Products

Armadillidium Gestroi is a large robust isopod and is among the handful that are pleasantly daytime active. They have 3-4 rows of blazing bright yellow splotching running down the length of the pereon and pleon sections that contrast nicely on their jet black base coloring. It is believed this bold coloration is an adaption mimicking the markings of venomous animals that serves a visual warning to predators to keep away. But no worries, Gestroi isopods are completely harmless. They are generally easy to keep and make an aesthetically pleasing display isopod. This popular isopod is a bit of a tank, but the average 6 quart or small glass aquarium is fine for a starter culture amount of 12-12 individuals. Just know you will likely be needing to upgrade or make other plans sooner than later once they start producing offspring. Average room temperature is fine for this species. A. Vulgare prefers a temperate environment, but slightly higher on the moist side. Good ventilation is key with this species as you do not want a completely semi tropical enclosure. Around one third to half of the enclosure should have damp (not wet) sphagnum moss with the remainder being a bit on the dry side, but not completely lacking some level of moisture. Their primary diet is dried leaf litter and soft decayed wood which should always be available in abundance. They also enjoy veggies like squash, carrots, radishes and similar. These can be added on a supplemental basis a few times a week. Other supplemental options such as commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy are also devoured without hesitation. Armadillidium Gestroi isopods also need some protein in their diets. Options like freeze dried minnows, shrimp, fish pellets, fish flakes and other protein based food sources work well. Be sure to feed these on the drier side as they can spoil quickly in humid environments and attract unwanted pests.  Armadillidium Gestroi is a fantastic isopod for beginners. It is not extremely sensitive and fairly tolerable to typical new keeper mistakes and learning curves. They will reproduce readily once established and is an all around rewarding species for any collection. See our full care guide for Armadillidium Gestroi which has comprehensive expanded details for all care aspects of this showy isopod species! Quick Facts Origin: France and Italy Family Classification: Armadillidiidae > Armadillidium > Gestroi Size: Average is around 0.75 inches with large adults reaching 0.80+ inches Activity level: Generally outgoing and daytime active Difficulty: Easy

Armadillidium Klugii "Montenegro" is one of the very few visually stunning isopods widely available and generally very affordable. They are characterized by a bright red skirt that surrounds a dark brown to black base color. They have 3 rows of dots, usually a mix of white and yellow that extend the full length of the pereon section. They are modestly sizeable and somewhat shy and reclusive being most active at night. A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is sufficient for a small starter culture of these beauties. 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 but their optimal range is at slightly elevated temperatures of 74-79F. This species prefers a sharp moisture gradient with 1/3 up to 1/2 of the enclosure being lightly damp and the rest dry to bone dry. They will not fair well if all of the enclosure is damp or wet. They will often migrate between moist and dry areas at different times of the day. A few pieces of cork bark strategically placed over some of the moist side will help retain the humidity levels and reduce the frequency of watering needed to maintain a proper moisture gradient. Isopods are detritivores. Their primary diet in nature is 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. They enjoy food options like squash, radishes, carrots and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy. They also need some occasional protein in their diets which can be 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.  While this showy terrestrial crustacean is not overly difficult to keep, a culture can crash rather quickly if their specific care needs like moisture gradient, ventilation, and protein based foods are not consistently adhered to. They are typically on the slow side to reproduce. But once established they will be very prolific on a regular basis. They are among the few isopods that can survive and do well in a semi arid environment making them ideal for bioactive set ups of this type. See our full care guide for Armadillidium Klugii "Montenegro" which has comprehensive expanded details for all care aspects of this interesting isopod species! Quick Facts Origin: Balkan coast lines and areas between Croatia through Montenegro Classification: Armadillidiidae > Armadillidium > A. Klugii  Average Size: 1/2" to 3/4" inch Activity level: Somewhat day active with peak activity at night Morph/Locality Type: Montenegro  Known Morphs/Localities : Montenegro Orange, Pudding, Dubrovnik

