Giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus)

Short answers

Giant canyon isopod: How big does the enclosure need to be?

20×15×15 cm.

Giant canyon isopod: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 16–20 °C.

Giant canyon isopod: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Giant canyon isopod: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 2–3 years.

Giant canyon isopod: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

60–75 %

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

20×15×15 cm

Substrate

A soil and leaf-litter mix, a calcium source, pieces of bark

Feeding

Food

Leaf litter, vegetables, dry food, cuttlebone

Feeding interval

2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

1,5–2 cm

Life expectancy

2–3 years

Origin

Europe; introduced worldwide

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Colony. Isopods are gregarious and are kept as a group – 10 to 15 animals to start. Only this one species per tub: faster or slower breeding species crowd each other out, and larger Porcellio nibble freshly moulted smaller isopods when protein is short.

Notes

A very productive, robust species – often used as a clean-up crew in terrariums. It breeds fast and takes a broad range of humidity.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Dairy cow isopod (Porcellio laevis) – Beginner
• Bolivar's isopod (Porcellio bolivari) – Intermediate
• 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 Giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (20×15×15 cm), substrate (A soil and leaf-litter mix, a calcium source, pieces of bark), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.