Corrugated Cardboard for Isopods

[Philsuma]

I feel that plain, brown, no-glue, no-colour corrugated cardboard is VERY helpful to keeping all species of Isopods. Cut into small squares about 2" by 2" or so and laid right on top of the Isopod substrate.

In addition to being an excellent barometer for humidity - too dry....too moist ?....the cardboard will tell you the moisture level of your Isopod substrate.

The bugs love to attach themselves to it...inside of the layers too. They congregate under it.

It provides a convenient "Shake out" system.

It's just really easy to use, always available and so useful.

[Cindy Dicken]

I'll have to give that a try.

[frogfreak]

I feel that plain, brown, no-glue, no-colour corrugated cardboard is VERY helpful to keeping all species of Isopods.

This may be a stupid question, but where do you find cardboard without some kind of adhesive? I thought all cardboard used some sort of glue/adhesive...

[Philsuma]

Nope....plenty of good, clean, nice brown cardboard around here in the states....

Now if you are asking about the COMPLETE manufacturing process on how they pulp the wood and make the paper and bind it ? Binding agents and chemicals ?

[frogfreak]

I didn't do an extensive search, but pulled up this...

http://www.answers.com/topic/corrugated-cardboard-1

From what I read there are chemicals added to make the cardboard. They don't say what chemicals and I'd like to add that not all chemicals are bad. It might be worth trying to find out more about the manufacturing process.

[Philsuma]

I don't doubt that there are chemicals used in the process......chemicals are everywhere.

In the FF media components as well.

I'm more than OK with using C.Cardboard as longs as it's not coloured and it doesn't have glue or that other rubbery stuff on it. I just can't overthink something that works so well for bug cultivation.

[fieldsmith]

I'm setting up an experimental iso culture just using shredded cardboard and leaf litter right now, anyone ever try this?

[Stu&Shaz]

interesting observations on chemicals never thought much about them in cardboard,we use corrugated carboard for composting and in every single iso culture and if i could bring all my cultures up to the level of my iso then i would have culturing sorted period.
Stu

[Mahjimoto]

Will have to give this a shot, but as stated am afraid of any chemicals produced by the cardboard. Does anyone have any pictures ?

[Philsuma]

Here's what you want - it should look clean and brown and not have any paint, glue, sticky, tacky..anything....just pure clean corrugated cardboard cut up into small squares.

Isopods LOVE it.

[cbreon]

As soon as I started using this stuff my iso cultures boomed, they seem to like it moist and buried into the substrate a little bit...

[Philsuma]

Jut wait until you "inherit" the cx's I have over here...they are bumpin'.

The isopods like to have a "covering" over the soil. It may be safety, darkness, moisture, biofilm collecting on the board...all of the above. I just know...it's pretty much a 'must have' for culturing the little buggers.

[JimO]

It's a staple in my iso cultures and i'm always surprised at how quickly they munch the stuff down to nothing.

[Philsuma]

Cardboard is pretty much a 'must have' for culturing Isopods. It's just that useful and important.