Porcellio scaber
The common rough woodlouse — one of the hardiest isopods in captivity, with dozens of selectively bred colour morphs.
About this species
Porcellio scaber — the common rough woodlouse — is native to Europe but now found on every continent except Antarctica. It is one of the most widely kept isopod species in the hobby and an excellent first isopod. Like all isopods, P. scaber is a terrestrial crustacean (not an insect) that breathes through gill-like pleopods on its underside, which must stay moist to function.
The species has been selectively bred into numerous colour morphs including Dalmatian, Orange, Calico, Lava, and Snow. Wild-type P. scaber is a mottled grey-brown. Despite the visual variety, all morphs share the same care requirements. P. scaber cannot conglobate (roll into a ball) — that ability belongs to Armadillidium and a few other genera, not Porcellio.
Enclosure
A ventilated plastic tub with a footprint of at least 20x15 cm is sufficient for a starter colony. P. scaber tolerates a wide range of conditions but benefits from good airflow — stagnant air encourages mould and respiratory stress. Provide cork bark flats, dried leaves, and a piece of cuttlebone as permanent furnishings.
Substrate
A straightforward substrate mix works well:
- 60% coco coir
- 20% organic topsoil
- 10% sand for drainage
- 10% crushed leaf litter or wood chips (hardwood only — never softwood like pine or cedar, which is toxic to isopods)
Maintain a moisture gradient with one damp corner and the rest kept relatively dry. A depth of 5–8 cm is enough. Top generously with dried oak, beech, or hazel leaves — these serve as both food and shelter.
Feeding
P. scaber is an unfussy detritivore. A balanced diet includes:
- Dried hardwood leaves (oak, beech) — the staple food source
- Vegetables: courgette, carrot, sweet potato, cucumber
- Cuttlefish bone — essential for calcium, which isopods need to mineralise their exoskeletons after every moult
- Occasional protein: dried shrimp, fish flakes, or a small amount of dried mealworm once a week
Remove uneaten fresh food within 48 hours. Cuttlebone can remain in the enclosure permanently.
Breeding
P. scaber breeds readily and quickly. Females carry developing eggs in a marsupium (brood pouch) on their underside. At stable room temperatures, expect new broods every 4–6 weeks. Mancae (juveniles) emerge fully formed and independent. A colony of 15–20 can grow to over 100 within three to four months under good conditions.
Morph notes
Colour morphs (Dalmatian, Orange, Calico, etc.) are the same species with the same care needs. However, some morphs — particularly those with reduced pigmentation — may be very slightly less robust than wild-type animals. This is rarely noticeable in practice. If breeding for morph purity, keep morphs in separate colonies to prevent reversion to wild-type colouring over generations.