The pale, ghostly morph of the Powder line—bright white colouration with all the hardiness and prolific breeding you'd expect from P. pruinosus.
Powder White Isopods: A Glimpse
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Origin: Mediterranean (captive-bred morph)
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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 White Isopods: An Overview
The Powder White (sometimes called "White Out") is a striking pale morph of Porcellionides pruinosus that's been selectively bred for its bright, clean white colouration. While the original Powder Blue displays dusty blue-grey tones, the Powder White takes the species in the opposite direction—a ghostly, almost luminous appearance that stands out beautifully against dark substrate.
Like all P. pruinosus morphs, Powder Whites inherit the species' legendary hardiness and adaptability. These are among the most forgiving isopods available, tolerating a wide range of conditions while breeding prolifically. The combination of eye-catching appearance and bulletproof care requirements makes them ideal for beginners who want something visually distinctive.
At just £5 for 10 (with bulk options available), Powder Whites offer excellent value for such an attractive morph. They're one of the most affordable ways to add visual interest to a bioactive setup or start an isopod collection.
Powder White Isopods: Appearance
The defining characteristic is the pale, white colouration that gives them their name. Juveniles typically display a bright, clean white that's particularly striking. As they mature, the colour may develop a slightly shimmery or pearlescent quality, though they remain predominantly white throughout their lives.
Like all P. pruinosus, they have the characteristic powdery or velvety texture to their exoskeleton—the frosted appearance that defines the "Powder" isopod line. This microscopic surface texture helps with moisture management and gives them their distinctive matte finish.
Adults reach approximately 1-1.5cm in length, making them a small to medium-sized isopod. They have soft bodies compared to harder-shelled genera and cannot roll into a ball. When threatened, they rely on their considerable speed to escape—and they are genuinely fast.
The white colouration makes them highly visible against dark substrate, which is both an advantage (easy to observe) and something to consider for bioactive setups where you might prefer a more camouflaged cleanup crew.
Powder White Isopods: Basic Care
Care requirements are identical to other P. pruinosus morphs. This is one of the most adaptable isopod species available.
Temperature: Room temperature works perfectly. They're comfortable anywhere from 18°C to 29°C, with around 21-25°C being ideal. They tolerate temperature fluctuations that would stress more sensitive species.
Humidity: Moderate humidity (50-70%) suits them well. They're adaptable across a range from semi-arid to humid conditions, making them suitable for various enclosure types. Create a moisture gradient with one damp area while the rest can be drier.
Ventilation: Good ventilation is important. Small holes on alternating sides of the container prevent stagnant conditions while maintaining humidity.
Lighting: Low light preferred, though P. pruinosus are notably more diurnal than many isopod species. You'll see plenty of activity during daylight hours—their white colouration makes them particularly easy to spot when they're moving about.
Powder White Isopods: Feeding
P. pruinosus are enthusiastic feeders with appetites that seem disproportionate to their small size. This voracious feeding makes them highly effective bioactive cleaners.
Primary Food Sources:
- Mixed hardwood leaf litter (oak, beech, hazel—pesticide-free)
- Decaying softwood
- Rotting bark and wood pieces
Supplemental Foods:
- Vegetables (carrot is a particular favourite, along with sweet potato, peas, courgette, mushrooms)
- Dried shrimp (another favourite)
- Fish flakes or pellets for protein
- Yeast
- Commercial isopod diets
Calcium Sources: Essential for healthy moulting:
- Cuttlebone pieces
- Limestone chips
- Crushed eggshells
- Calcium powder
Feeding Caution: Never overfeed. Leftover food particles encourage fungal growth and attract pests like mites and fungus gnats. Provide only what can be consumed within 24-48 hours and remove any uneaten fresh food promptly.
Powder White Isopods: Substrate Mix
A moisture-retentive substrate with good structure works well. They're adaptable and not fussy about exact composition.
A suitable mix might include:
- Coconut coir as a moisture-retentive base
- Peat moss mixed through
- Sphagnum moss (especially in the moist area)
- Decaying softwood pieces
- Generous leaf litter as a top layer
Substrate depth of around 5-7cm is adequate. P. pruinosus are primarily surface-active rather than burrowers, but some depth provides shelter and humidity regulation.
Note on Visibility: Powder Whites show up beautifully against dark substrate. If you want maximum visual impact, use a darker substrate mix. Against pale substrates, they'll be harder to see.
Powder White Isopods: Enclosure Setup
A straightforward setup suits this adaptable species. Nothing elaborate is required.
Container Size: A 3-6 litre container works well for a starter colony. Transparent containers are particularly good for Powder Whites—their active nature and pale colouration make them entertaining to observe.
