diff --git a/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as b/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as
index 884a67a5b0c..6035b743d8c 100644
--- a/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as
+++ b/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as
@@ -344,7 +344,8 @@ const dictionary STARTER_MICROBES = {
                 {"ammonia", InitialCompound(0)},
                 {"phosphates", InitialCompound(0)},
                 {"hydrogensulfide", InitialCompound(0)},
-                {"oxytoxy", InitialCompound(0)}
+                {"oxytoxy", InitialCompound(0)},
+                {"iron", InitialCompound(0)}
             },
             {
                 OrganelleTemplatePlaced("cytoplasm", 0, 0, 0)
diff --git a/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as b/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as
index 652449b0750..b798e724c1e 100644
--- a/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as
+++ b/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ string generateNameSection()
     return newName;
 }
 
+// For normal microbes
 const dictionary DEFAULT_INITIAL_COMPOUNDS =
     {
         {"atp", InitialCompound(30,300)},
@@ -254,7 +255,20 @@ const dictionary DEFAULT_INITIAL_COMPOUNDS =
         {"ammonia", InitialCompound(30,100)},
         {"phosphates", InitialCompound(0)},
         {"hydrogensulfide", InitialCompound(0)},
-        {"oxytoxy", InitialCompound(0)}
+        {"oxytoxy", InitialCompound(0)},
+        {"iron", InitialCompound(0)}
+    };
+
+// For iron phillic microbes
+const dictionary DEFAULT_INITIAL_COMPOUNDS_IRON =
+    {
+        {"atp", InitialCompound(30,300)},
+        {"glucose", InitialCompound(10,30)},
+        {"ammonia", InitialCompound(30,100)},
+        {"phosphates", InitialCompound(0)},
+        {"hydrogensulfide", InitialCompound(0)},
+        {"oxytoxy", InitialCompound(0)},
+        {"iron", InitialCompound(30,300)}
     };
 
 string randomSpeciesName()
@@ -477,10 +491,19 @@ class Species{
         @forWorld = world;
 
         auto organelles = positionOrganelles(stringCode);
-
+        // If you have iron (f is the symbol for rusticyanin)
+        if (stringCode.findFirst('f') >= 0)
+        {
+        templateEntity = Species::createSpecies(forWorld, this.name, this.genus, this.epithet,
+            organelles, this.colour, this.isBacteria, this.speciesMembraneType,
+            DEFAULT_INITIAL_COMPOUNDS_IRON, this.aggression, this.fear, this.activity, this.focus);
+        }
+        else {
         templateEntity = Species::createSpecies(forWorld, this.name, this.genus, this.epithet,
             organelles, this.colour, this.isBacteria, this.speciesMembraneType,
             DEFAULT_INITIAL_COMPOUNDS, this.aggression, this.fear, this.activity, this.focus);
+        }
+
     }
 
     // Delete a species