Isopods

Isopods include animals such as woodlice and pill bugs and belong to the order of Peracarid crustaceans. They are generally small crustaceans and it has seven pairs of legs. It can grow up to a size of (0.0012 to 20) inches. They have a segmented outer shell, which provides protection. Their color ranges from light brown to dark gray or black. In addition, they have cream, white or yellowish spots on their body. It would be interesting to know that about 4500 species of Isopods are found, mostly on the sea floor.

Isopods Behavior

They breathe through gill so they need to be moist at all the times otherwise they will die. It has a characteristic of rolling into tight sphere whenever it feels threatened or stressed.

Isopod Life Cycle and Isopod Reproduction

The female lays several dozen eggs after mating. She carries these eggs in a compact white package between her legs. The egg takes 3 to 4 weeks before hatching. At first, they are nearly invisible but soon they grow to a size that can be seen by the unaided eye. In the molting process, the new shell underneath expands and hardens and the older one casts off. They have a life span of only few years.

Isopod Care and Uses

They can be kept in a 50-liter aquarium. The aquarium is not needed to be covered if the walls are smooth because they cannot climb on the smooth walls. These isopods are fished for the commercial purposes. However, it is also served in the restaurants, which are situated near Oceans in Taiwan. In the restaurants, it is boiled and served with rice.


Isopods Facts

The facts about the isopods are as following:

• Isopods are crustaceans that live on land and in fresh or salty water
• They have gills to breathe
• They need to keep their body moist else they will die
• They can sense the changes in environment
• Most of the isopods live in ocean
• The giant Isopod is the largest in the family

Giant Isopods

The Giant Isopod, is the largest member in the family of the Isopods. It is a group of crustaceans, which is closely related to shrimps and crabs. It is a carnivorous and feeds on bodies of whales, squid and fish. It also feeds on sponges and slow-moving sea cucumbers. These Isopods are found in almost all the oceans of the world. They live generally at a depth of (550 to 7000) feet. The one which lives in deep water grows to a larger size compared to the one which lives in shallow water. These giant isopods can grow up to a size of 16 inches. It has compound eyes and a complex mouth to catch its prey. These giant isopods reproduce by laying eggs, which are thought to be the largest of all the marine invertebrates.

Conclusion
The Isopods are very small and are harmless. They do not bite, smell, jump or fly. They are very easy to care.