Ardentiella Lava ( Merulanella) - Danielle Jungle

Basic info
Ardentiella Lava (formerly Merulanella Lava) is a medium‑sized, fast, and shy isopod that needs warm, very humid, well‑ventilated enclosures to thrive. They are considered intermediate difficulty because they react badly to dryness, poor ventilation, and sudden temperature changes.

Enclosure and substrate
Use a plastic box or glass tank with many air holes that are fully covered with fine mesh, or a tight‑fitting mesh lid, so that even the smallest babies cannot escape while ventilation stays strong. Provide a 5–10 cm layer of isopod substrate made from organic soil, decayed hardwood, and lots of leaf litter, with a clearly defined moist area made of sphagnum moss that is kept damp at all times and must never be allowed to dry out, plus a slightly drier area. Add cork bark, curved wood, and leaf piles as hides and climbing surfaces.

Temperature and humidity
Keep them at about 22–26°C, avoiding temperatures above 28°C for long periods. Maintain high humidity around 70–80% by keeping the sphagnum moss zone very moist while still allowing strong airflow to prevent stagnation and mold.

Diet
Give a constant supply of rotten white hardwood and deep leaf litter as the main food. Supplement with lichen, fish food or shrimp pellets, high‑quality isopod mixes, vegetables in small pieces, and a permanent source of calcium like cuttlebone or crushed eggshell.

Breeding and maintenance
Under good conditions they breed steadily, with females carrying young in a brood pouch until release. Remove uneaten soft foods before they rot, mist the sphagnum moss area as needed, and check regularly for mold, mites, and overcrowding so the colony stays healthy.