Ordering pill bugs for a class starts with the lesson plan. How many
groups will work at once? How many animals does each group’s protocol
require? Will different classes need separate sets?
Answer those questions before choosing a package. A class with 30
students does not automatically need 30 animals—or 300. The useful
number depends on how the activity is organized.
Count working stations first
Start with this planning calculation:
Working stations × animals per station = animals needed for
one complete set of stations.
For example, if 30 students work in ten groups of three, and the
selected protocol uses ten pill bugs per group, the activity calls for
100 animals.
Ten is a protocol example, not a universal requirement. EDVOTEK’s
published Animal Behavior activity uses ten pill bugs for a group’s
observation and choice-chamber work. Your own curriculum may specify a
different count, chamber, or procedure. Use its instructions to fill in
the calculation. [1]
| Example arrangement | Animals per station | Separate sets required | Base animal count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 stations | 10 | 1 | 60 |
| 10 stations | 10 | 1 | 100 |
| 10 stations | 10 | 2 | 200 |
| 10 stations | 10 | 4 | 400 |
These are arithmetic examples, not recommendations to purchase a
particular quantity. They do not include a teacher demonstration group
or a separately planned reserve.
Decide what happens between
classes
Four class periods do not automatically mean four separate animal
sets. Decide before ordering whether your protocol calls for new animals
for each class, permits carefully managed reuse, or requires animals to
stay assigned to particular groups.
If reuse is permitted, plan how the animals will be returned to their
habitat, checked, and cared for between activities. EDVOTEK’s procedure
returns pill bugs to the stock chamber after observation; it does not
establish a universal schedule for repeated use across an entire school
day. [1]
For experimental work, record whether a group used previously tested
animals. Ask the instructor responsible for the protocol how repeated
exposure should be handled in the design and analysis. More observations
of the same animals should not be casually described as more
independently tested animals.
Match the species to the
lesson
Check the scientific name on the supply list. “Isopod” is broader
than “pill bug,” and similar-looking animals may behave differently.
Carolina Biological Supply distinguishes rolling pill bugs in
Armadillidium from sow bugs in Porcellio, which do not
use the same rolling response. [2]
If your lesson specifies Armadillidium vulgare, order that
species. If the activity compares pill bugs and sow bugs, calculate the
required count for each separately and keep the groups clearly labeled.
Ask before accepting a substitution.
Choose the order after
doing the math
Ficarro Farms has a 100-count
Armadillidium vulgare listing and a 200-count
listing. Compare the current options with your calculated need,
including any demonstration animals you have deliberately allocated.
For a 400-animal requirement, multiple classrooms, or a
date-sensitive lab, contact
the farm before placing the order. Include the species, count,
destination, and date you need the animals. A product listing is not
confirmation that a larger quantity can be supplied for a particular
date.
There is no need to add a standard percentage of extra animals
without a reason. If your protocol requires a reserve, include it
explicitly in the plan and arrange suitable housing for all the animals
you order.
Prepare for
arrival and the days after the lab
Have the habitat ready before delivery. Carolina’s care guide
recommends a ventilated, covered container with moist—not
saturated—substrate and leaf material. It also recommends washing hands
before and after working with living organisms and advises against
releasing purchased organisms outdoors. [2]
Assign someone to receive the package, inspect the animals, and
provide care. Include weekends and the period after the lesson in that
plan. A classroom colony needs an identified caretaker after the data
sheets are collected.
Check the shipping policy
when planning your order. The current policy says available website
orders ship within one business day. That is handling time: it does not
mean the animals arrive the next day. Discuss your lesson date before
relying on a delivery window.
A checklist before ordering
- Scientific name required by the lesson
- Number of stations running at once
- Animals required per station
- Separate sets required by the protocol
- Demonstration animals or a justified reserve
- Habitat, receiving arrangements, and ongoing caretaker
- Delivery destination and requested arrival date
Once those details are settled, you have a useful supply request: a
species, a count, and a care plan. Send those details to Ficarro
Farms to discuss availability for your classroom.
Sources
- EDVOTEK,
Experiment 291: Animal Behavior, 2012 edition, page 7. - Carolina
Biological Supply, Care Guide: Terrestrial Isopods.