sells sterile isopod substrate because garden-center soils can bring in mites and hitchhikers. Source | Feed less, remove leftovers, and replace the substrate ($10.98–$29.99) | $11–$30 |
The yearly estimate includes an average of $0 for illness and injury. No US insurer covers isopods. Nationwide's exotic plan lists birds, rabbits, mini pigs and goats, lizards/reptiles/frogs, guinea pigs, and ferrets and small mammals, and says any species not listed is ineligible.
What drives the cost
- Shipping is most of the purchase price: Josh's Frogs sells 10 P. laevis for $14.99 but ships live animals overnight at a flat $39.99 ($54.98 total). The Bio Dude's $26.95 10-count includes shipping, but it requires a $19.95 overnight upgrade in hot weather ($46.90).
- The colony grows, and so does its home: Josh's Frogs says a 6-quart tub works for a starter culture ($4.99 at Ace Hardware) and to move to a 37-quart gasket box ($19.99 at Family Hardware) for a larger culture. The typical setup here includes both.
- Food can cost almost nothing: Bugs in Cyberspace says isopods eat bits of dog or cat food, fruit and vegetables, or dried leaves and moss, and The Bio Dude lists cucumber and carrots. Josh's Frogs recommends a prepared diet such as Pod Power ($19.99 for 6 oz) twice a week plus a calcium supplement.
- Bagged leaf litter is cheap but not sterile: The Bio Dude sells about 2 qt of water oak leaves for $11.95 and still says to inspect and disinfect them before use, so free backyard leaves need the same treatment.
- No heat is needed: Josh's Frogs gives 50–85°F as the ideal range for P. laevis, so electricity is $0 in a normal home.
- Individual isopods live 2–3 years (Josh's Frogs), but P. laevis breeds readily, so a well-kept colony has no fixed end; each extra year costs about the annual total.
Is it legal where you live?
Murkier than for most invertebrates. USDA APHIS says land-dwelling isopods can damage crops and ornamental plants, that a PPQ 526 permit is required to legally own many species, and to contact it (Pest.Permits@usda.gov) before buying; isopods are not on its list of organisms exempt from interstate-movement permits. Dealers still ship common species like P. laevis nationwide, though Josh's Frogs will not ship them to Hawaii or Louisiana (P. scaber also not to Oregon). Florida allows only native or established terrestrial isopods or species it rates low risk, prohibits others such as Armadillidium klugii and A. maculatum, and requires a permit to bring any in from out of state. Hawaii's import lists include no land isopods, so bringing them in is prohibited. Never release isopods or dump used substrate outdoors.
Restricted or banned in: Florida, Hawaii.
Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.
- Starter culture of 10 from an online dealer (including live shipping)
- $27–$55
- Lifetime
- $300
How this estimate is built
Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.
| Item | Typical | Basis and sources | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | |||
| Plastic tub (6 qt starter, then 37 qt as the colony grows) | $25 | Josh's Frogs: a 6-quart Sterilite container works for a starter culture; upgrade to a 37-quart Sterilite gasket box for larger cultures. Low: the 6-quart box only, $4.99 at Ace Hardware. Typical: 6-quart box + 37-quart gasket box ($19.99 at Family Hardware) = $24.98. High: Tarantula Cribs IsoCribs v2 acrylic isopod enclosure with humid and dry sides, $79.99 at The Bio Dude. Josh's Frogs: Porcellio laevis 'White' Isopods, 10 count ($14.99; care notes; no shipping to HI, LA); Ace Hardware: Sterilite 6 qt Latch Storage Box ($4.99; $3.99 on sale); Family Hardware: Sterilite 37 Qt. Gasket Storage Tote ($19.99); The Bio Dude: Tarantula Cribs IsoCribs v2 dual-climate isopod enclosure ($79.99) | |
| Isopod substrate, 3–4 in deep | $15 | Josh's Frogs: a 3–4 in layer in a plastic shoebox, kept moist but not dripping. Typical: Josh's Frogs Isopod Substrate 4 qt $14.99 (sterile, with hardwood pieces). Low: Zoo Med Eco Earth 3-brick pack $10.98 at PetSmart. High: Josh's Frogs Milli Mix calcium-enriched isopod substrate, 10 qt, $29.99. Josh's Frogs: Isopod Substrate, 4 quarts ($14.99); PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); Josh's Frogs: MicroCal Calcium Substrate Supplement, 0.75 oz ($8.99; page also lists Milli Mix calcium-enriched isopod substrate, 10 qt, $29.99) | |
