Giant Canyon Isopods
Porcellio dilatatus
Big, bold, and powerful clean-up crew. Great for larger bioactives.
Quick facts
- Genus
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Temperature
- 18–25°C
- Humidity
- Moderate (55–70%)
- Adult size
- ~20 mm
- Origin
- Europe
- Temperament
- Bold, active
About this species
Giant Canyon Isopods (Porcellio dilatatus) are a large, robust species that makes an outstanding clean-up crew for bigger bioactive enclosures. They are voracious detritivores, easy to keep, and reach an impressive adult size that keepers love.
- Size:
- ~20 mm
- Enclosure:
- A plastic storage bin or glass terrarium with good airflow and a dry side.
- Diet:
- Leaf litter and decaying wood, vegetables, and protein like fish flakes. Keep cuttlebone or limestone in the tub. Porcellio eat more protein and calcium than most isopods.
- Temperature Range:
- Maintain temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They are tolerant but dislike extremes.
- Reproduction:
- Prolific, fast breeders with large broods once established.
- Substrate:
- Coconut coir, peat moss, or topsoil with leaf litter. Keep one side lightly moist and one side dry.
- Humidity:
- Maintain a moderate, semi-arid environment with a damp corner. Water one side of the enclosure to establish a moisture gradient.
