Porcellio scaber "Ghost"

Porcellio scaber "Ghost" is a truly mesmerizing, ethereal, and highly sought-after color morph that brings an incredibly unique, spooky aesthetic to the isopod hobby. Unlike the typical dark slate-grey wild types, the "Ghost" mutation strips away much of the heavy dark melanin, leaving the isopod with a translucent, milky-white to pale grey body. This ghostly base is beautifully contrasted by dark, deep black eyes and varying degrees of soft, smoky-grey speckling running down the center of their backs. True to its common name of the Rough Woodlouse, its dorsal surface is covered in prominent microscopic bumps and tubercles, giving it a beautifully textured, matte finish that enhances its eerie, translucent appearance. They are flat-bodied, moderately sized isopods that are unable to roll into a perfect ball, relying instead on their camouflage and ability to play dead when startled.

This species is an absolute treat for both entry-level beginners and advanced collectors who want an exceptionally hardy isopod with a striking, unusual appearance. Thanks to their extreme adaptability, resilience, and highly active behavior, they are absolutely ideal for keepers wanting an isopod that is constantly out and about rather than hiding beneath the soil. They double as an exceptional, relentlessly hard-working clean-up crew for temperate, semi-arid, or subtropical bioactive terrariums, easily managing waste from small to medium-sized reptiles and amphibians without the risk of being easily hunted due to their subtle, pale coloration. If you are searching for a bulletproof starter isopod that establishes rapidly and adds a ghostly, high-contrast visual to your collection, the Ghost morph is the perfect candidate.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Porcellio scaber "Ghost"

ORIGIN: Originally native to Western and Central Europe, though the wild type is now globally naturalized; this specific color morph was selectively isolated and perfected in captivity.

DIFFICULTY: Very Easy / Beginner

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 18-26°C. They adapt effortlessly to standard room temperatures and tolerate typical seasonal indoor temperature variations with total ease.

HUMIDITY & MOISTURE: 50-60% humidity. They are highly drought-tolerant compared to more sensitive species but still require a dependable moisture gradient. Maintain a strict layout where one-third of the enclosure features a damp, well-misted sphagnum moss patch, while the remaining two-thirds stay completely dry and covered in shelter. They prefer moderate cross-ventilation and will struggle in stagnant, swampy tropical environments.

DIETARY NEEDS: Their foundational diet rests upon a permanent, deep supply of organic deciduous leaf litter and crumbling white-rotted wood. They have a notably high craving for animal matter and should be consistently supplemented at least twice a week with protein sources like dried fish flakes, shrimp, minnows, or insect frass. A continuous source of calcium, such as cuttlefish bone or limestone chunks, is absolutely vital to support their heavily calcified carapaces during their frequent molting cycles.

ACTIVITY LEVELS: Bolder and more surface-active than many cryptic species, they can frequently be seen clumped together under bark or exploring the dry zones of their habitat during daylight and evening hours alike.

REPRODUCTION RATE: Prolific and fast. They are incredibly reliable breeders that establish dense colonies very quickly, producing healthy broods of 12-20 mancae per clutch that rapidly grow to maturity.

SIZES: You will receive a healthy, robust mix of sizes ranging from developing juveniles to young adults, providing an optimal demographic mix to jumpstart your culture. Please note that young juveniles often appear completely translucent at first, developing their subtle grey speckling and characteristic ghost patterns as they mature. Newborn mancae are never intentionally counted or shipped, though some may emerge naturally during transit.

PACKAGING: The isopods are packed with great care inside well-ventilated plastic travel tubs layered with damp sphagnum moss to ensure stable transit humidity. These containers are securely nested inside a sturdy shipping box padded with eco-fill, paper, or thick cardboard to completely insulate the culture from movement and extreme outdoor 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