Reductoniscus Tuberculatus Borneo Gator Dwarf Isopod

First and foremost be aware this is a DWARF isopod species. This means it's very SMALL. Average adult size is just under 1/4 inch or 5-6 mm. If you already know this obvious fact or it's not a deal breaker then read on. Borneo Gator Isopods are an intermediate skill level species most anyone with at least some successful isopod experience can easy keep and enjoy. Their Latin name tuberculatus refers to their bumpy rough exterior. They are various shades of gray ranging from light to dark. They're nocturnal and tend to form tight clusters underneath of cork bard or decayed wood and come out at night to feed and forage. What they lack in size is made up for in appearance. They are sometimes referred to as dinosaur isopods or ankylosaur isopods. They large bony like exterior appearance combined with a small nub like tail certainly makes them look prehistoric! They are fascinating little isopods to watch and admire. A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is beyond sufficient for a small starter culture. You don't want to start off with much bigger than this unless you are getting or already have a large number of these isopods on hand. Being dwarf isopods, if they are too spread out it will take much longer for them to find each other and start reproducing. Conversely you don't want too small either as environmental changes in a very small space happen much faster which isn't a good thing for this and most other isopod types. Standard or bioactive enclosures can be enhanced with natural botanical items to simulate the isopods habitat in the wild. This helps them feel secure which in turn promotes their natural processes like eating and breeding. Average room temperature will suit them just fine. A good temperature range is 72-78F leaning more towards the warmer end if possible. Borneo Gators do not need a pronounced moisture gradient like most other isopods. A small gradient is fine, but a consistent lightly damp (not wet) enclosure is ideal. They will not fare well if allowed to get any level of dry so allow for some ventilation. A few pieces of cork bark strategically placed over different parts of the enclosure will help retain the humidity levels and reduce the frequency of watering needed to maintain a proper moisture gradient. Keeping your substrate at least 3-4 inches deep also helps retain humidity and gives them some room to burrow if things get too dry. They will simply dig down where there is more moisture until conditions on the surface are more to their liking. Isopods are detritivores. Their primary diet in nature is dried leaf litter and decayed wood. Both of these should always be available in abundance. They will also happily consume any other decomposing organic plant or animal matter they come across. As such it is vital to supplement your isopods with other food sources on a semi regular basis. Spiky Pineapples enjoy food options like squash, carrots, cucumbers and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy Morning Wood. They also tend to be protein hungry so offer them things like freeze dried minnows, shrimp, fish pellets, dried insects and other protein based food sources. Be sure to feed these on the drier side as they can spoil quickly in humid environments and attract unwanted pests. Supplemental calcium is recommended as well. This can be in the form of crushed pellets they can nibble or small light weight stones they can crawl on and hide under. In our experience either will work, but our pods seem to enjoy Texas holy rock. Some cuttle bone pieces are always a welcome treat as well. Borneo Gator isopods are ubnique and intruiging if you can appreciate and admire the smaller things in life. Please do remeber these little guys and gals are small! They're not extremely difficult like some Cubaris, but they do require a little bit more upkeep and monitoring to ensure their environment stays optimal. Their dinosaur like appearance keeps this isopod popular in the hobby. Quick Facts Origin: Borneo island in southeast Asia Classification: Cristarmadillidium > Reductoniscus Tuberculatus Average Size:Just under 1/4" inch max Activity level: Primarily nocturnal Care Level: Intermediate