Merulanella Dawn Isopod
Merulanella sp.
Wholesale
Category
Isopods
Minimum order
MOQ 50 head
Per-head price
Partners Only
Overview
Adult Length
~12 mm
Venom
Non-venomous detritivore — harmless. No bite or sting; relies on rolling and hiding for defence.
In the Wild
Habitat
Humid tropical forest floor of Vietnam. A non-burrowing species that congregates in small groups under flat bark and in damp leaf litter rather than in soil.
Wild Diet
Decaying leaf litter, rotting wood, fungi, lichen and other decomposing plant matter; opportunistic scavenger of carrion.
Captive Care
Temperature
21 – 26 °C ambient — 20 °C cool end. Heat-sensitive; warm spells cause rapid die-off.
Humidity
70 – 80 %. Keep substrate damp with a drier surface layer and good ventilation.
UV Requirements
None required (nocturnal).
Feeding
Leaf litter and rotting white wood as a base, plus carrot, mango and a high-calcium/protein supplement powder. Top up weekly.
Enclosure
Terrestrial; shallow moist substrate topped with deep leaf litter and flat cork-bark hides. 20 × 20 cm. Slow breeder — keep stable and undisturbed.
Temperament
Shy, slow and secretive; harmless detritivore that shelters under cover. Not a handling species.
Origin
Not found in the wild in Thailand. Native range: Vietnam.