The Yellow Zebra isopod, Armadillidium Maculatum is a stunning morph derived from the classic black and white striped zebra isopod. Who couldn't love bold zebra stripes on such a tiny creature?! Native to southern France, this adorable little crustacean is hardy and very easy to care for. It's attractive appearance, outgoing nature and ease of keeping combined with it's overall reasonable price point make it a top choice for beginners.  Building your own thriving culture of A. Maculatum isopods is easy. A starter group of 12-20 individuals can be kept in a small enclosure like a 6qt storage bin or small glass tank. Slightly above average room temperature of 75-82F is their comfort zone, but they will also do just fine in slightly cooler temperatures. An average moisture gradient is acceptable. Zebras can withstand somewhat drier conditions better than most isopods, but ensure they always have a moist area to rehydrate their gills. All typical isopod foods are readily accepted. Mixed veggies like carrots, squash, radishes and similar are good. Commercial powdered isopod diets like Repashy are highly recommended and ours here at our facility absolutely relish it! A serving or two of protein each week is also very beneficial. Fish pellets, freeze dried shrimp or minnows are widely available and work fine. Armadillidium Maculatum is daytime active and quite bold. Especially once their numbers increase. They make an excellent clean up crew if used in a bioactive, but be aware all Armadillidium isopods have a reputation for eating live plants. They make a fantastic display isopod for any age or experience level. See our full care guide for Armadillidium Maculatum "Yellow Zebra" which expands much deeper into all aspects of keeping and breeding this classic show off isopod.  Quick Facts Origin: Southern France and Mediterranean Areas Classification: Armadillidiidae > Armadillidium > A. Maculatum Average Size: 1/2" to 3/4" inch Activity level: Daytime active and outgoing Morph Type: Yellow Known Morphs: Yellow, Chocolate, High White, Spotted

The zebra isopod, Armadillidium Maculatum is a fan favorite in the isopod hobby. Who couldn't love bold zebra stripes on such a tiny creature?! Native to southern France, this adorable little crustacean is hardy and very easy to care for. It's attractive appearance, outgoing nature and ease of keeping combined with it's overall reasonable price point make it a top choice for beginners.  Building your own thriving culture of A. Maculatum isopods is easy. A starter group of 12-20 individuals can be kept in a small enclosure like a 6qt storage bin or small glass tank. Slightly above average room temperature of 75-82F is their comfort zone, but they will also do just fine in slightly cooler temperatures. An average moisture gradient is acceptable. Zebras can withstand somewhat drier conditions better than most isopods, but ensure they always have a moist area to rehydrate their gills. All typical isopod foods are readily accepted. Mixed veggies like carrots, squash, radishes and similar are good. Commercial powdered isopod diets like Repashy are highly recommended and ours here at our facility absolutely relish it! A serving or two of protein each week is also very beneficial. Fish pellets, freeze dried shrimp or minnows are widely available and work fine. Armadillidium Maculatum is daytime active and quite bold. Especially once their numbers increase. They make an excellent clean up crew if used in a bioactive, but be aware all Armadillidium isopods have a reputation for eating live plants. They make a fantastic display isopod for any age or experience level. See our full care guide for Armadillidium Maculatum which expands much deeper into all aspects of keeping and breeding this classic show off isopod.  Quick Facts Origin: Southern France and Mediterranean Areas Classification: Armadillidiidae > Armadillidium > A. Maculatum Average Size: 1/2" to 3/4" inch Activity level: Daytime active and outgoing Morph Type: N/A Known Morphs: High Yellow, Chocolate, High White, Spotted

One of the more "showy" isopods available in the hobby, the Japanese Magic Potion is an ideal choice for those who want something aesthetically pleasing to look at in terms of a clean up crew! Not only is this isopod a great janitor, but their variable splotchy coloration is far from the standard drab grey, brown and blacks you see on most wild types. Armadillidium Vulgare is a very common isopod species and the one most people are referring to when the iconic term "pill bug" or "roly poly". They are native to Europe, most notably in the Mediterranean basin area but have established themselves nearly worldwide. They are a beginner friendly species being fairly flexible in their needs and tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions. Armadillidium Vulgare is a relatively outgoing isopod that can be seen exploring and moving about their enclosure at various times. As with most isopods, higher numbers means higher visibility. A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is sufficient for a small starter culture of these beauties. 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 around the mid 70sF will suit them just fine. A. Vulgare prefers a temperate climate with good ventilation. Around one third to half of the enclosure should have damp (not wet) sphagnum moss with the remainder being a bit on the dry side, but not completely devoid of some moisture.They will often migrate between moist and dry areas at different times of the day. A few pieces of cork bark strategically placed over some of the moist side will help retain the humidity levels and reduce the frequency of watering needed to maintain a proper moisture gradient. Isopods are detritivores. Their primary diet in nature is 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. They enjoy food options like squash, radishes, carrots and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy. They also need some occasional protein in their diets which can be 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 Armadillidium Vulgare "Japanese Magic Potion" is an easy species to keep and is fairly forgiving with the learning curves of new keepers or the occasional memory lapse. A. Vulgare has many other color morphs and locales worth checking out if you like this species and want a variety of colors.  For a closer look at the aspects of keeping this visually appealing isopod including breeding, see our "Armadillidium Japanese Magic Potion Care Guide" which has comprehensive expanded details for all care aspects of this must have isopod! Quick Facts Origin: Mediterranean Europe Scientific Name: Armadillidium Vulgare Morph Name: Japanese Magic Potion Characteristics: Random yellow splotching with black dots on a translucent white base.  Size: Average is around 0.5 inches with large adults reaching 0.70 inches Activity level: Generally outgoing and daytime active

