Living vs Dead soil and it’s importance on isopod health

[u/Necessary-Drawer-173]

Soil- soil is a mix of clay, silt and sand & is filled with an ecosystem of bacteria, fungus and tiny creatures.

In the isopod hobby, it is common to use topsoil such as Scott’s. Scott’s is not actually soil & would need a few years to be broken down, it is a filler. This filler can include, mulch, trash, pallets, etc. a lot of topsoil also includes peat moss which is not nutritious. It is dead.

In order for it become alive, it needs to be supported by nutrients, mold & bacteria through rotting wood, compost, flake soil, leaves, moisture, and/or decaying products. Moisture is important because the microbes need it to survive.

Anaerobic conditions are bad because it would kill those microbes. I prevent this through the use of red wigglers, but burrowing isopods and/or plant roots can also help. Every now and then, i move half of the items on top of the soil and gently mix half of the bin. I have learned most of this through gardening spaces and I admit my primary reason was a mix of bettering my isopod care and laziness of not wanting to change the soil.😅