Scientific name
Porcellio hoffmannseggii
Other names: Porcellio hoffmannseggii · Porcellio hoffmannseggi
This large Porcellio is known in captivity for its long antennae. The name adopted here is Porcellio hoffmannseggii; several shops write hoffmannseggi with only one final i. [1][2]
Origin
Schmalfuss’s catalogue lists southern Portugal and Spain, and northern Morocco, among other areas. [1]
- Large Porcellio
- Spacious shelters
- Ventilation
Spelling standardised to the taxonomic catalogue; husbandry based on commercial accounts. No extrapolated lifespan or fecundity.
At a glance
A large Porcellio with long antennae, documented in southern Iberia and northern Morocco. The commercial spelling ‘hoffmannseggi’ varies [1][2].
| DOCUMENTED SIZE | Up to 40 mm Commercial value reported by Insektenliebe [2]. |
|---|---|
| LIFESPAN | To be documented No supported individual lifespan in the selected sources. |
| LIFESTYLE | Under shelters Shelter use observed by Planet Inverts [3]. |
Adult size
Up to 40 mm according to Insektenliebe’s breeding account; this commercial value is not presented as a universal measurement. [2]
Lifespan
Individual lifespan is not established by the selected documents; no numerical value is extrapolated.
Lifestyle
Planet Inverts observes extensive shelter use in its cultures. [3] Large size does not mean animals will be constantly visible or enjoy frequent handling.
Housing
SETUP AND SHELTERS
Spacious shelters — Ventilated enclosure, food-providing soil, leaves, decaying wood and several shelters; Insektenliebe practice [2].
Closed, well-ventilated enclosure, food-providing soil, leaves and decaying wood; several spacious shelters are recommended by Insektenliebe. [2]
Care parameters
BREEDER REFERENCE
20–24 °C — Insektenliebe commercial reference, not an experimental optimum [2].
Humidity
Localised shelter — A mostly less humid surface and a slightly humid shelter in the cited protocol [2].
Temperature
20–24 °C as a practice reference at Insektenliebe. [2] A practice value when attributed to a breeder; no universal safety threshold is inferred.
Humidity and ventilation
A mostly dry surface with a shelter kept slightly humid. [2] Examine substrate beneath shelters and record the enclosure’s actual conditions.
Feeding
DIET AND CALCIUM
Leaves and decaying wood, calcium and small supplementary portions according to Insektenliebe [2].
Scope of this profile
Spelling standardised to the taxonomic catalogue; husbandry based on commercial accounts. No extrapolated lifespan or fecundity.
Name and provenance
Keep spellings received in the group’s file, but use a single main name to avoid duplicates. A commercial spelling variant is not an additional taxon. The catalogue also distinguishes other species formerly assigned to this group. [1] A photograph is therefore not always enough to resolve an old label; ask for strain history before bringing colonies together.
Genuinely usable floor area
Insektenliebe’s account stresses room and hides accessible to these large animals. [2] Beyond an enclosure’s stated volume, check that shelters do not block passages and that several areas remain observable. A very simple container plan helps record aggregations without moving furnishings. Do not convert a photo of a successful enclosure into a universal minimum threshold.
Substrate, food and calcium
Insektenliebe maintains leaves and decaying hardwood, then adds calcium and small supplementary portions. [2] Preparing background resources before arrival avoids using offered meals as the sole indicator of good function. To monitor a colony, periodically photograph litter at the same spot and record each addition; this documents its renewal without requiring a full animal count.
Managing moisture locally
The commercial protocol keeps a humid shelter within a drier surface and avoids wetting the whole container uniformly. [2] Recording conditions beneath that shelter before changing watering preserves a useful record. If ventilation changes, note its position and date: the former drying rhythm must not be assumed unchanged.
Young and group dynamics
No brood size or maturation period is set in this profile. When small sizes appear, record where they were seen and recent operations. For a colony split, assign an identifier to both groups and record their shared origin. This method makes future observations comparable without claiming every difference comes from climate.
Checks and limits
A brief check can cover remaining food, shelter moisture, closure and the animals’ visible condition. Removing a shelter solely to count creates a disturbance that must also be considered. The cited recommendations come from commercial breeders; they are not a comparative tolerance trial. Impressive length, a reputation for ease or a selection name guarantees neither cohabitation nor reproductive rhythm.
French references: Porcellio hoffmannseggii
Reference found in the following French catalogues: Isopodshop [4]; Insectorus [6]. Catalogue presence, including out-of-stock listings, does not measure sales.
Isopodshop suggests 20-26 °C for husbandry. This is a commercial reference, not a demonstrated safe range. [4]
These sellers’ figures remain separately attributed: combining them does not create a newly validated husbandry range.
Checklist
- Keep the group’s provenance and identification.
- Prepare resources and shelters before arrival.
- Define a simple check without regularly dismantling the environment.
Observations to record
- Manual intervention log
- Substrate and food condition
- Young, moults and deaths observed
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Sources
Document-based overview; not a substitute for veterinary advice.
- Schmalfuss, 2003, mise à jour 2004 — World catalog of terrestrial isopods
Source accessed - Insektenliebe — Caring for Porcellio hoffmannseggi
Source accessed - Planet Inverts — Isopods, observations de Porcellio hoffmannseggii
Source accessed - Porcellio hoffmannseggi — Isopodshop
Source accessed - World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database — Porcellio hoffmannseggii
Source accessed - Porcellio hoffmannseggii — Insectorus
Source accessed