The Tangerine morph of A. Vulgare was isolated from the Punta Cana line by selective breeding efforts of dedicated hobbyist. Tangerine isopods are born a bright and vibrant orange, but will deepen over time. As adults they are a deep almost burnt orange sometimes bordering red on very mature individuals.  Armadillidium Vulgare is a very common isopod species and the one most people are referring to when the iconic term "pill bug" is mentioned. They are native to Europe, most notably in the Mediterranean basin area but have established themselves nearly worldwide. They are a beginner friendly species being fairly flexible in their needs and tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions. Armadillidium Vulgare is a relatively outgoing isopod that can be seen exploring and moving about their enclosure at various times. As with most isopods, higher numbers means higher visibility. Average room temperature is fine for this species. A. Vulgare prefers a temperate climate with good ventilation. Around one third to half of the enclosure should have damp (not wet) sphagnum moss with the remainder being a bit on the dry side, but not completely devoid of some moisture. Their primary diet is dried leaf litter and soft decayed wood which should always be available in abundance. They should also be offered some fresh vegetables like squash, carrots, cucumbers and other veggies 1-2 times a week. Other supplemental options such as commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy are also devoured with enthusiasm. Tangerine isopods also need some protein in their diets. Options like freeze dried minnows, shrimp, fish pellets, fish flakes and other protein based food sources work well. Be sure to feed these on the drier side as they can spoil quickly in humid environments and attract unwanted pests.  All in all Armadillidium Vulgare is an easy species to keep and is fairly forgiving with the learning curves of new keepers or the occasional memory lapse. The Tangerine morph is just one of many exciting color options these fascinating little isopods come in. See our full care guide for Armadillidium Vulgare "Tangerine" which has comprehensive expanded details for all care aspects of this desirable isopod species! Quick Facts Origin: Mediterranean Europe Scientific Name: Armadillidium Vulgare Morph Name: Tangerine Characteristics: Young are bright orange and adults are deep to dark orange Size: Average is around 0.5 inches with large adults reaching 0.70 inches Activity level: Generally outgoing and daytime active

Oniscus Asellus "BC Maple" is a visually stunning morph of the wild type which displays various dazzling hues of orange. Some with a lighter orange to translucent white around the skirt. This morph was isolated and refined through selective breeding of individuals exhibiting enhanced orange pigmentation. It is a species worth adding to your collection and at this time is still highly sought after. Oniscus Asellus is a species that does have some unique care needs and tends to be less forgiving if their requirements are not correct and consistent. A starter group of 10-15 individuals can be kept in a small enclosure like a 6qt storage bin or small glass tank. Natural botanicals are a great way to decorate your enclosure in a way that mimics the isopods natural habitat. They are also fond of concave cork bark which they can often be found huddled up in small groups. These isopods (wild types) naturally occur in northern parts of the USA and up into Canada. As such, they thrive in cooler temperatures which sets them apart from the vast majority of other terrestrial isopods. 65-72F is ideal though they can tolerate slightly warmer ranges. Wide swings in temperature are generally not tolerated well and could result in a crash, so ensure your bin is in a location where fluctuations will be minimal. They also are noted to do better with a minimal moisture gradient leaning more towards the moist side. It is recommended to keep some area drier, but this needs not be more than 25% of the available space. Isopods have evolved to be detrivores with their primary diet being decayed organic matter. In the wild this is largely things like soft rotting wood and dried leaf litter along with any other deceased plant or animal they might stumble upon. Supplemental vegetables items like carrots, squash, potatoes and similar are readily accepted. Commercial powdered isopod diets like Repashy Morning Wood are also highly recommended. A serving or two of protein each week is appreciated and devoured. Fish pellets, freeze dried shrimp or minnows are just a few types these isopods will eat without hesitation. Oniscus Asellus is most active at night. You may see a few out and about during the day, but the majority tend to be reclusive until they lights are out. They make an ideal clean up crew if used in a bioactive as they do like to burrow and eat the substrate to some degree. This isopod is not a prolific breeder so understand that building a sizeable culture will take time and patience. Though this gorgeous isopod does have some potentially challenging care needs, it is worth keeping if it's required parameters can be maintained without large deviations. See our full care guide for Oniscus Asellus "BC Maple" which expands deeper into all aspects of keeping and breeding this designer isopod species. Quick Facts Origin: Native to Europe and introduced to North America Classification: Oniscidae > Oniscus > Asellus Average Size: 0.50 to 0.75" inch Morph Type: BC Maple Morph Characteristics: Various hues of orange from bright to deep 

