A giant isopod that makes a great clean-up crew, or pet on their own. A real talking point, or something large enough to be easily seen on photos and videos. A must-have for any dedicated collector.
• Origin
• Scientific Name: Porcellio Expansus La Senia
• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Size: 5cm!
• Rarity: Rare
• Temperature: 70-82F
• Humidity: 50-60%
• Diet:
I can not stress how much larger these are than most of the species you will see, no they’re not Bathynomus giganteus, the giant isopod that is famed for attacking sharks in the deep ocean trenches. But they’re a chunky isopod that can get to the size of a matchbox.
This makes them a great choice for a pet isopod. A group of these in the right-sized enclosure will be something to watch, study, enjoy, and a real talking point. With their dark carapace fringed and dotted with lighter patches, they look just as stunning as many of the more popular brighter species.
If you are looking for the perfect pet for children or a great inhabitant for a centrepiece terrarium, look no further. Be warned these sell out quickly when we release our homebred individuals for sale.
They need slightly higher care than some, but they’re by no means difficult to keep. Have one end of the enclosure humid and the other end dry and they’ll choose the right humidity for themselves. Being such large adults then you will need a larger space, but also, as with most Porcellio species, they can fight, especially adult males. Ensure they have plenty of space to get away from each other. They will happily live alongside other isopods, so you can fill in the gaps with a variety of other species.
They need things on the drier side so have an area of damp leaves, but plan on a lower humidity overall. Give them plenty of dried wood and places to hide, as well as access to cuttlefish bone or another calcium source.
Breeding can be a challenge, although not too difficult. If you are at the stage of your journey as a keeper then these could be your next challenge.
