Dwarf white isopods

Trichorhina tomentosa is a tiny off-white woodlouse, not a white springtail. BMIG describes a tropical Central and South American origin and introductions to heated glasshouses elsewhere. Its small eyes and hidden lifestyle suit life among damp leaves and decaying wood.

Treat this as a colony to maintain rather than a display or handling pet. There is no reliable lifespan or cleaning-capacity promise in the reviewed evidence. Keep a separate backup culture before adding animals to another enclosure; their presence does not prove that enclosure is clean or well drained.

Use secure, ventilated housing with moisture-retaining soil, decomposing leaves and protected spaces at different depths. This species is commonly kept more uniformly moist than larger isopods, but the soil must retain air spaces. Plan an inspection point that lets you check without turning everything over.

Glasshouse records do not establish an ideal thermostat setting. Ask the breeder about the conditions used for your actual culture and measure your room. Avoid abrupt moves to a hotter or drier habitat, direct sunshine and uncontrolled heaters over a small container.

Ordinary room daylight is enough for observation under the guidance used here. Keep sheltered substrate available. No species-specific UVB target has been established, so strong reptile lamps are not a default culture requirement.

Check moisture below the surface. The culture must not repeatedly dry through, but flooding the soil is also unsuitable. Maintain ventilation rather than sealing the lid to retain water. Hidden animals make these direct habitat checks more useful than counting animals on the lid.

Keep decomposing leaves available, with calcium and small supplementary portions. Use a small feeding inspection area to see whether extras are eaten. Remove spoiled food and replenish depleted litter. Do not replace the whole substrate routinely just because decomposers appear.

Leave young and moulting animals in their protected moist spaces. Transfer established substrate or a shelter gently instead of picking individuals up with fingers. Label all transfers: tiny animals can travel unnoticed with soil, plants and tools.

BMIG reports only females and presumed reproduction without males, called parthenogenesis. Separating supposed sexes will not reliably control growth. Sustained losses need a check of moisture, food and recent additions with an experienced keeper. Do not apply household pest treatments or medicines intended for other animals.

Confirm the scientific name and keep supplier records. Contain surplus animals and used substrate; never release them outside. Isopods are crustaceans and excluded from the general UK pet-invertebrate import note. Ask APHA about your exact import route before ordering.

Prepare a labelled backup culture and a contained surplus plan. Check substrate moisture, supplement use and unusual losses regularly. Keep equipment separate from new or declining colonies, and record introductions so a problem can be traced without dismantling every habitat.