Dwarf White Isopods For Sale

Dwarf white isopods, or Trichorhina Tomatosa, are a widespread species of isopods available for culturing. They are seen as relatively easy to maintain. They are also considered as a suitable clean-up species of isopods.

 A Glimpse

• ·       Origin: Central America
• ·       Scientific Name: Trichorhina Tomatosa
• ·       Difficulty Level: Low 
• ·       Size: 0.5 CM.
• ·       Rarity: Low
• ·       Temperature: 70F-85F
• ·       Humidity: 70-80%
• ·       Favourite Foods: Leaf litter, carrot, decomposing driftwood, cucumber, etc.

• An Overview

As the name suggests, dwarf white isopods are a tiny species of isopods originating from the central American Continent. They are otherwise known as Trichorhina Tomatosa. While other isopods are mainly collected for their display abilities, Dwarf white isopods are mainly kept for their utility. Many isopod breeders describe them as 'tank janitors’.

As part of their leading utility, they are found to have immense appetite. They have bright white colouring in their body. This makes them relatively easy to locate. They are tiny in size. They do not grow more than five centimetres in their life. They are mostly regarded as part of 'clean up' crew, because of their appetite. In addition to this, they are also considered as excellent feeders for other reptiles in bioactive setup.

Dwarf white isopods can be fed various foods as part of their growth. They mostly feed on decomposing wood and leaf litter. Among vegetables, they prefer carrots and cucumbers. They can also be fed fruits and vegetables, but they risk creating mold growth in the enclosure.

Basic Care

The following instructions can be helpful in providing the best care for Dwarf White isopods.

·       They survive in relatively high humid settings compared to other species of isopods.

·       They thrive better in warmer conditions.

·       To maintain optimal conditions, humidity levels should be kept between 70-80%.

·       They can survive in room temperatures, between 70-85⁰F.

·       They are relatively easy to collect.

·       They can be easily cultured in enclosures.

·       They are considered as prolific breeders. Hence, they grow in large numbers in vivariums or terrariums.

·       They are relatively easy to feed when compared to other species.

·       They can feed on decomposing wood, leaf litters, vegetable scraps, fruits etc.

·       They are not considered as an attractive brand of species. They have only one colour across their body-white.

·       White colouration makes them relatively easy to locate within their enclosures.

·       They do not prefer to climb their enclosures. They like to burrow rather than climb.

Feeding

Like many other species of isopods, dwarf white isopods feed on multiple substances for their survival. They feed on leaf litter and decaying woods, abundant in tropical climates. At the same time, in their enclosures, they can be fed vegetable scraps, carrots, cucumbers, etc.

Decaying driftwoods and leaf litters are the best supplement choices for optimal growth. In vegetables they prefer carrot and cucumber as their food. It is also advised to provide them with fruits scraps as well. But the risk of mold growth can be a problem in feeding fruits to them. As long as there is no risk of mold growth in the food provided, fruits are an acceptable option.

A peculiar feature of these isopods is that they also tend to feed on animal droppings. When they consume animal droppings as part of their diet, they turn waste into nutrients. They also prefer lots of proteins as part of their diet. Dried shrimp can be an ideal source for them to feed on.

Their size can make the breeders doubt their ability to consume food. But the ability to consume large quantities of food makes Dwarf white isopods stand out from other species of isopods. They help maintain their enclosures cleaner by offering more decomposition to the items. 

Dwarf White Isopods: Appearance and Behaviour

·       They are one among the tiniest species of isopods.

·       They do not grow more than 0.5 cms.

·       They come in only one variety of colour- white.

·       They can be easily spotted because of their colouration.

·       They are relatively easy to find when compared to other species.

·       They are found across central America.

·       The are also found in many other tropical conditions.

·       They are considered to be adaptable to any conditions in many ways.

·       All adult isopods in the dwarf white species can produce offsprings.

·       They are considered as prolific breeders.

·       They prefer to burrow in their natural habitats.

·       They offer themselves as feeder insect for larger animals like frogs.

·       They act as ‘clean-up’ agents, where their large numbers and appetite can compensate for their lack of size.

·       They help keep the vivariums clean and healthy. 

Dwarf White Isopods: Habitat

When out of their natural habitats, Isopods require the best of their natural environment for survival. Hence, providing the optimal conditions for their survival is an essential requirement for any breeders. Maintaining the most convenient environment in their enclosures can be helpful in the growth of Dwarf white isopods.

The ideal temperature for the growth of Dwarf white isopods is between 70-85⁰F. That means they survive well in room temperatures. Temperatures below or above these levels can affect their ability to adapt in many ways. Adaptability is one of the highlight features of this type of species. They are comparatively easier to maintain than other species of isopods.

Due to their extremely small size, there is no need for larger enclosures to keep them. A small enclosure can house a large number of Dwarf white isopods. They do not make for a great display species. But what they lack in display, they make up for in utility. They can be fed many food items as part of their diet, including protein-rich sources like dried shrimp. They can also be fed a lot of vegetable and fruit scraps.

In their natural habitat, Dwarf white isopods prefer to burrow deep. They are not climbers like other species of isopods. Thus, the enclosure does not require much ventilation. However, a few ventilation holes can be kept to maintain air circulation in the enclosure. Also, the enclosure should not have any kind of waterlogging inside it.

Dwarf White Isopods: Substrate Mix

Substrate mixtures help provide the ideal conditions for an organism to thrive. They ultimately help give an organism an environment that is highly close to its natural habitat. Dwarf white isopods are relatively easy to maintain compared to other species of isopods. Thus, the substrate mix for these isopods can be created comparatively easily for breeders.

Dwarf White isopods ideally need a substrate mixture that maintains the enclosure's moisture levels. Much like other species of isopods, leaf litter and decomposed wood are ideal materials for this purpose. Leaves are considered ideal because they can be easily collected from any place. The tropical conditions where these isopods are found also offer a natural green cover. Since they are initially from places with many trees and leaves, wood and leaves are perceived as ideal sources of substrates.

In addition to leaf litter and decomposed wood, ABG mixtures are also used as substrates for Dwarf White isopods. ABG mixes are made with sphagnum moss, tree fern fiber, peat moss, charcoal, etc. They offer excellent water and nutrient retention capacities and are long-lasting compared to other forms of substrate.