Oniscus Asellus "Mardi Gras" is one of those few isopods you must see in person to truly appreciate their diverse black and white patterns with a vibrant splotch or two of lemon yellow. This morph was isolated and refined through selective breeding of individuals exhibiting this unique dalmatian pigmentation. It is a species worth adding to your collection and at this time is still highly sought after. Oniscus Asellus is a species that does have some unique care needs and tends to be less forgiving if their requirements are not correct and consistent. A starter group of 10-15 individuals can be kept in a small enclosure like a 6qt storage bin or small glass tank. Natural botanicals are a great way to decorate your enclosure in a way that mimics the isopods natural habitat. They are also fond of concave cork bark which they can often be found huddled up in small groups. These isopods (wild types) naturally occur in northern parts of the USA and up into Canada. As such, they thrive in cooler temperatures which sets them apart from the vast majority of other terrestrial isopods. 65-72F is ideal though they can tolerate slightly warmer ranges. Wide swings in temperature are generally not tolerated well and could result in a crash, so ensure your bin is in a location where fluctuations will be minimal. They also are noted to do better with a minimal moisture gradient leaning more towards the moist side. It is recommended to keep some area drier, but this needs not be more than 25% of the available space. Isopods have evolved to be detrivores with their primary diet being decayed organic matter. In the wild this is largely things like soft rotting wood and dried leaf litter along with any other deceased plant or animal they might stumble upon. Supplemental vegetables items like carrots, squash, potatoes and similar are readily accepted. Commercial powdered isopod diets like Repashy Morning Wood are also highly recommended. A serving or two of protein each week is appreciated and devoured. Fish pellets, freeze dried shrimp or minnows are just a few types these isopods will eat without hesitation. Oniscus Asellus is most active at night. You may see a few out and about during the day, but the majority tend to be reclusive until they lights are out. They make an ideal clean up crew if used in a bioactive as they do like to burrow and eat the substrate to some degree. This isopod is not a prolific breeder so understand that building a sizeable culture will take time and patience. Though this gorgeous isopod does have some potentially challenging care needs, it is worth keeping if it's required parameters can be maintained without large deviations. See our full care guide for Oniscus Asellus which expands deeper into all aspects of keeping and breeding this designer isopod species. Quick Facts Origin: Native to Europe and introduced to North America Classification: Oniscidae > Oniscus > Asellus Average Size: 0.50 to 0.75" inch Morph Type: Mardi Gras Dalmation Morph Characteristics: Random black and white with a few spots of yellow

Porcellio Flavomarginatus is one of the crown jewels in the Porcellio family. Originating from Greece, they have a bright white serrated skirt surrounding a deep gray to black base. Most individuals will also display two rows of white dots or lines running the full length of the pereon section. This species as of now is fairly less common in the hobby. We have spent at least a full year growing our robust culture to what it is now and they are an absolutely fascinating isopod worth adding to your collection! Interesting abstract fact, the translation of their scientific name is "Yellow Bordered Woodlouse" which obviously conflicts with their actual appearance as there is no yellow.  Porcellio Flavomarginatus does have a few specific care requirements that set it apart from most other isopods. They need a sharp moisture gradient with good section of their environment completely dry. Like any isopod, they still need a moist area to hydrate their gills, but this should not be more than 25% of the enclosure. Next is air flow. It needs to be moderate to high. This can create challenges with keeping the moist area from drying out. A deeper moist side substrate can help with this since deeper soil will retain moisture longer. They also seem to enjoy and benefit from some extra height in the mid range and/or dry section. This is best achieved with carefully stacked medium pieces of cork bark. This unique isopod will eat all of the typical food options like various vegetables, powdered isopod diets like Repashy Morning Wood or Bug Burger. But like most Porcellio, they are very fond of protein based foods like freeze dried minnows, shrimp pellets, fish flakes and dried insects.  Unfortunately (in our experience) and perhaps the reason they are less common is that they are unforgiving in these needs and a culture will quickly crash if these aspects are neglected for more than a very short time. But, if you give them what they need consistently, they will flourish and breed readily. If you are interested but still uncertain fear not! We have a thorough Porcellio Flavomarginatus Care Guide that delves into the nitty gritty details you will need to master this rare and rewarding species! Quick Facts Origin: Greece and a handful of Turkish islands bordering Greece Family Classification: Porcellionidae > Porcellio > Flavomarginatus Morph Name: N/A, this NOT the Crete Morph Average Size: Up to 0.75 inches Activity level: Daytime active and adventurous Difficulty: Intermediate