Bolivar's isopod (Porcellio bolivari)

Short answers

Bolivar's isopod: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A box from 30×20×20 cm with very good ventilation for a colony (a large species).

Bolivar's isopod: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Bolivar's isopod: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Bolivar's isopod: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 2–3 years.

Bolivar's isopod: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

45–60 % (mostly dry, one small humid corner)

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

a box from 30×20×20 cm with very good ventilation for a colony (a large species)

Substrate

Mostly dry (about three quarters dry, one quarter damp), soil or sand with leaf litter, pale wood and limestone; very good air circulation

Feeding

Food

Fallen leaves, pale wood, vegetables and fruit; a higher protein share twice a week, calcium

Feeding interval

protein 2×/week, leaf litter and wood always available

Key facts

Adult size

ca. 2–3 cm (große Art)

Life expectancy

approx. 2–3 years

Origin

South-eastern Spain (caves and arid regions), endemic

Protection status

Not protected (no CITES, no German Federal Nature Conservation Act listing)

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Colony. Isopods are gregarious and are kept as a group – about 10 animals to start, with plenty of flat-stacked bark as hides. Only this one species per tub: other species crowd it out or, when protein is short, get nibbled as freshly moulted animals.

Notes

A "skeleton" pattern. The most important keeping mistake is too much wet and poor ventilation – it needs a dry, very airy setup with just one damp corner. Calcium for moulting. Not suitable for the standard damp isopod box.

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Related species

• Giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus) – Beginner
• Dairy cow isopod (Porcellio laevis) – Beginner
• Giant Spanish isopod (Porcellio expansus) – Beginner to intermediate
• Yellow-bordered woodlouse (Porcellio flavomarginatus) – Beginner
• Porcellio haasi isopod (Porcellio haasi) – Beginner to intermediate
• Orange isopod (Porcellio ornatus) – Beginner to intermediate
• Porcellio succinctus isopod (Porcellio succinctus) – Intermediate
• Greek shield isopod (Porcellio werneri) – Beginner to intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Bolivar's isopod (Porcellio bolivari) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a box from 30×20×20 cm with very good ventilation for a colony (a large species)), substrate (Mostly dry (about three quarters dry, one quarter damp), soil or sand with leaf litter, pale wood and limestone; very good air circulation), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.