Porcellio Scaber "Lava" is an iconic morph that has earned it's right as "attention grabber" in the isopod hobby due to it's desirable striking appearance combined with it's ease of availability. Lava isopods along with all other Porcellio Scaber morphs are an excellent choice for beginners. They have a wide tolerance for both temperature and humidity. This convenient forgiving nature in their husbandry requirements means they can generally tolerate a moderate level of learning curves without disaster.
The morph characteristics of Porcelleio Scaber "Lava" are displayed as a highly variable patterning of deep orange/red hues on a mostly gray to black base. They are very prolific and will reproduce readily if well cared for. Be aware the patterning on each and every isopod is unique. Some offspring may exhibit high levels of red/orange while others may be nearly all gray due to their unique genetic lineage. All isopods you will receive from us will exhibit a good ratio of red/orange patterns.
A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is sufficient for a small starter culture. Standard or bioactive enclosures can be enhanced with natural botanical items to simulate the isopods habitat in the wild. This helps them feel secure which in turn promotes their natural processes like eating and breeding. Average room temperature in the mid 70sF will suit them just fine. Slightly warmer is desirable if you wish to see a thriving culture that is active and reproduces faster. This species They will often migrate between moist and dry areas at different times of the day. A few pieces of cork bark strategically placed over some of the moist side will help retain the humidity levels and reduce the frequency of watering needed to maintain a proper moisture gradient.
Isopods are detritivores. Their primary diet in nature is leaf litter and decayed wood. Both of these should always be available in abundance. They will also happily consume any other decomposing organic plant or animal matter they come across. As such it is vital to supplement your isopods with other food sources on a semi regular basis. They enjoy food options like squash, radishes, carrots and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy. Being a Porcellio, they are especially fond of protein which can be things like freeze dried minnows, shrimp, fish pellets, dried insects and other protein based food sources. Be sure to feed these on the drier side as they can spoil quickly in humid environments and attract unwanted pests.
Porcellio Scaber Lava is just one of many color morphs of this hardy isopod. Their adaptability to a wide range of humidity and ventilation needs make them a top choice for a clean up crew or a display pet. See our full care guide for Porcellio Scaber which has comprehensive expanded details for all care aspects of this amazing isopod species including breeding!
Quick Facts
- Origin: Europe, but established nearly worldwide
- Family Classification: Porcellionidae > Porcellio > Porcellio Scaber
- Morph Name: "Lava" Variable splotches of red/orange on a gray/black base
- Average Size: 0.65" to 0.75" inches
- Activity level: Primarily nocturnal but does show some daytime activity
- Care Level: Easy
Porcellio Scaber Care Guide
Housing- A standard 6 to 8 quart gasket sealed storage tote or small glass aquarium 5-10 gallons is sufficient for a small starter colony of 12-20 isopods. Provide hides such as cork bark, rotting wood slabs or egg crate on both the damp and dry side. Put good thought into your enclosure size and type as this will largely dictate the stability of other critical factors like temperature, humidity and ventilation.
Temperature- Average room temperature is fine for Porcellio Scaber isopods. A small night drop no lower than the mid to low 60sF will not do them any harm. Daytime highs should not exceed the very low 80sF. Fortunately, Porcellio Scaber is fairly adaptable to what most consider average room temperature and are not extremely sensitive. However higher average temperatures like mid to upper 70's will yield a more active and robust colony. Carefully consider the room and location where they will placed to ensure a relatively stable temperature range. Low wattage plant seedling heat mats with a thermostat can be used for supplemental warmth at night or during colder seasons if needed.
Humidity- All morphs of Porcellio Scaber are not extremely sensitive to humidity so long as you provide the standard isopod moisture gradient within the enclosure. Around 1/3 but no more than 1/2 of the enclosure should have damp (not wet) sphagnum mossing covering the hides and leaf litter. A slightly deeper substrate depth combined with a thin layer of additional leaf litter on top of the moss will do well to retain humidity and reduce the frequency of watering needed to keep the moist side from drying out. The rest of the enclosure can be semi dry to dry. We recommend a periodic light watering of the dry side as needed to keep a minimum level of moisture present. Also ensure your set up facilitates reasonable air flow to keep things from becoming stagnant.
Diet- Always have an abundance of dried leaf litter and soft rotting wood as their primary diet. They will eagerly accept most any veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and squash. Commercially available isopod foods like Repashy morning wood or bug burger can be offered on a supplemental basis 2-3 times per week. Scaber isopods relish a good protein source like freeze dried shrimp, minnows or fish food. These should also be offered on a supplemental basis 1-2 times a week. Be sure to place protein based foods on the dry side as they will spoil quickly in humid conditions.
Supplements- Crushed oyster shell, eggs shell or cuttlebone are highly recommended for calcium and can be replaced as needed. A good calcium source helps ensure easier molting, fast growth rates and optimal reproduction success for your culture.