| Leaf litter (food and cover) | $12 | Josh's Frogs recommends leaf litter with its isopod substrate. Typical: The Bio Dude water oak leaf litter, about 2 qt, $11.95. Low: dried backyard leaves, which Bugs in Cyberspace says isopods eat, disinfected first. High: two bags. Josh's Frogs: Isopod Substrate, 4 quarts ($14.99); The Bio Dude: Leaf Litter, Water Oak, about 2 qt bag ($11.95); Bugs in Cyberspace: Isopod, Pill Bug and Sow Bug Care Sheet (diet) | |
| Cork bark pieces for hiding | $7 | The Bio Dude sells cork bark chunks for culturing isopods: small bag $6.95, larger 8×20 in bag $16.95. Low: skipped, since leaf litter also gives cover. The Bio Dude: Virgin Cork Bark Chunks (4×6 in bag $6.95; 8×20 in bag $16.95) | |
| Spray bottle for misting | $5 | Josh's Frogs: keep humidity at 55–80% by misting when the enclosure starts to get dry. 16 oz spray bottle $4.99 at Josh's Frogs. Josh's Frogs: Porcellio laevis 'White' Isopods, 10 count ($14.99; care notes; no shipping to HI, LA); Josh's Frogs: Pet Hissing Cockroach Kit (16 oz spray bottle $4.99) | |
| Every year | |||
| Prepared isopod food | $20 | Josh's Frogs suggests Pod Power, Repashy Bug Burger or Morning Wood twice a week in portions sized to the colony, and Pod Power's instructions say to remove what isn't eaten in 24 hours. Typical: one 6 oz jar of Pod Power a year ($19.99) plus vegetable scraps (an assumption; usage depends on colony size). Low: kitchen scraps and dried leaves only (Bugs in Cyberspace). High: two jars. Josh's Frogs: Porcellio laevis 'White' Isopods, 10 count ($14.99; care notes; no shipping to HI, LA); Josh's Frogs: Pod Power Isopod and Invertebrate Diet, 6 oz ($19.99); Bugs in Cyberspace: Isopod, Pill Bug and Sow Bug Care Sheet (diet); The Bio Dude: Porcellio laevis "Dairy Cow" Isopods, 10 count ($28.95, free shipping; care and food notes) | |
| Calcium supplement | $9 | Josh's Frogs says isopods quickly deplete a substrate's calcium and recommends a light shake of MicroCal per quart every 1–2 months; one 0.75 oz bottle is $8.99. Low: none bought when using a calcium-enriched substrate such as Milli Mix. Josh's Frogs: MicroCal Calcium Substrate Supplement, 0.75 oz ($8.99; page also lists Milli Mix calcium-enriched isopod substrate, 10 qt, $29.99); Josh's Frogs: Porcellio laevis 'White' Isopods, 10 count ($14.99; care notes; no shipping to HI, LA) | |
| Leaf litter top-ups | $24 | Isopods eat the leaf litter, so it needs topping up. Typical: two 2 qt bags of Bio Dude water oak leaves a year ($11.95 each). Low: collected leaves. High: four bags. Bag counts are an estimate; no source gives a consumption rate. The Bio Dude: Leaf Litter, Water Oak, about 2 qt bag ($11.95); Bugs in Cyberspace: Isopod, Pill Bug and Sow Bug Care Sheet (diet) | |
| Substrate replacement | $15 | Josh's Frogs: replace substrate when it looks spent (uniform, like dirt). Typical: one 4 qt bag of Josh's Frogs Isopod Substrate a year ($14.99). Low: Eco Earth 3-brick pack ($10.98). High: 10 qt Milli Mix ($29.99) for the larger tub. Josh's Frogs: Isopod Substrate, 4 quarts ($14.99); PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); Josh's Frogs: MicroCal Calcium Substrate Supplement, 0.75 oz ($8.99; page also lists Milli Mix calcium-enriched isopod substrate, 10 qt, $29.99) | |
| Illness and injury, per year | |||
| Unexpected costs (restarting a crashed colony) | $0 | LOW CONFIDENCE: no data exist. Vets do not treat isopods; when a colony dries out or crashes, owners buy a new starter culture. Typical assumes no crash; high assumes one replacement 10-count a year at The Bio Dude ($26.95 shipped). Not vet-priced, so not scaled by region. The Bio Dude: Porcellio laevis "Orange" Isopods, 10 count ($26.95, free shipping) | |
More insects and invertebrates by yearly cost
- Jumping spider$20 a year
- Praying mantis$60 a year
- Tarantula$70 a year
- Madagascar hissing cockroach$70 a year
- Emperor scorpion$100 a year
- Land hermit crab$140 a year
- Compare all insects and invertebrates
Common questions
How much does an isopod colony cost?
