Porcellio laevis “Black”

Porcellio laevis “Black” – ideal species for beginners

The breeding box in which we keep the Porcellio laevis “Black” is the most colorful in our entire stock. The animals are heterozygous “Milkback” and “Panda”. This means that they carry the genes of the other P. laevis color morphs and their offspring are therefore totally different. Porcellio laevis “Black” can grow up to 2.3 cm and has a development time of around 7-8 months. It is very prolific!

Porcellio laevis “Black” has a flat, broad body. The basic color is dark grey to black. They have gray antennae and white legs.

These animals live in the leaf litter layer of deciduous forests, which is why you should try to recreate this habitat in the terrarium as well. A mixture of leaves, soil, white-rotted wood, and lime serves as the substrate. A layer of moss, bark pieces, and leaves is placed on top of the substrate so that the animals can find shelter and to prevent the substrate from drying out too quickly. The humidity in the enclosure should be around 50–70%, and care should be taken to ensure that the substrate is kept moist but not wet. Porcellio laevis “Black” is a very hardy woodlouse species and, provided waterlogging is avoided, can be kept even at higher humidity levels. The isopods are most active at temperatures between 18 and 26°C. Porcellio laevis “Black” can generally be observed frequently, as this species is diurnal. With an appropriate stocking density, you can always spot some when you look into the tank.

Porcellio laevis “Black” are excellent as supplementary inhabitants in various tanks. For example, you can safely house them together with snails, millipedes, stick insects, beetles, and the like. Many people also keep these animals in reptile tanks as “sanitation police,” since they consume leftover food and occasionally serve as food for the reptiles themselves. Theoretically, the organic material contained in the substrate would be sufficient as food for the Isopods, since this is also their primary food source in nature. In a terrarium, however, they also readily accept vegetables, flowers, fruit, and woodlouse food.