How difficult is it to keep Common Shiny Woodlouse?

Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.

What is the lifespan of Common Shiny Woodlouse?

The average lifespan of Common Shiny Woodlouse is 2-4 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Common Shiny Woodlouse get?

Common Shiny Woodlouse typically reaches Up to about 16mm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What is the typical price for Common Shiny Woodlouse?

The price of Common Shiny Woodlouse varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Common Shiny Woodlouse

Q: What should I feed Common Shiny Woodlouse?

Common Shiny Woodlouse feeds on: Leaf litter and rotten wood as staples with a little vegetable, permanent calcium such as cuttlebone, and occasional protein. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

Beginner

Oniscus asellus

A glossy European woodlouse found under rotting wood and stones almost everywhere in its range. The flat body has slightly flared edges, and juveniles show orange markings. Being temperate it needs no heating, which has made it a standard beginner species.

Difficulty

Beginner

Lifespan

2-4 years

Size

Up to about 16mm

Diet

Leaf litter and rotten wood as staples with a little vegetable, permanent calcium such as cuttlebone, and occasional protein

About

Oniscus asellus, named by Linnaeus in 1758, is a woodlouse of the British Isles and western and northern Europe that has also been introduced to Mexico and the eastern United States. Adults reach 16mm long and about 6mm wide, with a shiny brown-grey, relatively flat body whose edges flare slightly outwards. Juveniles look different, rough-surfaced and marked with orange. It is a classic synanthrope, living in gardens, walls and even inside houses. Being temperate it is easy to keep and needs no heating. Set up a gradient with one end damp and the other drier, and keep ventilation moderate. Build the floor from flake soil and rotted wood under a generous layer of leaf litter, which is the base of the diet rather than decoration. Keep cuttlebone permanently available and add a little protein now and then. Females carry eggs and then young in a brood pouch beneath the body, and the released juveniles colour up over successive moults. Like Porcellio scaber it cannot conglobate, relying on speed and cover instead.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)