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.