Titan Isopod

Porcellio hoffmannseggii

IsopodintermediateHarmlessCommunal OK

Harmless to people

Isopods are harmless to humans — no venom, no sting, and no bite that breaks skin. They are detritivores, so wash your hands after handling the substrate.

About

The Titan — the largest Porcellio in the hobby, reaching about 1.5 inches. The correct spelling is hoffmannseggii (double i); do not confuse it with Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii, a tiny ant woodlouse with completely different care. It does not roll into a ball. Adults can be territorial and injure each other, which is the leading suspected reason cultures fail: give plenty of floor space and many separate hides, and split colonies into smaller groups. Keepers disagree on moisture — some keep them dry with one damp sphagnum corner, others in ordinary humid setups — so no humidity range is given here; either way keep strong ventilation and a damp retreat. They prefer rotting wood to leaf litter and feed slowly, so they make poor clean-up crew. Calcium and some protein regularly. Females are reported to stay with their young for the first months. DETRITIVORE.

Taxonomy

FamilyPorcellionidae

GenusPorcellio

Native regionSouthern Iberian Peninsula, Morocco and the Balearic Islands

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentslow; adults can be territorial with each other

Size & growth

Adult sizeup to about 1.5 inches

Body length?–1.57 in

Life stagesNo distinct stages

Climate

Temperature68–?°F

Enclosure

Adult sizeroomy, well-ventilated tub; many separate hides

Substratemostly dry topsoil and coco fiber with a damp sphagnum corner; rotting wood, bark, branches

Substrate depth2-3 inches

Water dishOptional

Moisture gradientRequired — keep one end damp, one end dry

Feeding

Feeding modeDetritivore (decaying matter)

Food & schedulerotting wood and leaf litter always available; protein and calcium regularly

Supplemental calciumRequired — cuttlebone or a calcium powder

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