Oniscus asellus "B.C. Maple". from the Canadian Import 2019. We were one of the first individuals with this species. They establish moderately slowly in a vivarium, and will act as janitors to keep the vivarium clean, as well as a snack that provides a natural calcium boost. They are native to Europe and invasive in Canada. They have nice, flat orange bodies. They are quite large as adults, but the younger ones are palatable and are eaten by amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles. Our isopods are fed Iso-licious Isopod Food 1-2x a week, including our new wet mixes, supplemented with potatoes, squash, carrots, our leaf powder, and a cuttlebone. These isopods enjoy cooler temperatures and an occasional misting, but do not do as well in an extremely wet environment. We allow space for a moderate moisture gradient, starting with one side of the enclosure having wet NZ sphagnum moss, the middle being moist and mostly covered with leaf litter and excessive levels of bark, and onto the opposite side being completely dry and covered only with leaf litter. This provides the needed space for Isopods to osmoregulate to remain in homeostasis.
