Arrival day should be quiet and prepared. The biggest preventable mistakes are leaving the package outside, opening it in direct heat or cold, transferring animals into an unfinished enclosure, and repeatedly digging for them during the first week.
Prepare before delivery
Set up the habitat before the shipment arrives. Confirm the substrate has a stable damp refuge and a drier leaf-covered zone. Add cork bark, leaves, decayed wood, and calcium. Bring the enclosure to a suitable room temperature naturally; do not place it on a heat pad unless the exact species and control system require one.
Monitor tracking closely
Carrier tracking is the practical arrival clock. Retrieve Hold for Pickup packages the same day and bring home deliveries indoors promptly. Do not leave a live package on concrete, in a mailbox, or in direct sun while you finish the enclosure.
Open in a controlled room
Move the unopened package to a shaded indoor room. Extreme heat or cold calls for patience, not a rapid temperature shock. Allow the shipping container to approach room conditions gradually while following any instructions included with the order.
Inspect and document first
Before discarding packing material, check the cup and photograph any concern clearly. Keep the shipping container and packaging until you know the colony arrived successfully. Isopods may remain motionless after transit and can be hidden deep in moss or leaf material, so inspect carefully without crushing the contents.
Report a live-arrival problem within one hour of carrier-recorded delivery or pickup. Email support@isopodking.com with your order number, clear photos of the affected animals and all packaging, and a brief description. The contact form does not accept photo attachments. Keep the animals, products, and packaging until the claim is resolved.
Transfer gently
Place the open cup inside or directly above the prepared enclosure. Move the shipping moss, leaves, and safe substrate with the animals; very small young may be hidden inside. Avoid shaking or picking up every individual. Let them move beneath bark and litter on their own when possible.
The first week
- Keep the enclosure stable and out of direct sun.
- Offer permanent leaves, wood, and calcium immediately.
- Use only a tiny supplemental food portion.
- Do not flood the enclosure because the animals were shipped.
- Do not dig through the habitat every day to count them.
Many species hide after transfer. A colony that disappears beneath leaves is behaving more normally than one forced to remain exposed. Observe food use, the damp refuge, and activity after dark rather than repeatedly dismantling the setup.
Plan for the weather before ordering
Use the required shipping service, provide an accurate address, and choose Hold for Pickup when recommended. The safest acclimation begins before the box is shipped.
Read the complete Isopod King Shipping Policy, then prepare with habitat supplies before choosing your next colony.