Moisture Gradient: Keep one area with damp substrate or sphagnum moss while the remainder stays drier. Mist the moist side periodically with dechlorinated water.
Hides: Cork bark, lotus pods, coconut halves, and leaf litter provide shelter. While Powder Whites are highly active and visible, they appreciate hiding spots—you'll often find them congregating under bark, especially when first introduced to a new environment.
Ventilation: Essential. These isopods need good airflow. Small holes on alternating sides work well.
Security: These are fast isopods. Secure lids are essential—they will find and exploit any escape routes.
Powder White Isopods: Breeding
Like all P. pruinosus, Powder Whites are prolific breeders. They're known for establishing colonies remarkably quickly.
What to Expect:
- Rapid reproduction once established
- Large brood sizes
- Sub-adults beginning to breed before reaching full size
- Fast colony growth—among the quickest to establish of common isopod species
- Consistent white colouration in offspring
One notable characteristic of P. pruinosus is that they can begin breeding before reaching full adult size. This, combined with their large brood sizes and short generation time, means colonies can grow surprisingly fast under good conditions.
Colour Stability: Powder Whites generally breed true, producing white offspring. If housed with other P. pruinosus morphs, they will interbreed and offspring may show mixed characteristics.
Powder White Isopods: Behaviour
Powder Whites display the characteristic energetic behaviour of P. pruinosus.
Typical Behaviours:
- Extremely fast—among the quickest commonly kept isopods
- Highly active, constantly on the move
- More diurnal than many species, with excellent daytime visibility
- Surface-dwelling, spending most time in upper substrate layers
- Voracious feeding behaviour
- Cannot roll into a ball—flee rapidly when disturbed
- Initially shy in new environments, hiding under leaf litter until comfortable
- Social creatures that thrive in groups
Their active, visible nature makes them particularly entertaining to watch. The white colouration against dark substrate creates a striking display as they scurry about foraging and exploring. They're genuinely engaging to observe—more so than many "fancier" species that spend most of their time hidden.
Powder White Isopods: Bioactive Use
Powder Whites make excellent bioactive cleanup crew members, with some unique considerations due to their colouration.
Excellent for:
- Bioactive setups where visual interest matters
- Enclosures where you want to easily monitor cleanup crew activity
- Humid to semi-arid setups
- Reptile and amphibian vivariums
- Display terrariums
Why they excel as cleanup crews:
- Voracious appetites efficiently process waste, decaying matter, and mould
- Prolific breeding maintains population without intervention
- Surface-active nature means they encounter and process waste quickly
- Soft bodies make them palatable to insectivorous pets
- Highly visible—easy to monitor population health
Visibility Consideration: Their white colouration makes them highly conspicuous. This is an advantage if you want to observe your cleanup crew in action, but worth considering if you prefer a more "natural" look where the cleanup crew blends into the environment. For setups where you'd rather not see the isopods, other morphs like Powder Blue may be more suitable.
As Feeders: Their surface-dwelling, active nature combined with soft bodies makes them excellent occasional food for insectivorous pets. They keep pets engaged by requiring active hunting rather than being easy catches.
Powder White Isopods: Comparing to Other Powder Morphs
The Powder White is one of several colour morphs within P. pruinosus. All share identical care requirements.
How Powder White compares:
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Powder Blue – The original morph; dusty blue-grey; most widely available
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Powder Orange – Warm orange tones; high contrast against substrate
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Powder White – Pale, ghostly white; maximum visibility; slightly less common
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Oreo Crumble – Black and white piebald; striking contrast
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Orange Dalmatian – Orange spotting on pale base; patterned variant
Powder White is arguably the most visible of all the morphs due to the bright, clean colouration. If you want isopods you can easily see and monitor, this is an excellent choice.
Other P. pruinosus morphs we stock:
Who Are These Isopods For?
Powder White Isopods suit:
- Complete beginners wanting an easy, visually striking first species
- Children learning about invertebrate care
- Keepers who want highly visible cleanup crews
- Bioactive enthusiasts wanting to easily monitor their isopod populations
- Anyone who appreciates the ghostly white aesthetic
- Those wanting fast-breeding, self-sustaining colonies
They might not suit:
- Keepers wanting cleanup crews that blend into the environment
- Those preferring colourful rather than pale morphs
- Anyone seeking large display specimens
The combination of striking appearance, easy care, and prolific breeding makes Powder Whites an excellent choice for most keepers—particularly those who enjoy observing their isopods in action.
What's Included
Each order contains healthy Powder White 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.
