The original "Powder" isopod—the morph that started it all. Hardy, prolific, and arguably the most popular beginner isopod in the hobby.
Powder Blue Isopods: A Glimpse
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Origin: Mediterranean, Southern Europe
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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: 50% to 70% (moderate)
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Favorite Foods: Leaf litter, decaying wood, vegetables, protein supplements
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Supplements: Cuttlebone, limestone, crushed eggshells
Powder Blue Isopods: An Overview
The Powder Blue is where the Porcellionides pruinosus phenomenon began. This is the original morph that captured hobbyists' attention and launched an entire line of colour variants including Powder Orange, Oreo Crumble, and many others. If you've heard of "Powder isopods," this is the one that gave them their name.
Native to the Mediterranean region, P. pruinosus has become one of the most successful and widely distributed isopod species worldwide. The scientific name translates roughly to "little pig covered in frost"—a perfect description of their rounded bodies and distinctive dusty, frosted appearance. This powdery texture isn't just aesthetic; it's a microscopic surface feature that aids in moisture management and may help with camouflage.
These are genuinely among the easiest isopods to keep. They tolerate a wide range of conditions, breed prolifically, and work efficiently as bioactive cleanup crews. The Powder Blue has earned its reputation as the beginner isopod—forgiving enough for newcomers yet useful enough that experienced keepers still maintain colonies. There's a reason they remain popular despite all the fancier morphs now available.
Powder Blue Isopods: Appearance
The Powder Blue displays a distinctive blue-grey colouration that ranges from pale silver-blue to deeper slate or steel-blue tones depending on the individual and their stage in the moult cycle. The colour isn't a vibrant, saturated blue—it's more of a dusty, muted tone that gives them their characteristic "powdery" look.
The most striking colouration appears just before moulting, when specimens develop a particularly lustrous blue sheen with an almost metallic quality. This pre-moult appearance is what really catches the eye and demonstrates why they earned the "Powder Blue" name. Between moults, the colour may appear somewhat softer or more grey-toned.
Juveniles typically appear greyish, sometimes with a purplish undertone, transitioning through various shades as they mature. Watching the colour development through successive moults is part of the appeal of keeping a colony.
Like all P. pruinosus, they have soft bodies compared to harder-shelled species and reach approximately 1-1.5cm when fully grown. They cannot roll into a ball—when threatened, they rely on their considerable speed to flee. And they are fast; Powder Blues are among the quickest isopods commonly kept.
Powder Blue Isopods: Basic Care
This is about as close to foolproof as isopod keeping gets. P. pruinosus are remarkably adaptable and forgiving of imperfect conditions.
Temperature: Room temperature works perfectly. They're comfortable anywhere from 18°C to 29°C, with around 21-25°C being ideal for breeding. They tolerate temperature fluctuations that would stress more sensitive species.
Humidity: Moderate humidity (50-70%) suits them well. They're notably tolerant of drier conditions compared to many isopod species, making them suitable for a wider range of enclosure types. The key is providing a moisture gradient—one damp area while the rest can be drier—so they can self-regulate.
Ventilation: Moderate ventilation through small holes prevents stagnant conditions while maintaining humidity. Good airflow helps prevent mould without excessively drying the enclosure.
Lighting: Low light preferred. However, P. pruinosus are more diurnal than many isopod species, so you'll see plenty of activity during daylight hours—they're not purely nocturnal like some species.
Powder Blue Isopods: Feeding
Powder Blues have appetites that seem disproportionate to their small size. This voracious feeding is exactly what makes them such effective bioactive cleaners—they process organic waste efficiently and quickly.
Primary Food Sources:
- Mixed hardwood leaf litter (oak, beech, hazel, magnolia—pesticide-free)
- Decaying softwood and bark
- Cork bark pieces
Supplemental Foods:
- Vegetables (carrot, courgette, cucumber, sweet potato)
- Fish flakes or pellets for protein
- Freeze-dried shrimp
- Meat scraps (sparingly)
- Commercial isopod diets
Calcium Sources: Essential for healthy moulting and carapace maintenance:
- Cuttlebone pieces
- Crusite limestone
- Crushed eggshells
- Calcium powder
Feeding Caution: A common mistake is overfeeding. While they're hungry, providing too much fresh food attracts pests like fungus gnats, mites, and fruit flies. Offer only what can be consumed within 24-48 hours and remove uneaten fresh food promptly. Stick to vegetables rather than fruit, which is more likely to attract fruit flies.
Powder Blue Isopods: Substrate Mix
A moisture-retentive substrate with good structure works well. They're adaptable and not particularly fussy about exact composition.
A suitable mix might include:
- Coconut coir or peat moss as a moisture-retentive base
- Organic topsoil mixed through
- Sphagnum moss (especially in the moist area—helps with humidity and moulting)
- Decaying softwood and cork bark pieces
- Generous leaf litter as a top layer
- Optional: earthworm castings for additional nutrition
- Optional: small amount of activated charcoal for substrate freshness
Substrate depth of around 5-7cm is adequate. While P. pruinosus are primarily surface-active, some depth allows for shelter and humidity regulation.
