Roly polys, also known as pill bugs, woodlice, or doodlebugs, are tiny crustaceans often found crawling under rocks, logs, or in your garden soil. If you’ve ever picked one up and watched it curl into a ball, you know how fascinating they are. But have you ever stopped to wonder, “What do roly polys eat?”

In this full-length, easy-to-understand article, we’ll dive deep into the diet of roly polys, what they eat in the wild and in captivity, their role in the ecosystem, and how you can care for them if you find them around your home or keep them as pets.

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What Exactly Are Roly Polys?

Before talking about what they eat, let’s understand what roly polys really are.

• Scientific Name: Armadillidium vulgare (for the common roly poly species)

• Type of Animal: Crustacean (like shrimp or crabs)

• Where They Live: Moist, dark places—under leaves, rocks, mulch, or garden soil

• Why They Roll Up: It’s a defense mechanism to protect their soft underside

Even though they look like insects, roly polys are not bugs. They breathe through gills, which is why they need damp environments to survive.

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What Do Roly Polys Eat in Nature?

Roly polys are detritivores. This means they eat dead and decaying organic matter. They play a huge role in nature by breaking down waste and recycling nutrients into the soil.

🥬 Their Natural Diet Includes:

1. Dead leaves

2. Rotting wood

3. Decaying plants

4. Old bark

5. Fallen fruits

6. Mold and fungi

7. Decomposing animal matter (rarely)

These little guys are nature’s cleanup crew, helping to keep the environment clean and healthy.

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What Do Roly Polys Eat in a Terrarium or as Pets?

Roly polys are often kept in small terrariums, vivariums, or even as part of bioactive setups with reptiles and amphibians. If you’re keeping roly polys in a container, it’s important to feed them the right foods and maintain their environment.

🍎 Safe Foods for Pet Roly Polys:

• Leaf litter (dried oak, maple, or magnolia leaves)

• Soft vegetables (zucchini, carrots, cucumber)

• Fruits (apple slices, banana peels—small amounts)

• Mushrooms

• Fish flakes or crushed dried shrimp (protein source)

• Eggshells or cuttlefish bone (for calcium)

🟡 Important Tip: Always provide decomposing plant material as a main food source, not just fresh veggies.

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Foods to Avoid Feeding Roly Polys

Not all organic matter is good for these little crustaceans. Avoid anything that might be harmful or cause mold issues in your container.

❌ Do NOT Feed:

• Salty or spicy food

• Processed human food

• Raw meat or dairy

• Anything sprayed with pesticides

• Moldy bread or sugary foods

Roly polys are not trash cans. Keep their food simple and natural.

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How Often Do Roly Polys Eat?

Roly polys eat slowly and in small amounts. In the wild, they munch on whatever decaying matter is around them. In a home setup:

• Feed once or twice a week

• Remove uneaten food to prevent mold

• Keep the habitat damp and rich in organic materials

They’re not picky, but their food should always be moist to help them digest.

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Do Roly Polys Eat Living Plants?

This is a common question among gardeners.

🟢 Good News: Healthy roly polys do not eat live plants unless they’re extremely hungry or the plant is already damaged.

🔴 However: In overpopulated or overly damp garden beds, they may nibble on seedlings, tender roots, or fallen fruits—especially strawberries.

💡 Tip: Keep your garden clean and avoid overwatering to prevent roly poly invasions.

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Why Roly Polys Are Good for Your Garden

These tiny creatures may look strange, but they’re incredibly helpful.

🌱 Benefits:

• Break down organic material into compost

• Help recycle nutrients into the soil

• Improve soil structure

• Control harmful fungi by eating it

Roly polys are essential to the soil ecosystem, acting as natural composters.

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Roly Poly Diet and the Ecosystem

Roly polys are a key part of the decomposer chain. Here’s how their diet helps the environment:

1. They eat dead leaves and plants.

2. Their digestion breaks this down further.

3. Their droppings become rich fertilizer.

4. Plants grow better in this nutrient-rich soil.

5. The cycle continues—naturally and sustainably.

Without roly polys, dead matter would pile up, and soil would lack essential nutrients. Their food habits are simple but powerful.

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Fun Facts About Roly Polys and Their Food

1. Roly polys can digest cellulose, the tough material in leaves—many animals can’t do that!

2. They absorb copper from the soil, which can sometimes give them a blue tint.

3. Roly polys sometimes eat their own molted shells to recycle the calcium.

4. They’re known to be scavengers, occasionally nibbling on dead insects.

Their adaptability makes them survivors in all kinds of environments.

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Setting Up a Roly Poly Feeding Station (for Kids or Science Projects)

Want to observe roly polys and what they eat? Here’s a fun and easy activity:

What You Need:

• A clear container or plastic box

• Damp soil or compost

• Leaf litter

• Sliced fruits and vegetables

• A few roly polys from your backyard

How to Do It:

1. Set up the container with soil and a moist paper towel.

2. Add roly polys and some food choices.

3. Observe which foods they eat first.

4. Track what disappears over time.

🧪 This is a great science experiment for kids to learn about decomposers and food chains!

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Related Creatures: What Do They Eat?

If you’re curious about other similar creatures, here’s a quick comparison:

Roly polys share their love of decay with many other soil critters. Together, they keep the earth healthy.

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Roly Poly Food in Different Environments

Depending on where they live, roly polys may have slightly different diets.

🏡 In Your Backyard:

• Fallen leaves

• Mulch

• Garden waste

• Rotting wood

🌲 In Forests:

• Dead bark

• Moss

• Fungi

🧪 In Captivity:

• Leaf litter

• Soft veggies

• Protein bits

• Calcium sources

Their diet always includes soft, decomposing organic material—no matter where they live.

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Common Questions About Roly Poly Diet

❓ Do roly polys eat poop?

Yes! They sometimes consume animal droppings, which helps recycle nutrients.

❓ Can I feed my roly poly bread?

Not recommended. Bread can mold quickly and isn’t healthy for them.

❓ Do roly polys need water?

They don’t drink like we do—they absorb moisture through their gills. Keep their habitat moist but not wet.

❓ Do roly polys eat insects?

Rarely. They may nibble on dead insects, but they are not hunters.

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Final Thoughts: What Do Roly Polys Eat?

So, what do roly polys eat?

✅ Dead leaves
✅ Rotting wood
✅ Mold and fungi
✅ Decomposing fruits and plants
✅ Soft vegetables and fruits (in captivity)
✅ Animal waste (occasionally)

They may be small, but their role in the ecosystem is huge. These tiny crustaceans help clean up the environment, fertilize the soil, and support plant life—all with their amazing ability to eat what others can’t.

Whether you’re a gardener, a parent, or just someone fascinated by the natural world, understanding what roly polys eat can help you see these tiny creatures in a whole new light.