Blooming in the most common places like under the damp log in your backyard, Trachelipus Rotzeburgi Isopods are terrestrial isopods, also known as woodlice or pill bugs. They are an easy-to-look after species, plays a crucial role in the ecosystem as other isopods do. They are nature's recyclers and break down organic matter and enrich the soil to be as essential as they can be for plants and humans. Their presence is a sign the ecosystem is healthy and functioning, making them a fascinating subject to many. That being said let us walk you through the details of Trachelipus Rotzeburgi Isopods so you can decide if that's the right choice for you to have as a pet.
Trachelipus Rotzeburgi Isopods: A Glimpse
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Origin: Central Europe
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Scientific Name: Trachelipus ratzeburgii pedemontanus
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Rarity: Not rare
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Size: Up to 1.8 cm
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Difficulty Level: Easy
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Humidity: 60-70%
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Temperature: 17-25 °C
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Favorite Foods: Decaying plant matter, Dried river shrimp, Vegetable scraps, fruit, and rotten wood
An Overview
A beginner-friendly species to start your pet keeping experience, Trachelipus rotzeburgi is from central Europe, where they are found in different regions, but more common in areas with high-humidity and low temperatures. They are hardy creatures with small in size, which is added benefit for blending perfectly in every surrounding. The maximum they grow upto 1.8 cm if growing in the favourable conditions.
The reason of Trachelipus rotzeburgi getting popular species amongst hobbyists is because of its friendly nature and minimum care requirements. The features slightly rough and bumpy texture and the colors varies varies from dark grey to brown helping them hide better in their surroundings and not be noticeable.
Despite being a native of Europe, Trachelipus rotzeburgi can adapt well to different climates and living conditions, making them a better choice than other isopods that cannot.
An interesting aspect of their behavior is their active nature. Trachelipus rotzeburgi are livelier than other isopods, which is why they are fun to watch in a terrarium where they live in a community.
Trachelipus Rotzeburgi Isopods: Basic Care
Caring for Trachelipus rotzeburgi isopods is simple if you know what they need and how they live. We have provided some basic care tips to help beginners get started.
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Since they are found in Central Europe, they prefer cold temperatures between 17 °C and 25 °C, so you have to maintain the terrarium accordingly.
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Like in the wild, Trachelipus rotzeburgi isopods need a moist but not soaking wet environment with lots of hiding spots as they do in the wild. Using a mix of soil, leaf litter, and pieces of bark, you can create a similar setup for your isopods to live happy and healthy.
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They prefer high levels of humidity; around 70-80% is good to go, along with good ventilation so mold cannot grow within the enclosure.
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Trachelipus rotzeburgi isopods are sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, so drastic fluctuations within the terrarium are not allowed, as this slows down their activity.
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Crowd the enclosure with both dry and wet areas so your isopods are comfortable and can easily choose a spot according to their mood and preference.
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A composition of dechlorinated water to mist the enclosure is a good idea because it makes the environment healthy and proper for your isopods to live.
Feeding
A fun part of owning Trachelipus rotzeburgi isopods is feeding because you will likely have a great time preparing your diet, which consists mainly of dead plant material.
When feeding them, learn about their preference first. To fill their tummy, feed them litter like dried oak, maple, or other safe leaves. Their love their veggies like carrots, zucchini, and cucumbers because it is good for their health and balance the diet.
Risking on their protein source is not good on their health and you must include foods like fish flakes or dried shrimp also plays a role in their overall health in a negative way and can come in between their growth of exoskeleton and become weak. As for calcium, you can give cuttlebone as it strengthens their shells, helping them live longer.
Trachelipus Rotzeburgi Isopods: Appearance & Behaviour
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Trachelipus Rotzeburgi isopods have a rugged, earthy look. They have an oval-shaped body and a bumpy texture that covers their entire exoskeleton, that acts like a shield and help them to hide in natural surrounding from predators.
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As far as coloration is concerned, they come in dark grey, brown, or black tones, which help them easily, hide in dirt, leaves, and bark. The faint strips or lighter patches on their backs allow them to camouflage better.
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Trachelipus rotzeburgi isopods are more active than other species in behavior, so you will often see them moving around, foraging for food, or hiding under objects.
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They are social creatures and live in groups, where they interact and thrive together if the environment is favorable.
Trachelipus Rotzeburgi Isopods: Habitat
To give them their preferred habitat, ensure to create areas with greenery because they love the areas with greenery like forest gardens and damp fields. The rate of their survival grows when the ground is moist and high-humidity spaces that protect them from predators and plenty of food, so they can nibble anytime they like and not feel starved.
Ensure the enclosure has good ventilation and lots of hiding places because they need it to hide and rest.
Substrate Mix
You cannot take the substrate mix lightly because it is an essential part of their environment in captivity, and without it, they cannot be happy and healthy.
A substrate that can hold moisture for a long time without mistaking the enclosure too often is the perfect choice. Create a mixture of organic topsoil, coconut fiber, and a layer of leaf litter while ensuring that they are free of pesticides and fertilizers.
With additional elements like rotting wood provide a food source and extra hiding spots for your isopods to use whenever they need them. The final touch to create the complete habitat is by adding a bit of sand to improve drainage and ensure the terrarium is not overly moist.
