Greek shield isopod (Porcellio werneri)

Short answers

Greek shield isopod: How big does the enclosure need to be?

30×20×20 cm (about 12 l) for a starter group, better 40×30×20 cm (about 25 l) for a large colony; strong cross-ventilation.

Greek shield isopod: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 18–26 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night Room temperature, about 17–20 °C.

Greek shield isopod: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Greek shield isopod: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Greek shield isopod: Can several be kept together?

Colony.

Climate

Daytime temperature

18–26 °C

Night temperature

Room temperature, about 17–20 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

50–65 % (a quarter to a third of the area kept moist, the rest dry)

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

30×20×20 cm (about 12 l) for a starter group, better 40×30×20 cm (about 25 l) for a large colony; strong cross-ventilation

Substrate

Soil and leaf litter mix with calcium, cork bark and flat stones to cling to, moist moss and rotten white wood in one corner

Feeding

Food

Dry leaf litter, rotten white wood, vegetables, lichen, protein (fish flakes, shrimp), cuttlebone or limestone

Feeding interval

Vegetables/protein twice a week, leaves/wood/calcium always available

Key facts

Adult size

Up to about 2–2.5 cm

Origin

Greece, mainly the Aegean islands; dry, calcareous rocky habitats

Protection status

Not protected

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Colony. Keep as a group, starting with 10 animals; adult males are somewhat territorial and need space and plenty of hides. Only this one species per box – larger Porcellio will nibble on freshly moulted smaller isopods when short of protein.

Notes

Strikingly flat isopod kept dry and well ventilated, but always with access to a moist corner. Breeds only seasonally and slowly – more a collector's species than a fast clean-up crew.

Look for Greek shield isopod (Porcellio werneri) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus) – Beginner
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Greek shield isopod (Porcellio werneri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (30×20×20 cm (about 12 l) for a starter group, better 40×30×20 cm (about 25 l) for a large colony; strong cross-ventilation), substrate (Soil and leaf litter mix with calcium, cork bark and flat stones to cling to, moist moss and rotten white wood in one corner), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.