About Powder Blue Isopods
Porcellionides pruinosus "Powder Blue" is a cosmopolitan species with a soft blue, powdery look and very fast reproduction. They tolerate a wide range of conditions and make excellent clean-up crews in bioactive tanks.
Natural history & background
P. pruinosus turns up in gardens, greenhouses, and compost all over the world. The powder blue line is captive-bred. The waxy coating on their exoskeleton gives them that dusty colour.
Housing & enclosure setup
Any ventilated tub from 6 qt up works. They are active and breed quickly, so small tubs fill up fast. Plan to split or rehouse within a few months.
Substrate & environment
Standard coir and leaf litter with a moisture gradient. They handle drier conditions better than Cubaris. A damp corner is enough.
Temperature & humidity
- Temperature: 20–26°C (68–79°F)
- Humidity: Moderate; 50–70%
Diet & nutrition
Leaf litter plus vegetables and protein 1–2× weekly. Cuttlebone helps. They will eat most organic waste in a bioactive setup.
Breeding
Very prolific. Large broods and short generation times. Cultures can double every few weeks in good conditions.
Common issues & troubleshooting
Escaping
- They climb well. Tight lid; a 2–3 cm dry band at the top of the tub helps.
Population explosion
- Rehouse, trade, or use extras in larger bioactives.
Powder coating rubbing off
- Normal with age and handling. Fresh moults look the bluest.