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Ghost woodlouse
Porcellio scaber "Ghost"
A beautiful semi-translucent color morph of the common woodlouse. Highly effective as a biological cleanup crew in humid terrariums and very easy to breed.
Class:Malacostraca
Order:Isopoda
Family:Porcellionidae
Genus:Porcellio
Species:Porcellio scaber "Ghost"
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
20 - 25 °C
Night temperature
18 - 22 °C
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: The nominate species Porcellio scaber is native to Europe but has been introduced worldwide. This selected 'Ghost' variant is bred primarily in captivity and is suited to humid forest setups rich in decaying organic matter.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Terrestrial isopod crustacean belonging to the family Porcellionidae. The 'Ghost' variant is a selected genetic mutation that reduces dark pigmentation, producing a semi-translucent, light gray or whitish appearance.
Behavior and Habits: Nocturnal, detritivorous, and fossorial animal. Spends most of its time hidden under bark, leaves, or within the soil. Displays a peaceful social behavior and lives in large colonies dedicated to decomposing organic waste.
Morphology: Oval and flattened body, divided into protective segments (pereon and pleon). The cuticle features a rough texture characteristic of the species. Reaches about 1.5 - 2 cm in length. Unlike other isopods, it cannot roll into a tight ball.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a small plastic enclosure or terrarium with a ventilated lid. The ideal substrate should be at least 5-8 cm deep, consisting of peat, coco fiber, dry oak leaves, and decaying wood, which serve as both shelter and food.
Lighting and Heating: Does not require special lighting; ambient room light is sufficient. The optimal breeding temperature ranges between 18°C and 24°C. Avoid temperatures above 28°C, which can be lethal to the colony.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires a strong humidity gradient. One section of the enclosure must be kept wet by placing constantly damp sphagnum moss, while the other side remains drier. Spray regularly with dechlorinated water.
Feeding and Supplementation: Diet is primarily based on dry leaves and decaying wood. Supplement with vegetables (carrots, zucchini), fish pellet food, and a constant calcium source (cuttlebone or crushed eggshells) crucial for exoskeleton development.
Compatibility: Perfectly compatible with other non-dominant isopods or used as a cleanup crew in bioactive enclosures for amphibians and small reptiles that do not actively hunt them. Displays no aggression.
Health and Common Diseases: The primary risk is dehydration due to dry conditions or poor ventilation that promotes toxic mold growth. Proper air circulation and consistent humidity monitoring prevent colony crashes.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The nominate species Porcellio scaber is native to Europe but has been introduced worldwide. This selected 'Ghost' variant is bred primarily in captivity and is suited to humid forest setups rich in decaying organic matter.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsEurope, Mediterranean, and West AsiaTropical oceans and reefsCosmopolitan or introduced
Terrestrial invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 1.7 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Venom level
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 1.7 cm. The British Myriapod and Isopod Group — Porcellio scaber source reports a maximum adult measurement of 1.7 cm for this species, recorded as body length. The biological datum refers to the base species Porcellio scaber, not exclusively to the commercial variety. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
