How to Care for Pillbugs

Carolina Biological expert biologist Tim Woody explores the Pillbug and how to set up a classroom habitat. Also called ""Rolypolys"", these little bugs are great for classroom study.

Items featured in video:

[DeepDreamz]

I remember catching rollie-pollies and trying to make them as pets.Sady I didn't see this then and always wondered why they were so stiff after a day in my shoe box full of dirt and fresh leaves.

[janetwhite]

I like to go to my backyard and flip over some bricks under my deck. I now have 2 roly poly enclosures filled with rolly pollies, millipedes, and springtails.

[siyg]

This is actually such a good guide, keeping in mind it was made 13 years ago.

Some things I would recommend:

Give them a deeper substrate, maybe 2-3 inches which will prevent the substrate from drying up too quickly (roly polies need moisture to breathe because they are crustaceans with gills).

Try using organic compost, it’s cheap and good for the isopods, potting soil can sometimes contain artificial fertilizers or pesticides.

Leaf litter will be the primary food alongside the substrate so make sure to provide plenty of it!

[SolsticeSong]

I spent 2 hours looking for these things outside. Then I realized that my mom has the pest control guy spray every month...

[tracydoverspike]

We also put a rock inside of our habitat. We read that they need a little rock or cement for their calcium.

[metatronscube]

Your smile is slightly intoxicating. 😂 much light and love

[Mizuki-]

Thanks to this video I now have 7 roly pollys 😊❤

[melissawatson]

I love pillbugs, they are the only bug on earth that are adorable! I have tons in my backyard, and I plan to use this video to help me save them from the ant repellent they keep running in to.

[candaceangell]

Roly Poly (pillbug) enthusiasts is a group on FB

[basicallyanagent]

We have a bunch of these in my front yard. Never fails to catch them 🎉

[Fat_Bad]

@imdaprince2 its use is to teach small children about the cycle of life, just like you would do with a butterfly net or habitat. Except these bugs are the favorite of small children because you dont get sickened by them and theyre very fun to play with, unlike a butterfly.

[Eersian]

you can also feed them strawberrys carrots and lettuce

[jb]

I am observing one on my basement wall near where I have a table lamp shining. He has been lingering here a couple weeks now. There's no food source that I can see. I dropped a tiny stream of water down the wall near where he is traveling. He headed straight to it. After drinking he started moving his antennae and seemed very happy. He walked the stripe of water on the wall and the streak has now disappeared! He seems so happy now. There's a big house spider that resides up in the rafters above him. I worry he might be supper, but I like the spider, too. Oh, this dilemma!

[Clintscollectiblez]

Mine had babies in terrarium they were tiny and white so cute

Interesting. Could you please add or send me the transcript of this video for an ESL Workshop? I´ll appreciate it.

[NGRAY]

I have 3 right now in my office in a box and I swear they have their own personality lol! 😅

Going to put some dirt in it AB’s dried leaves like he suggested. And of course, I’ll share my fruits with them. 🥰🥰🥰

[Sushisheep-znhd]

My school used this video in the beginning of the year

[rebeccakessel]

Do they climb out of that plastic tank? I am wondering if I add them to a glass tank if they will escape....

[amylee]

how do u take care of roly polys and wat do they eat?

[lilliehurst]

Just a heads up the pill bugs are a type of isopods