Porcellio echinatus Isopods

Porcellio echinatus is a deeply fascinating, heavily textured, and uniquely armored isopod species that brings an incredible prehistoric look to the hobby. Widely known as the "Shark Skin Isopod" due to its remarkably rough carapace, this species is entirely covered in small, raised, pointed nodules that give it a spiky, defensive appearance. The wild-type coloration consists of a beautiful dark slate-grey to charcoal body, often accented by pale, ghost-like markings or lighter translucent margins along the outer edges of their segments. They are a flat-bodied species that cannot conglobate into a ball, relying instead on their rugged texture and quick, skittering movements to escape danger. They are exceptionally surface-active and robust, making them highly entertaining to observe in a setup.

This species is an absolute dream for both beginner keepers and advanced collectors who want an exceptionally active, bulletproof isopod that does not spend its entire life buried underground. They are perfect for keepers who want to see constant surface activity, as they love to openly scale cork bark, clamber over rocks, and forage during daylight hours. Because they are highly resilient and have an aggressive appetite for waste and organic decay, they serve as a spectacular, hard-working clean-up crew for semi-arid, temperate, or Mediterranean-style bioactive reptile and amphibian enclosures. Whether you want a dedicated display colony or an unstoppable cleanup crew that handles minor environmental dips with ease, this rugged species is an excellent choice.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Porcellio echinatus

ORIGIN: The Western Mediterranean region, predominantly found throughout the rocky, scrubland environments of Portugal, Spain, and North Africa.

DIFFICULTY: Very Easy / Beginner

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 18-26°C. They thrive flawlessly at standard room temperatures and are highly forgiving of minor household temperature fluctuations.

HUMIDITY & MOISTURE: 60-70% humidity. They require a distinct, well-ventilated moisture gradient inside their enclosure. One-third of the setup should feature a consistently damp sphagnum moss station to provide vital hydration, while the remaining two-thirds should be kept dry but decorated with plenty of cover. They do not tolerate soggy, stagnant, or overly wet tropical conditions, so good airflow is essential.

DIETARY NEEDS: Their primary diet must consist of a thick layer of organic deciduous leaf litter (such as oak, beech, or magnolia) and crumbled white-rotted hardwood. As a Porcellio species, they have a massive craving for protein and should be supplemented heavily with dried minnows, shrimp, or fish flakes once or twice a week. A permanent, easily accessible source of calcium, such as cuttlefish bone or limestone chunks, must be kept in the enclosure at all times to ensure healthy, successful molts.

ACTIVITY LEVELS: High. They are bold, curious, and remarkably surface-active, regularly exploring their enclosure and foraging out in the open during both day and night cycles.

REPRODUCTION RATE: Prolific. Once they acclimate to their new enclosure, they establish themselves rapidly, producing large broods of mancae on a highly consistent basis.

SIZES: You will receive a healthy, diverse mix of sizes consisting mainly of larger juveniles and young adults. This balanced mix provides the perfect demographic foundation for immediate colony establishment. Fragile, newly born mancae are never intentionally counted or shipped, though females may occasionally give birth during transit.

PACKAGING: The isopods are securely packed inside ventilated plastic travel containers filled with clean, damp sphagnum moss to maintain perfect transit moisture. These containers are then safely nestled inside a heavy-duty cardboard box insulated with eco-fill, paper, or cardboard to protect them from external shocks and temperature spikes.

100% LIVE ARRIVAL: At TerraPods, we offer a 100% live arrival guarantee

20% OVERCOUNT: All isopod packages will come with a 20% overcount