‘Crystal White’ Isopods (Porcellio laevis) - Woodlouse Culture
Looking for the ultimate high-activity "clean-up crew" for your bioactive setup? The Porcellio laevis "Crystal White" is a stunning, translucent-white variety of one of the hardiest and most prolific isopod species in the world.
Known for their incredible speed, impressive size, and voracious appetite, these isopods are the gold standard for keepers who want an active, visible, and highly functional colony.
At EntoScapes, our Crystal Whites are UK captive-bred and raised on our nutrient-rich substrates to ensure they arrive robust and ready to thrive. Whether you are stocking a high-waste reptile enclosure or a dedicated display colony, these social, snow-white isopods are a striking and efficient addition.
Explore the sections below for our biology-led guide on dietary requirements, humidity gradients, and the rapid lifecycle of these iconic crystal white isopods.
- Size & Life Cycle: Porcellio laevis are one of the larger species of isopod, with adults reaching anywhere between 1-2cm. P. laevis can complete their life cycle in around two months, and adults can live for up to two years.
- Morphology: This species can come in a variety of colour morphs, but typically all have a smooth dorsal surface, two pairs of pleopodal, or ‘external’ lungs, and males can easily be identified by their long, ‘spear-shaped’ uropods.
- Establishment time: We suggest adding any clean-up crew 7-14 days prior to adding other inhabitants, to ensure the colony has enough time to establish itself within their new environment.
- Protein hungry: Bare in mind this species is very protein hungry, so can sometimes do more harm than good for certain reptiles when moulting if their population is not kept in check.
Buy ANY Substrate, Get 10% Off SELECT Isopods!
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