Porcellio scaber 'Dalmatian'

Porcellio scaber is a terrestrial crustacean in the order Isopoda, suborder Oniscidea. Like all isopods, it is not an insect — it belongs to the class Malacostraca, the same group as crabs and woodlice. The species is native to Western Europe and has been introduced just about everywhere humans have gone. You will find wild-type P. scaber under rocks, logs, and flowerpots in most UK gardens. They are the classic "rough woodlouse" with a bumpy, textured exoskeleton, as opposed to the smooth shell of Porcellio laevis.

The 'Dalmatian' morph is a selectively bred colour form with a dark grey or charcoal base and irregular white or cream spots scattered across the body — the look that gives it the name. Spot patterns vary between individuals, and some are more heavily spotted than others. Both sexes display the pattern. Like all P. scaber, Dalmatians have seven pairs of walking legs, breathe through pleopodal pseudotracheae on their underside, and cannot conglobate (roll into a ball) — that trick belongs to Armadillidium species.

Temperament-wise, these are active, bold isopods. They spend a good amount of time out in the open and are less shy than many Cubaris or Armadillidium species. Colonies breed quickly, which makes them popular as bioactive clean-up crews and as feeders for reptiles and amphibians. They are also just good fun to watch on their own. Lifespan is typically 2–3 years under decent conditions.

P. scaber is about as forgiving as isopods get. They tolerate a wide range of conditions, which is why they survive in UK gardens year-round. That said, getting the setup right means a healthier colony that breeds faster.

Enclosure: A ventilated plastic tub works well. Minimum footprint of about 20×15 cm for a starter group of 10–15, though bigger is always better if you want the colony to grow. Drill or melt ventilation holes in the lid and at least one side — cross-ventilation helps prevent stagnant pockets of air that encourage mould.

Substrate recipe:

• 60% coco coir or organic peat-free compost
• 20% chemical-free organic topsoil
• 10% fine sand (for drainage)
• 10% sphagnum moss, mixed in

Lay this 5–8 cm deep. Top it with a generous layer of dried oak or beech leaves — these are both food and shelter. Add a piece or two of cork bark for hides.

Temperature: 18–24°C. Room temperature in most UK homes is fine. They can handle cooler dips, but breeding slows down below about 16°C.

Humidity: 60–80%, with a moisture gradient. Keep one corner of the enclosure damp by misting it every few days with dechlorinated water, and let the opposite side stay dry. P. scaber breathes through pseudotracheae on its pleopods, so it needs some moisture in the air — but a waterlogged enclosure drowns mancae and invites bacterial problems.

Diet: Dried leaf litter (oak, beech) is the staple and should always be available. Supplement with vegetable scraps — cucumber, courgette, carrot, sweet potato. Offer a cuttlebone or crushed eggshell permanently for calcium; they gnaw on it as needed and it supports proper exoskeleton mineralisation at each moult. Protein once a week: a pinch of dried shrimp, fish flakes, or dried mealworms. Don't overdo the protein — too much attracts grain mites.

Social needs: Isopods are colonial. Start with at least 10, ideally more. A lone isopod is a stressed isopod. Don't mix P. scaber with other Porcellio species in the same tub — they'll compete and one species usually loses out.

Breeding: Females carry developing eggs in a fluid-filled marsupium (brood pouch) on their underside. Mancae emerge as tiny, pale copies of the adults. At stable warm temperatures, expect new broods every 4–6 weeks. Colonies can double in a few months.

Watch out for: Grain mites (tiny white dots on food and substrate, usually from overfeeding or excess moisture — reduce food, improve ventilation). Mould on uneaten veg (remove fresh food within 48 hours). Desiccation if ventilation is too aggressive or the room is very dry.

For the full setup walkthrough, see our isopod care guide.

P. scaber Dalmatians are shipped in a ventilated deli cup with damp sphagnum moss and a piece of cork bark for the animals to shelter under during transit. The cup goes inside an insulated box lined with a heat or cool pack depending on the season — these are a temperate species but they still suffer if exposed to extreme cold or heat in a delivery van for hours.

We ship Monday to Wednesday via tracked next-day delivery to avoid parcels sitting in depots over weekends. During extreme weather (below 2°C or above 28°C), we may hold shipments and will contact you to arrange a safe delivery date.

When your isopods arrive: Open the deli cup in a calm, warm room. Tip the moss and isopods gently into their prepared enclosure. Don't worry if they curl up or play dead initially — that is a normal stress response and they will start exploring within an hour or two. Avoid handling them for the first couple of days while they settle in. Mist the damp side of the enclosure lightly and leave them be.

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