A striking piebald colour morph of the ever-popular Powder isopod line—fast, prolific, and almost impossible to get wrong.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: A Glimpse
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Origin: Mediterranean, Southern Europe (cosmopolitan distribution)
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Scientific Name: Porcellionides pruinosus
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Difficulty Level: Very Easy
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Size: Up to 1.5cm
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Rarity: Low
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Temperature: 18°C to 29°C
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Humidity: 60% to 85% (medium to high)
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Favorite Foods: Leaf litter, decaying wood, vegetables, protein supplements
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Supplements: Cuttlebone, limestone, crushed eggshells
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: An Overview
The Oreo Crumble is a piebald colour morph of Porcellionides pruinosus, the same species that gave us the immensely popular Powder Blue and Powder Orange isopods. The scientific name translates roughly to "little pig covered in frost"—a reference to both their rounded body shape and the distinctive powdery appearance of their exoskeleton.
P. pruinosus is native to the Mediterranean but has become truly cosmopolitan, spread across the world through human activity. It's one of the most successful and adaptable isopod species, which translates directly into ease of care in captivity. These are about as close to "bulletproof" as isopods get.
The Oreo Crumble morph displays a striking black and white piebald pattern—dark base colouration broken up with bright white or cream markings. Legend has it the name came from a breeder asking their daughter what the new morph looked like, and she replied "Oreo Crumbles!" The name stuck, and it's certainly apt.
At £6 for 10, these represent excellent value for a visually striking morph that will establish quickly and breed prolifically.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Appearance
The defining feature of the Oreo Crumble morph is the piebald colouration—a dark grey or black base colour broken up with irregular white or cream patches and spots. The pattern varies between individuals, making each isopod slightly unique. Juveniles typically display bolder, more contrasting colours that take on a softer, powdery sheen as they mature.
Like all P. pruinosus, they have a characteristic powdery or velvety appearance to their exoskeleton. This isn't dirt or coating—it's a microscopic texture on the carapace that gives them their distinctive matte, frosted look. This powdery surface actually serves a function, increasing hydrophobicity and helping with water management.
Adults reach approximately 1-1.5cm in length, making them a small to medium-sized isopod. They're noticeably smaller and more delicate than visually similar species like Porcellio laevis 'Dairy Cow', which is sometimes confused with Oreo Crumbles but is a completely different species.
The body is soft compared to harder-shelled species like Armadillidium. They cannot roll into a ball when threatened—instead, they rely on their considerable speed to escape danger.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Basic Care
These are genuinely one of the easiest isopod species to keep. Their tolerance for a wide range of conditions makes them forgiving of beginner mistakes and adaptable to various setups.
Temperature: Room temperature works perfectly. They're comfortable anywhere from 18°C to 29°C, though 21-26°C is ideal. Unless your house is freezing or sweltering, they'll be fine.
Humidity: They appreciate higher humidity levels (60-85%) but are adaptable. The key is providing a moisture gradient—one area kept damp while the rest can be drier. They need access to moisture but shouldn't be waterlogged. Good ventilation helps prevent mould while maintaining appropriate humidity.
Ventilation: Moderate ventilation is important. Small ventilation holes are sufficient—they don't need aggressive airflow, but stagnant, overly moist conditions encourage mould.
Lighting: Low light preferred. They're more active in darker conditions, though they're notably more diurnal (daytime active) than many isopod species.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Feeding
One thing you'll quickly notice about Oreo Crumbles: they have voracious appetites. For their size, they eat a surprising amount. This is actually what makes them such effective bioactive cleaners.
Primary Food Sources:
- Mixed hardwood leaf litter (oak, beech, hazel)
- Decaying softwood
- Rotting bark
Supplemental Foods:
- Vegetables (cucumber, courgette, carrot, squash, sweet potato)
- Occasional fruit
- Fish flakes or pellets for protein
- Freeze-dried shrimp
- Commercial isopod foods
Calcium Sources: Essential for healthy moulting. Provide:
- Cuttlebone pieces (they seem to love this)
- Limestone chips
- Crushed eggshells
- Calcium powder
A word of caution: while they need plenty of food to support their fast metabolism and reproduction, avoid excessive overfeeding with fresh foods. Uneaten vegetables left too long can attract unwanted pests like mites. Remove fresh food within a day or two if uneaten.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Substrate Mix
A moisture-retentive substrate with good structure suits this species well. They're not fussy about exact composition as long as basic needs are met.
A suitable mix might include:
- Coconut coir or peat moss as a moisture-retentive base
- Organic topsoil mixed through
- Sphagnum moss (particularly in the moist area)
- Decaying softwood pieces
- Leaf litter as a top layer
- Earthworm castings for nutrition
Substrate depth of around 5-7cm allows for some burrowing, though P. pruinosus are primarily surface-active and don't burrow extensively.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Enclosure Setup
A straightforward setup works well. These adaptable isopods don't require elaborate arrangements.
