Ardentiella Aurora

Ardentiella aurora captive bred first generation in captivity 

Ardentiella aurora 

Difficulty: Moderate -Intermediate 

Origin: Tropical Southeast Asia (typical of many Ardentiella species)

Size: ~1–1.5 cm

Behaviour: active and prefers hiding in leaf litter and cork bark.

Enclosure

A  plastic or glass enclosure works well.

Size: 5 litre tub for a starter colony

Ventilation: Moderate airflow but not overly dry

Lid: Secure with small ventilation holes

These isopods prefer a humid but well-ventilated environment.

Substrate

Provide a deep, nutritious substrate so the colony can thrive.

Recommended mix:

Organic topsoil

Decaying hardwood

White rotten wood

Leaf litter

Crushed cuttlebone or calcium powder

Depth: 5–8 cm minimum.

The substrate should be moist on one side and slightly drier on the other to create a moisture gradient.

Temperature

Ideal: 22–26°C

Minimum: 20°C

Maximum: 28°C

Avoid sudden temperature changes.

Humidity

Aurora isopods enjoy high humidity.

Keep one side of the enclosure consistently moist.

The other side should remain slightly drier to prevent mould and allow them to regulate moisture.

Regular misting of one side of the enclosure is recommended.

Diet

They are detritivores and feed mainly on decomposing organic matter.

Staple foods:

Leaf litter (oak, beech, magnolia)

Decaying wood

Vegetable scraps (courgette, carrot, squash)

Dried shrimp or fish flakes for protein

Provide protein once or twice a week to encourage breeding.