Powder Blue Isopods: Enclosure Setup
A straightforward setup suits this adaptable species. Nothing elaborate is required to keep them thriving.
Container Size: A 3-6 litre container works well for a starter colony of 10. Larger purchases (50-100) will need bigger enclosures or can be divided across multiple containers.
Moisture Gradient: This is the most important element. Keep one area with damp sphagnum moss while the remainder stays drier. Mist the wet side regularly with non-chlorinated water. You'll observe isopods migrating between moist and dry zones as they regulate their hydration.
Hides: Cork bark, rotting wood pieces, and leaf litter provide shelter and foraging opportunities. While Powder Blues are more visible than many species, they still appreciate places to retreat.
Ventilation: Small holes on alternating sides of the container provide adequate airflow. Avoid large ventilation openings—these fast isopods will find and exploit any escape routes.
Temperature Stability: Avoid placing enclosures where they'll experience sudden temperature swings. Consistent conditions promote better breeding.
Powder Blue Isopods: Breeding
P. pruinosus are famously prolific breeders. Provide basic care and they'll multiply without any special intervention.
What to Expect:
- Rapid reproduction once established
- Large brood sizes
- Sub-adults beginning to breed before reaching full size
- Colony establishment within weeks under good conditions
- Potentially explosive population growth
Optimal breeding occurs around 24-27°C (mid-70s°F), though they'll breed across their entire comfortable temperature range. Well-fed colonies with appropriate humidity will grow quickly—sometimes faster than expected.
Population Management: In dedicated culture containers, monitor colony size and consider splitting when populations become dense. In bioactive setups, predation by enclosure inhabitants typically helps control numbers naturally.
Powder Blue Isopods: Behaviour
Powder Blues display the characteristic energetic behaviour of P. pruinosus—active, fast, and engaging to observe.
Typical Behaviours:
- Extremely fast—among the quickest commonly kept isopods
- More diurnal than many species, with good daytime activity
- Surface-dwelling, spending most time in upper substrate layers and under bark
- Voracious feeding, often converging on food sources in groups
- Cannot roll into a ball—flee rapidly when disturbed
- Social creatures that thrive in groups
- Non-aggressive toward each other and tank inhabitants
Their combination of daytime activity and surface-dwelling habits makes them more visible than many isopod species. You'll regularly see them exploring, feeding, and interacting—they're genuinely entertaining to watch.
Speed Note: Their speed is no exaggeration. When disturbed, they scatter rapidly in all directions. This makes them challenging to catch or photograph, but it's also part of their charm. Secure enclosures are essential.
Powder Blue Isopods: Bioactive Use
Powder Blues are arguably the most popular bioactive cleanup crew isopod, and for good reason.
Excellent for:
- Tropical and humid bioactive setups
- Temperate enclosures
- Semi-arid setups (they're more drought-tolerant than many species)
- Reptile and amphibian vivariums
- Display terrariums
- Drier setups where other isopods might struggle
Why they excel as cleanup crews:
- Voracious appetites efficiently process waste, decaying matter, mould, and uneaten food
- Prolific breeding maintains population without intervention
- Surface-active nature means they encounter and process waste quickly
- Tolerant of varied conditions—work in setups ranging from humid to semi-arid
- Soft bodies make them palatable to insectivorous pets
- Affordable and readily available in bulk
Their soft exoskeletons make them excellent occasional snacks for frogs, small lizards, and other insectivores. The rapid reproduction compensates for any predation, creating a self-sustaining food source alongside their cleanup duties.
Powder Blue Isopods: The Original Powder Morph
The Powder Blue is the foundation from which all other P. pruinosus colour morphs were developed. Understanding this lineage helps appreciate the variety now available.
Morphs derived from Powder Blue genetics:
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Powder Orange – warm orange tones, the first major colour variant
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Oreo Crumble – black and white piebald pattern
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Orange Dalmatian/Orange Pied – orange spotting on lighter base
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Orange Cream – mottled orange and cream
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White Out – predominantly white specimens
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Red Koi – red and white patterning
All these morphs share identical care requirements and can interbreed. The Powder Blue remains the most affordable and widely available, making it the logical starting point for anyone new to the species.
Other P. pruinosus morphs we stock:
Who Are These Isopods For?
Powder Blue Isopods suit:
- Complete beginners—this is the starter isopod
- Children learning about invertebrate care (with handling supervision)
- Bioactive enthusiasts wanting reliable cleanup crews
- Anyone wanting fast-breeding, self-sustaining colonies
- Keepers on a budget
- Those needing bulk quantities for large setups or as feeders
- Anyone who appreciates the classic that started it all
They might not suit:
- Those wanting large, impressive display specimens
- Keepers seeking rare or unusual species
- Anyone preferring calm, slow-moving isopods
There's a reason Powder Blues remain the go-to recommendation for beginners despite years of fancier morphs entering the market. They're affordable, bulletproof, and genuinely useful. If you're new to isopods, start here.
What's Included
Each order contains healthy Powder Blue specimens selected from our breeding stock. We include a mix of sizes to give your colony immediate breeding potential. Bulk options (20, 50, 100) are available for those establishing larger bioactive setups or wanting rapid population growth.