Container Size: A 3-6 litre container suits a starter colony well. They don't need vast space individually, but will appreciate room as numbers increase.
Moisture Gradient: Create distinct moisture zones. Keep one area with damp sphagnum moss while the rest stays drier. This allows the isopods to regulate their moisture exposure according to their needs.
Hides: Cork bark pieces, leaf litter, and wood provide shelter. While these isopods are more visible than many species, they still appreciate hiding spots.
Ventilation: Small holes on alternating sides of the container provide adequate airflow without excessive drying.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Breeding
P. pruinosus are famous for their prolific breeding. This is a "set and forget" species when it comes to reproduction—provide basic care and they'll multiply without any special encouragement.
What to Expect:
- Rapid reproduction once established
- Large brood sizes
- Females carrying eggs in a visible marsupium (brood pouch)
- Sub-adults beginning to breed before reaching full size
- Potentially explosive population growth
Colony growth can be remarkably fast. In good conditions, a starter culture can multiply many times over within months. This prolific nature is one reason they're so popular as cleanup crews—they quickly establish self-sustaining populations.
In the wild, P. pruinosus live approximately 11-14 months, though captive specimens may live somewhat longer with consistent care.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Behaviour
These are notably active, energetic isopods with some distinctive behavioural traits.
Typical Behaviours:
- Fast—extremely fast. These are some of the quickest isopods you'll encounter
- More diurnal than many species, providing better daytime viewing opportunities
- Surface-active, spending most time in the upper substrate layers and on surfaces
- Voracious feeding, descending on food sources in groups
- Rapid antenna movements—almost frenetic compared to calmer species
- Fleeing rather than rolling when disturbed (they cannot conglobate)
Their speed and energy make them entertaining to observe but challenging to photograph! The combination of daytime activity and surface-dwelling behaviour means you'll see more of these isopods than many secretive species.
They're social creatures that thrive in groups and show no aggression toward each other or enclosure inhabitants.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Bioactive Use
P. pruinosus are among the most popular and effective bioactive cleanup crew isopods available. Their combination of traits makes them ideal for this role.
Excellent for:
- Tropical and humid bioactive setups
- Temperate enclosures with moderate humidity
- Reptile and amphibian vivariums
- Display terrariums
- Any setup where rapid population establishment is desired
Why they excel as cleanup crews:
- Voracious appetites—they'll consume waste, decaying matter, mould, and uneaten food efficiently
- Prolific breeding maintains population without intervention
- Surface-active nature means they encounter and process waste quickly
- Soft bodies make them palatable to insectivorous animals as an occasional bonus snack
- Tolerant of various conditions
Their soft bodies mean insectivorous pets may enjoy the occasional isopod snack. This is generally fine—the rapid reproduction compensates for any predation, and in fact, pets eating some isopods helps control populations in smaller enclosures.
One caution: In rare cases, starving isopods may attempt to nibble on freshly moulted invertebrates or very small, delicate animals. Always provide supplemental food to your cleanup crew to prevent this.
Porcellionides Pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' Isopods: Comparing Powder Morphs
The Oreo Crumble is one of numerous colour morphs within the P. pruinosus species. All share identical care requirements and can technically interbreed, though most keepers maintain separate colonies to preserve colour genetics.
Other popular P. pruinosus morphs include:
- Powder Blue (the original popular morph—blue-grey colouration)
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Powder Orange (vibrant orange)
- Orange Cream (mottled orange, visually closest to Oreo Crumble)
- White Out (predominantly white)
- Red Koi (red and white pattern)
The Oreo Crumble offers more visual interest than plain colour morphs while remaining just as easy to care for.
Who Are These Isopods For?
Porcellionides pruinosus 'Oreo Crumble' suit:
- Complete beginners wanting a forgiving first species
- Keepers seeking effective bioactive cleanup crews
- Anyone wanting fast population growth
- Those who appreciate visible, active isopods
- Bioactive enthusiasts on a budget
- Children interested in keeping isopods (with supervision for handling)
They might not suit:
- Those wanting large, impressive display specimens
- Keepers preferring calm, slow-moving species
- Anyone seeking a rare or unusual species
Their combination of ease, visual appeal, and effectiveness makes them an excellent choice for almost any keeper.
What's Included
Each order contains healthy specimens selected from our breeding stock. We include a mix of sizes to give your colony the best start with immediate breeding potential. Bulk options are available for those establishing larger bioactive setups or wanting to build populations quickly