Starter culture of 10 from an online dealer (including live shipping): $27–$55. The bigger costs come after: about $60 to set up, about $170 for the whole first year, then about $70 a year.
How much does an isopod colony cost per year?
About $70 a year ($6 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $10 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $130 for a generous owner in a big city.
How much does an isopod colony cost over its lifetime?
About $300 over a 3-year life, in 2026 dollars.
Sources
- Josh's Frogs: Porcellio laevis 'White' Isopods, 10 count ($14.99; care notes; no shipping to HI, LA)
- Josh's Frogs: Porcellio scaber 'Koi' Isopods, 10 count ($19.99; no shipping to HI, LA, OR)
- The Bio Dude: Porcellio laevis "Dairy Cow" Isopods, 10 count ($28.95, free shipping; care and food notes)
- Bugs in Cyberspace: Isopod, Pill Bug and Sow Bug Care Sheet (diet)
- USDA APHIS: Invertebrate Pets, Isopod Enthusiasts (last modified Sept 15, 2025)
- Nationwide: Pet insurance for exotic pets (eligible species)
- The Bio Dude: Porcellio laevis "Orange" Isopods, 10 count ($26.95, free shipping)
- The Bio Dude: Upgraded Overnight Shipping for Clean Up Crew ($19.95)
- Josh's Frogs: Shipping & Returns (live animals, including pet invertebrates, ship overnight at a flat rate; $39.99 per site banner)
- Josh's Frogs: MicroCal Calcium Substrate Supplement, 0.75 oz ($8.99; page also lists Milli Mix calcium-enriched isopod substrate, 10 qt, $29.99)
- Josh's Frogs: Pod Power Isopod and Invertebrate Diet, 6 oz ($19.99)
- Ace Hardware: Sterilite 6 qt Latch Storage Box ($4.99; $3.99 on sale)
- Family Hardware: Sterilite 37 Qt. Gasket Storage Tote ($19.99)
- The Bio Dude: Tarantula Cribs IsoCribs v2 dual-climate isopod enclosure ($79.99)
- Josh's Frogs: Isopod Substrate, 4 quarts ($14.99)
- PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98)
- The Bio Dude: Leaf Litter, Water Oak, about 2 qt bag ($11.95)
- The Bio Dude: Virgin Cork Bark Chunks (4×6 in bag $6.95; 8×20 in bag $16.95)
- Josh's Frogs: Pet Hissing Cockroach Kit (16 oz spray bottle $4.99)
- USDA APHIS: Pet Food, Fish Bait, and Animal Feed (organisms exempt from interstate movement permits; no isopods listed; modified Jan 11, 2026)
- Florida FDACS-DPI: Guidelines for Importing Arthropods and Other Invertebrates into Florida (July 2026)
- Hawaii Administrative Rules ch. 4-71, Non-Domestic Animal Import Rules (§4-71-6)
- Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture: List of Conditionally Approved Animals
- Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture: List of Restricted Animals (only freshwater Asellus isopods listed)
Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 15, 2026. Spot a wrong figure?