Many live under the notion that isopods are easy to keep, but that is far from true unless you are a committed person willing to put in the effort required. Although small, isopods have certain requirements that must be met to see them happy and healthy away from their natural habitat. For beginners with little or no knowledge about crustaceans, Porcellio Scitus is a good choice as they are easy to maintain and don’t have too many requirements to feel overwhelmed.
Porcellio Scitus Isopods: A Glimpse
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Origin: Europe
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Scientific Name: Porcellio scaber
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Difficulty: Easy
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Rarity: Not rare
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Size: Up to 1.7 cm
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Temperature: 18-27°C
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Humidity: 70-80%
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Favorable Foods: Decaying plant matter, leaf litter, fruits, veggies, fish flakes, shrimp pellets.
An Overview
Among the various isopods originating from Europe, you have Porcellio Scitus, which belongs to the larger Porcellio scaber group and is found in high-humidity areas. The good thing is that these isopods are not rare, so you can easily buy them from online breeders and pet supply shops that deal in crustaceans.
Porcellio Scitus can grow up to 1.7 cm and is comparatively more active than other isopods, so it is fun to watch in a terrarium. But the easy-care level and minimum requirements make these isopods a preferred choice among keepers, particularly those who are new. Also, they can thrive in a wide range of conditions as long as their basic needs are met; you don’t need to worry about your isopods struggling or unhappy.
Porcellio Scitus Isopods: Basic Care
Though low maintenance, Porcellio Scitus has a few basic needs that must be fulfilled if you want to own them as pets.
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Originally found in Europe, they prefer temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. Therefore, maintain the same temperature within the terrarium and ensure it doesn’t fluctuate too much, or else there can be problems.
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As for humidity, Porcellio Scitus isopods do best when the level is 70% to 80% high, how they like it in their natural habitat.
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Your isopods need a moist place to live so they can grow and be healthy. Therefore, you cannot have the terrarium go dry ever. Provide both a wet and dry side so they can move between the zones and have a good life in captivity.
Porcellio Scitus Isopods: Feeding
Porcellio Scitus isopods are not different from other crustaceans when it concerns food. They are detritivores and love to feed on dead and decaying organic matter available in abundance in their natural habitat.
When in captivity, their diet should contain leaf litter, rotting wood, and decaying plant matter so they can derive the required nutrition from it and not feel starved. The safest item to offer them include sliced veggies, fruits, fish flakes, and shrimp pellets, which contribute to their overall well-being and make them strong enough to reproduce.
Porcellio Scitus Isopods: Appearance & Behaviour
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Porcellio Scitus isopods have two pairs of antennae and several small legs under their bodies as they have a segmented body type.
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They mostly grew upto 1.7 cm, and are found in varying shades of grey and brown, which helps them blend into their surroundings and avoid being spotted easily.
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Porcellio Scitus are active at night but hide under leaves, bark, or cork pieces during the day so they can be safe from predators and not be disturbed.
Porcellio Scitus Isopods: Habitat
No matter what isopod species it is, they need a suitable habitat to survive, and unless the requirement is met, you cannot see them grow or thrive. You can create the right habitat with a plastic container with good ventilation and plenty of decaying organic matter essential for their survival, therefore, not to be taken lightly. Besides, you need to add a moist corner, but not too wet, so they can breathe and molt properly without dying.
Porcellio Scitus Isopods: Substrate Mix
You cannot do without a good substrate mix containing organic topsoil, leaf litter, crushed decaying wood, and calcium sources, as it is the foundation of their habitat and encourages natural behavior. You can also add charcoal pieces to remove bad odor and keep the substrate fresh for a long time without replacing it. Also, stir the substrate occasionally to distribute the nutrients and prevent mold buildup within the enclosure.
