Worms
Whiteworms (Pot Worms and Grindalworms)
​What to look for
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Small creamy white worms, around 0.4mm in diameter and up to 1cm long. You will likely see a clump or mass of them appear on the surface of your substrate, possibly at the edge of the substrate or partly climbing the side of the enclosure.
Why and how they turn up
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These will come in primarily with substrate, but any untreated bark or wet leaves can be a potential source.​
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Danger level
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These are harmless, if unsightly and disturbing to see. The worst they will do is compete with your isopods for food as they are detritovores.
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Prevention
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Freezing wood, leaves, and substrate can minimise them however the only way to 100% prevent them is to never use anything natural in your enclosure which isn't a viable option.​
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How to treat them
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Minimise any additional food in your enclosure, believe it or not if your isopods are desperate for protein they'll eat the worms.
You can remove any large clumps using a teaspoon if you wish.
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Different species are native to different regions, with Grindalworms particularly being native to Europe and naturalised pests in the rest of the world. Exact identification is difficult so while you may have a species that's native to where you are, it's also possible it's a pest one and we don't recommend releasing them. However if you have an aquarium you may well be able to use them as food (many killifish keepers intentionally breed them as feeders). If you're uncertain check before doing this of course.
Earthworms
​What to look for
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Red-brown round segmented worms, varying in size from 1 to 20cm in length. Although we'd be amazed if you found one of the bigger ones in your enclosure.
Why and how they turn up
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These will come in primarily with substrate, but any untreated bark or wet leaves can be a potential source.
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Danger level
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These are completely harmless. Technically as detritovores they are competition for the leaf litter and decaying wood in your substrate, but unless you manage to get an overwhelming population all at once they're no real risk.
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Prevention
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Freezing wood, leaves, and substrate can minimise them however the only way to 100% prevent them is to never use anything natural in your enclosure which isn't a viable option.
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How to treat them
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Pick them out and release them. Unless you are getting fresh non-native soil or bark they'll have come in with things you've harvested locally for your isopods.
If your isopods are sufficiently protein starved they'll eat them.​
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Flatworms
​What to look for
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Soft bodied smooth worms usually with a ribbon like shape, depending on the species they can vary from 1 to 20cm in length although it's extremely unlikely you will find any of the longer ones in your enclosure. Usually brown, black, pinkish, or even yellow with black stripes
Why and how they turn up
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These will come in with untreated wet bark or leaves, or if you make substrate using untreated soil from your garden.
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Danger level
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Harmless to isopods, however there is a high likelihood they will be an invasive pest in your garden or wherever you foraged your materials from.
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Prevention
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Freezing wood, leaves, and substrate can minimise them however the only way to 100% prevent them is to never use anything natural in your enclosure which isn't a viable option. That said they are very uncommon.
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How to treat them
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They're unsightly but your isopods may well eat them. If you remove them from your enclosure we *strongly* recommend not releasing them due to the potential for them to be an invasive pest that will be decimating local earthworm populations. Check online as there may even be reporting options due to this. We recommend putting them in a tub and freezing them for at least a week before disposing of them, salt is also an option although an unpleasant one.
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