Discover the Fascinating World of 'Specials'

Isopod Porcellionides pruinosus “powder blue”

Nymphs from our own breeding. The gender of the nymphs is random. If you want to breed with them, we recommend ordering a group of 10 nymphs.
 

Information

Powder Blue isopods are a small to medium-sized species.

Like their Porcellionides pruinosus twin, the Powder Orange Isopods, these critters have a dusty texture on their shell – ranging from light silver to a darker chrome color.

Appearance

They typically grow to just over 1 cm, but these little rockets are fully active.

Behavior

Powder Blue Isopods are incredibly active eaters and breeders, making them a great bioactive choice and an excellent beginner species.

Food

Isopods are true scavengers. They eat dead wood, dead beech and oak leaves, fish food, cucumber, and mushrooms, among other things. Cuttlebone should definitely not be missing as they have a high calcium requirement, which can also be offered in powder form.

Environmental requirements

Isopods cannot climb glass, so a glass container as housing is sufficient. Use coco peat as a substrate mixed with humus, dead leaves (beech and oak), some pieces of decomposed wood and bark. The Porcellionides pruinosus "powder orange" does not have high environmental demands. Spray 1 part of the enclosure so they can choose a drier or more humid spot themselves. The temperature can be between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius.

|Isopod Porcellionides pruinosus “powder orange”

Nymphs from our own breeding. The sex of the nymphs is random. If you want to breed them, we recommend ordering a group of 10 nymphs.

Information

These Isopods come from Southwest Asia. They are still very young and grow fast. We ship them when they are between a few mm and 1.5 cm, which means they are a few weeks old. Naturally, we guarantee the live arrival of these special animals.

Porcellionides pruinosus 'Powder Orange', also known as Powder Orange Isopods, is a hardy species of isopod and reproduces quickly once established. Powder Orange Isopods make a great clean-up crew in a bioactive setup or naturalistic terrarium. 

If you want to keep these isopods outside of a vivarium, we recommend keeping them on an Isopod substrate.

Appearance

These isopods can grow to 7 to 12 mm and have a beautiful orange color. 

Behavior

This species is quite active and is also known for its speed. In rare cases, starving isopods may try to consume the shell of freshly molted invertebrates or even gnaw on small or delicate reptiles or amphibians. We therefore advise you to offer sufficient food for the Isopods.

Food

Isopods are true scavengers. Among other things, they eat dead wood, dead beech and oak leaves, fish food, cucumber, and mushrooms. Cuttlebone should certainly not be omitted, as they have a high need for calcium, which can also be offered in powdered form.

Environmental requirements

Isopods cannot climb glass, so a glass container as housing is sufficient. Use cocopeat mixed with humus, dead leaves (beech and oak), some pieces of decomposed wood, and bark as substrate. Porcellionides pruinosus "powder orange" does not have high environmental demands. Mist one part of the enclosure so they can choose a drier or more humid spot themselves. The temperature should be between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius.

Microscope

Small enough to fit in your pocket, yet powerful enough to make an ant look as big as an antelope! This real microscope magnifies 30 times using precision optics and is much easier to use than those old-fashioned desk microscopes!

When you unfold the microscope, the light automatically illuminates the area in front of the lens, so whether you're interested in nature studies or crime solving, this will be an invaluable companion!

Comes with sample slides and everything you need to make your own slides. Works indoors and outdoors... specimens do not need to be mounted on slides!

The 16-page, full-color illustrated instruction booklet, written by naturalist Nick Baker, provides helpful tips on how to look closely at almost anything, and suggests some fascinating subjects.

Ladybird Lodge

Join nature expert Nick Baker and discover the secret life of one of this country's best-loved insects!

Specifically designed for ages 5-10 years, this kit explains all sorts of fun and fascinating facts about ladybirds; where to find them, how to study them and how to keep them safely as pets.

Contents include quality equipment and Nick Baker's fascinating 28-page guide to ladybirds. A great outdoor activity for kids or anyone interested in the natural world.

Contents & Safety Information

- Clear plastic tank and lid
- Specimen tubes
- Paintbrush
- Tweezers
- Magnifying glass
- Tube holder
- 26-page full colour instruction booklet with a guide full of tips and beautiful images.

Olive striped millipede (Spirostreptus sp.)

The nymphs of this millipede are 5 to 10 centimeters long and therefore already very strong.

Zebra Mantis - Omomantis zebrata

The praying mantis's stage is from L3 to L7

Information

Omomantis zebrata is a species of praying mantis belonging to the family Mantidae. The common name “Zebra Mantis” comes from the striking zebra-like stripes covering its body. When disturbed, this praying mantis often displays its remarkable flying abilities, with flights of up to 50 meters! Omomantis zebrata is originally from tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

Although small, they have a great voracity for insects; a spectacular species!

Appearance

Their bodies are adorned with a unique striped pattern of bright, striking colors such as yellow, pink, blue, and green, with a black border along the outer edge of each color.

They are relatively small in size; their bodies grow to be anywhere between 5 and 7 centimeters, with females growing one centimeter larger than males.

Their front legs are noticeably longer than their hind legs and are equipped with spines that they use to catch their prey.

Their heads are triangular and have a pair of large eyes at the front, allowing them to see in many directions and detect small movements in the air.

Behavior

Omomantis zebrata is generally a peaceful creature and shows no aggression towards humans or other animals. They are considered quite docile, and you can often see them admiring their surroundings with their quick eyes.

Omomantis zebrata can also be considered shy, as they tend to hide or retreat when they are afraid of danger. They are also quite active in the morning and evening and may show some curious behavior during this time.

Despite being small, they are quite brave and will not hesitate to come out and explore their habitat if they feel safe and comfortable. Furthermore, they are also excellent climbers and may even try to climb on your shoulder and hands if they are given food.

Food

The Zebra Praying Mantis primarily feeds on other small insects in its natural habitat. They tend to hide during the day and become more active at night to hunt prey more effectively.

Omomantis zebrata occasionally feeds on small flowers with nectar and pollen, but usually feeds on their normal insect diet. Due to their small size, they cannot tackle prey much larger than themselves.

In their natural habitat, the Zebra Praying Mantis also eats any nutritious plants or decaying vegetation they encounter, so this should also be considered when providing food for them in captivity.

Environmental Requirements

The ideal temperature is around 24 °C, but room temperature is also fine. At night, it can be slightly cooler than during the day, but at least 18 °C.
This species does not have high humidity requirements, but it is important to spray with water every day or every other day. A guideline humidity is about 40 to 65%. Being too humid for too long is the number one cause of death for this species.
As with all praying mantis species, this species needs an enclosure that is at least 3x the length of the animal in height, and at least 2x the length of the animal in width. For an adult animal, this means at least 27 cm in height and 18 cm in width. A good size for a terrarium would be 20 x 20 x 35, so there is also room for artificial plants and many perches.