Porcellionides pruinosis "Havana"

Porcellionides pruinosus "Havana" is an incredibly vibrant, thrilling, and exclusive addition to the isopod hobby, offering a piece of true natural history for serious collectors. This specific wild-type locale was originally sourced directly from Havana, the capital city of Cuba. While it shares the signature dusty appearance of the common Powder Orange isopod, the Havana locale stands out completely by displaying a much deeper, richer, and intensely redder base coloration. They are famous for their unique pruinose coating—a fine, powdery bloom on their carapaces that makes them look like they have been lightly dusted with sugar. They possess a lean, agile body shape that cannot roll into a ball, relying instead on lightning-fast speed to evade danger. Currently, this locale is not widely widespread in the UK or even Europe, with only a select few individuals fortunate enough to keep them, making them a true hidden gem for enthusiasts.

This species is the ultimate prize for collectors who want to own an exclusive locale that isn't commonly found across the UK or Europe, while remaining entirely accessible to beginners due to its unstoppable hardiness. Thanks to their hyper-active behavior and exceptional tolerance for varying conditions, they are perfect for keepers who want a highly visible, fast-moving display colony. Because they are an absolute powerhouse at breaking down organic debris, they double as an overpowered bioactive clean-up crew for tropical, subtropical, or temperate reptile and amphibian enclosures. They are a fantastic choice for any keeper who wants a uniquely colored, historical locale that multiplies effortlessly and brings incredible activity to a setup.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Porcellionides pruinosus "Havana"

ORIGIN: Havana, Cuba (Caribbean region), though the broader species has been spread worldwide via human travel.

DIFFICULTY: Very Easy / Beginner

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 18-28°C. They thrive across a wide range of temperatures but will breed and move at an even faster pace when kept on the warmer side of this scale.

HUMIDITY & MOISTURE: 60-80% humidity. They are highly adaptable and incredibly forgiving of occasional minor dips in moisture, but they require a reliable moisture gradient. Ensure one-third of the enclosure features a damp sphagnum moss hydration station, while the remaining two-thirds stay relatively dry. They require decent ventilation to prevent the environment from becoming stagnant or swampy.

DIETARY NEEDS: Their foundational diet consists of a deep supply of organic deciduous leaf litter and crumbling white-rotted wood. They have an exceptionally high demand for nutrients and must be regularly supplemented with protein sources like dried fish flakes, shrimp, or minnows at least twice a week. A constant, accessible source of calcium, such as cuttlefish bone or limestone chunks, is absolutely vital to ensure successful molting cycles.

ACTIVITY LEVELS: Extremely high. They are incredibly bold, curious, and fast-moving, regularly exploring their enclosure and foraging openly across the surface during both day and night.

REPRODUCTION RATE: Hyper-prolific. True to the Porcellionides family, they are exceptionally fast breeders that establish dense colonies at a staggering pace, with mancae appearing within just a few weeks of starting a culture.

SIZES: You will receive a healthy, robust mix of sizes ranging from small juveniles to young adults, providing an optimal demographic mix to ensure immediate colony establishment. Newborn mancae are never intentionally counted or shipped, though their highly prolific nature means some may be born 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