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Dwarf White Isopod (Trichorhina tomentosa)
Trichorhina tomentosa
The Trichorhina tomentosa, commonly known as 'Dwarf White Isopod'. Tiny (0.1 inches) and unstoppable, it is the backbone of every bioactive terrarium worldwide. Originating from tropical climates, this blind, white and parthenogenetic (reproduces without males) isopod lives its entire life buried in the humid soil, devouring feces, molds and debris without ever bothering or preying on the eggs of the host reptiles. The supreme and invisible cleaning crew.
Class:Malacostraca
Order:Isopoda
Family:Platyarthridae
Genus:Trichorhina
Species:Trichorhina tomentosa
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 90 %
Ambient temperature
25 °C
Day temperature
22 - 26 °C
Night temperature
18 - 20 °C
Substrate depth
>= 5 cm
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Asphyxiating tropical cosmopolitan spread globally in greenhouses, deep leaf litter and hot compost worldwide.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Platyarthridae. (The Invisible Dwarf Scavenger). Unlike the mammoth and ornamental species of Porcellio or Cubaris, the Trichorhina is not a display animal. It is a blind biological machine, evolved to maximize the anaerobic destruction of decomposed organic matter without ever rising to the surface.
Behavior and Habits: Underground microscopic raiders. Totally lucifugous (they hate light) and blind. They live exclusively under the surface of the peat, they never climb on glass or dry cork. They are parthenogenetic: every individual is a female who clones herself producing dozens of tiny white copies, causing real demographic explosions (booms) if fed abundantly in the heat.
Morphology: Tiny elongated soft shell (Up to 0.1 inches max / 2-3 mm). Pigmentless (Translucent white) and without the ability to roll up (They do not conglobate). The exoskeleton is so soft and fragile that it dehydrates on contact with dry air in a few minutes. The antennae constantly feel the fetid ground in search of fungal spores.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Guidance about terrarium setup for Trichorhina tomentosa must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Lighting and Heating: Guidance about lighting and heating for Trichorhina tomentosa must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Humidity and Hydration: Guidance about humidity and hydration for Trichorhina tomentosa must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Feeding and Supplementation: Guidance about feeding and supplementation for Trichorhina tomentosa must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Compatibility and Coexistence: Guidance about compatibility and coexistence for Trichorhina tomentosa must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Health and Common Diseases: Guidance about health and common diseases for Trichorhina tomentosa must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Asphyxiating tropical cosmopolitan spread globally in greenhouses, deep leaf litter and hot compost worldwide.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedCentral America and CaribbeanNorth AmericaEast Asia
Terrestrial invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 0.5 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 0.5 cm. The Insektenliebe — Trichorhina tomentosa source reports a maximum adult measurement of 0.5 cm for this species, recorded as body length. The taxonomic record consulted is Trichorhina tomentosa. 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.
