Powder Blue Isopods (Porcellionides pruinosus) 10 Count
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Porcellionides pruinosus are the gold standard for a versatile cleanup crew. They’re an incredibly adaptable species, able to thrive in a wide range of environments – making them a great choice for terrariums of all kinds. If you’re looking to add some isopods to your tropical terrarium, these guys are the perfect beginner species. Sit back and relax as these hardy critters work effectively, cleaning up organic waste and recycling it into nourishment for your plant ecosystem.
These Powder Blue Isopods are the classic color morph, with soft metallic hues and a powder coat finish. They’re the most subtle of the species.
- Strong bioactive cleaners - These isopods excel as bioactive janitors, quietly working behind the scenes to maintain the vibrancy and health of your terrarium.
- Highly adaptable - A robust and hardy species, you can rely on Powder Orange Isopods to thrive in any terrarium environment you put them in.
- Pet-safe - Celebrated for their compatibility, Porcellionides pruinosus coexist harmoniously with your terrarium pets (and other isopods).
- Prolific - Easy to breed and very quick to form large colonies once established. This makes them good feeder insects in animal vivariums, too.
Isopod and Shipping FAQ's
- Isopod shipping questions? See our page on Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG) Policies.
- Questions about Porcellionides pruinosus isopods or their care? See our in-depth answers to frequently asked questions below.
Powder Blue Isopods
Care Specs & Uses
*These isopods can work in arid enclosures, but they need a moist area to retreat to.
Tropical | Temperate | Arid*
Cleanup Crew | Pet | Feeder
70-85º Fahrenheit (21-29°C)
High
2cm
Easy
How your culture arrives 📦
FAQ
Powder Blue Isopod questions? We've got you.
Check out the most common questions our customers ask. Have questions about something else? See our dedicated FAQ page!
How do I care for Powder Blue Isopods?
See the care specifications above and check out our full guide to Powder Blue Isopods for more nuanced care advice.
Do I need to feed my isopods?
A staple diet of leaf litter is essential, so you’ll need to provide a regular supply. While a balanced bioactive terrarium/vivarium can be somewhat self-supporting, in the absence of appropriate foods, all isopods can potentially snack on live plants.
Porcellionides pruinosus have large appetites and a hunger for protein-rich foods, so initial supplementation with a pinch of Superfood powder every 4-7 days is advised.
As the ecosystem and colony are established, you can reduce the frequency accordingly. When kept in culture boxes, there won’t be any decomposing terrarium matter, and you’ll need to continue frequent supplementation (a pinch every 4 days). See our full guide to isopod food for more information.
How much space do isopods need?
A standard 10 count will need at least a 3 gallon terrarium container.
Do isopods need ventilation?
For isopods in closed terrariums we recommend looser fitting lids and regularly opening for feeding. Porcellionides pruinosus are fairly tolerant of low ventilation but will still need some level of regular air exchange.
When kept in culture boxes, our isopod partners, RDI, suggest that regularly opening for watering/feeding alone may provide enough ventilation.
Alternatively, drilling holes in the plastic culture container is a popular method in the hobby (though it does bring an increased risk of pests).
Do these isopods need water/moisture?
Isopods in tropical terrariums should have no need for extra moisture top-ups beyond your typical watering schedule (as long as you’re maintaining tropical conditions). However, isopods in culture boxes will need regular watering.
How frequently you need to spray your isopod enclosure will depend on the species, the setup, and the ambient humidity in your home. RDI recommends every 3-4 days as a loose rule of thumb (checking daily for the first week after receiving them).
These Porcellionides pruinosus isopods are a species that prefer a high-humidity setup, so they will lean towards more regular watering.
What should I do when my isopods arrive?
We recommend opening your order immediately after it arrives and checking them over. For best results, put your isopods into their new home right away; we recommend gently tipping them in along with the contents of the tub.
If that’s not possible, isopods can stay in the tub they’re in for up to a week, provided they have a leaf litter supply and you open the tub up at least every 2 days minimum for air exchange.
Can these isopods climb glass?
Generally speaking, isopods cannot climb glass. That said, Powder Blue Isopods are better climbers than others and may be able to climb cracks and/or dirty glass to some extent. So keep your glass enclosure clean and clear.
How many isopods do I need for a terrarium?
For most standard planted terrariums, a 10 count is ideal. As they breed, they’ll naturally find a good population balance.
For larger installations and vivariums with predatory pressures, you may need to start with more isopods.
What’s the difference between a pet isopod and a clean-up-crew isopod?
Clean up crew isopods are species selected for their large appetites and high activity, making them particularly good at breaking down and recycling organic matter in a terrarium.
Pet isopods are those that are especially interesting to look at, but waste management skills and terrarium suitability vary from species to species.
Do I still need springtails if I have isopods in a terrarium?
Springtails and isopods serve different functions in a terrarium, with springtails primarily tackling mold and isopods breaking down larger decomposing organic materials.
While neither are strictly necessary, they individually bring a number of benefits and offer even more as a bioactive combo working synergistically together.
Check out our springtails for sale and complete your own culture combo.