I finally have somewhat solid proof that my isopods are taking well to their habitat: Mancae! Even though they've just emerged, these are actually the juvenile stage. Isopods carry their eggs with them in a little membrane on their chest, where they hatch and go through the first couple stages of their life cycles without ever leaving. They finally bust out in their postlarval, very nearly adult forms! And they are itty bitty as fuck. Specks of dust. Microscopic jellybean sprinkles. At least a few more of my isopods are visibly carrying pouches right now so I expect I'll be completely overrun soon.
I also discovered this ABSOLUTE FUCKING UNIT while gardening the other day. I'm pretty sure it's just armadillidium vulgare, but look at the SIZE!! It's nearly as big as my thumbnail!!!
I moved The Unit and a few more normally sized companions into a plastic tub habitat, as I've been wanting to cultivate a population of local isopods to join my worm bin. Hopefully it works out!
In other news, raising isopods has made me really aware of how much they resemble other crustrations and it is crossing some weird wires in my head. On one hand I'm getting sad when I see the little eyes of cooked shrimps. On the other hand I'm wondering if giant marine isopods are good eating...