The Great Invertebrate

19/07/2024

More facts about isopods❗️

Did you know that many species such as porcellio, porcellionides and nagaurus isopods have uropods?
These end of body appendages are used to regulate moisture in the isopods body by either drawing in or out moisture. The uropods are also used as a way to expell gas before it builds up. Some species even have a second smaller set of uropods that are used during reproduction.

18/07/2024

All animals with exoskeletons will molt, but did you know that terrestrial (land dwelling) isopods have a unique way of molting?

When terrestrial isopods molt they will shed one half of their exoskeleton at a time. First the isopod will shed the back half of their exoskeleton, then the front half a few days later. Isopods have been observed to shed in this order most of the time.

While the isopod waits for their new exoskeleton to harden, they have to be careful because their bodies are soft.
This is called biphasic molting!

12/07/2024

❓ Did you know that there are two main types of land dwelling isopods?

Isopods are often grouped as Porcellio or Armadillidium. While the isopods are similar in size and even coloration, they have some notable differences.

Porcellio isopod species' tend to play possum when they are scared, and usually have prominent uropods on the ends of their bodies.

Armadillidium species' can roll into a ball for protection (this is their ability to conglobate) and have harder exoskeletons.

11/07/2024

Terrestrial isopods are some of nature’s best clean up crew!

🍂 Isopods eat detritus such as decaying leaves, rotting wood, old fruit and vegetable matter, fungi and more. By doing this isopods work as little landscapers to help keep the ecosystem from being overwhelmed.

♻️ As part of their ecosystem, isopods provide nutrition for several species when eaten. Some of these animals include centipedes, spiders, reptiles and small mammals.

10/07/2024

Isopods are not bugs!

Isopods are an order of invertebrates (animals without backbones) that belong to the greater crustacean group of animals, which includes crabs and shrimp. 🦀 🦞 🦐

Deep sea isopods live in the oceans, and terrestrial isopods live on land and use both lungs and gills to breathe!

09/07/2024

Did you know..?

Land dwelling isopods produce flat, rectangular p**p known as frass.

Some people choose to use this by product as a house plant fertilizer since it has similar nutrients to other fertilizers. It can also alleviate dependency on mineral and synthetic fertilizers. 🌱

21/06/2024

28/05/2024

Just a little juvenile Rusty millipede 🫶🏼

27/05/2024

New blog post on the website! A detailed guide to keeping Bumblebee millipedes as pets.

Type and size of the enclosure Bumblebee millipedes don’t have high enclosure requirements and are quite easy to house. Recommended minimum enclosure size that is at least three times the body size in width and one and a half up to two times the body size in depth. The floor space is more importan...

23/05/2024

🔎 Erinnyis obscura (obscure sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae.
This individual is the size of my thumb and was hanging out on the window screen this morning while the weather is still tolerable.

16/05/2024

🔎 Dasychira meridionalis
"Southern Tussock Moth" caterpillar.

This poor little guy looks battered from the storm we had earlier today.

10/05/2024

Another satisfied customer on Etsy!
https://greatinvertebrate.etsy.com

01/05/2024

I love how pale the C. murina "Papaya" can look sometimes 🤍

12/04/2024

And he's not even the biggest in the colony!

Porcellio ornatus "witches brew"

04/04/2024

Big Sale going on this month! My bins are overflowing and I need your help to make some room!

02/04/2024

The new colony of our local dwarf isopods is doing really well. We're on the 3rd generation already! Soon these little guys will be available to the public.
🔎 Nagarus cristatus - Hollywood, Florida locale.

07/03/2024

If videos aren't your thing, I made a blog post on the website with a lot of the same information in the Youtube video!
Check it out and let me know your thoughts 😊

Anadenobolus monilicornis, known as the yellow-banded millipede or bumblebee millipede, is a species of millipede in the family Rhinocricidae. At present, there are 528 nominal species and 23 subspecies of Rhinocricidae placed in 27 genera and 3 subgenera. TRAITS. The yellow-banded millipede, often....

05/03/2024

New video where I tell you a little about Bumblebee millipedes!

A quick species highlight of the Anadenobolus monilicornis or Bumblebee millipede. Learn about where they are from, what they eat and why you shouldn't be af...

03/03/2024

🔎 Hymenia perspectalis commonly known as Spotted Beet Webworm Moth.

A small moth found along the Eastern coast of the U.S. and also throughout the world.

28/02/2024

If you guys could go and check out the new Etsy shop, I would really appreciate it! It's a work in progress, so let me know what you think. 😊

Shop We Think Invertebrates Are Great! by GreatInvertebrate located in Florida, United States.

22/02/2024

BSFL fish flakes are always a big hit in the isopods bins. This Armadillidium gestroi was munching on it's fish flake like it hasn't eaten all year! 😆

20/02/2024

✨ Hemlock cones are available now on the website and on Etsy, at our new shop Great Invertebrate. ✨

These small conifer are a great addition to a bioactive terrarium for isopods. The cones feature many hiding places for mancae and springtails while the entire cone serves as a great microflora breeding ground. They also look great in trying to recreate the forest floor inside!

These Hemlock cones also make a great additive for a natural scaped fish or shrimp aquarium. In the wild shrimp and other bottom grazing creatures use these cones as a food source, often munching algae or biofilm off of them. Shrimp will also use these cones as a safe house when they are small, as will fish fry.

By using a few of these Hemlock cones in your aquarium, you will also release beneficial tannins and humins. These can turn your water a yellowish or brown color known as "black water" in the aquaria community. By using these cones to enrich your water, you can provide antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

20/02/2024

Thanks to an uncontrollable issue with Etsy, our old shop The Great Invertebrate on Etsy will be closing at the end of the month. this means starting over from scratch!
I've been going through the process of setting up a new Etsy shop similarly called Great Invertebrate. I have a few products available now with more to come throughout the next week or so.
Here's a link to the new Etsy storefront if anyone needs anything that's not listed yet, just send me a message!

This Aquariums & Tank Decor item is sold by GreatInvertebrate. Ships from Hollywood, FL. Listed on Feb 19, 2024

18/02/2024

Went for a walk in the mangrove trails yesterday and saw a few wild invertebrates.
🔎 Aratus pisonii " Mangrove tree crab"
🔎 Littoraria angulifera "Mangrove periwinkle"

17/02/2024

I found a Rubber Ducky on a piece of cuttlebone 🦆

14/02/2024

✨ 10 pack of Eastern Hemlock cones now available ✨

These small conifer are a great addition to a bioactive terrarium for isopods. The cones feature many hiding places for mancae and springtails while the entire cone serves as a great microflora breeding ground. They also look great in trying to recreate the forest floor inside!
These Hemlock cones also make a great additive for a natural scaped fish or shrimp aquarium. In the wild shrimp and other bottom grazing creatures use these cones as a food source, often munching algae or biofilm off of them. Shrimp will also use these cones as a safe house when they are small, as will fish fry.
By using a few of these Hemlock cones in your aquarium, you will also release beneficial tannins and humins. These can turn your water a yellowish or brown color known as "black water" in the aquaria community. By using these cones to enrich your water, you can provide antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

12/02/2024

Cubaris "Blue Pigeon" is one of my slowest breeding and slowest moving isopods! Them being so slow means I can take great pictures of them 😂

10/02/2024

Cutest couple! 😂

09/02/2024

Cubaris murina "Papaya" cuddle party 😊