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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

Porcellio Expansus is one of the largest species in the hobby today. They're actually the largest in terms of width with their oversized expanded serrated skirt. They can reach lengths averaging between 1 to 1.4 inches! Their striking coloration, larger than average size and almost alien like appearance make them a highly desirable addition to any collection. The orange version as shown here was selectively isolated and line bred to enhance this appealing genetic trait. Porcellio Expansus like most other titan isopods is endemic to the mountainous regions of Spain. Their environmental factors in the enclosure are vital if they are to succeed as a new culture. In the wild they can be found inside of caves or in and around rocky structures and other similar formations. Despite the seemingly almost universal consensus that all titan isopods need a very dry set up, we have found this is not entirely accurate for Expansus. Inside of caves and such is higher humidity, but in the right spots there is also ample and plentiful ventilation and this is one of the larger needs this isopod must have to thrive. There is no one size fits all answer as how to provider this because all of the variables that will affect any given enclosure will be different based on the type of enclosure, the size, the ambient climate in the location in which they are kept are just a few that will require fine tuning to fit your exact circumstances. Providing a thicker substrate one one side will help retain moisture longer and multiple hides throughout the different micro climates in your set up should give them several options where they can best move to what suits them at any given time. Just avoid letting the air inside the enclosure stagnate while keeping a close eye on the moisture level so they don't dry out and expire. For temperature, average room temps of 69-78F with a modest night drop are no problem. Avoid large sudden fluctuations as these isopods don't fare well in these conditions either. A minimum 10 gallon glass tank or 12qt gasket sealed sterilite bin is highly recommended for a starter colony of 12-15 individuals. Since this is a much larger isopod than the typical fare, we recommend this larger footprint to accommodate them. Standard or bioactive enclosures can be enhanced with natural botanicals to simulate the isopods habitat in the wild. This helps them feel secure which in turn promotes their natural processes like eating and breeding. There is more to this than the practical statement of a bigger isopod needs a bigger enclosure. Mature males of P. Expansus are highly territorial and if they are forced in a set up that doesn't allow modest spacing they can quickly and easily die of stress. The same applies for the females since it will be harder for them to escape "eager" males looking for attention. Providing as many hides as practical will also help minimize these conflicts which should also be a top priority because P. Expansus has been known to cannibalize to some degree if food and space are minimum. Males are easily identified by their long showing uropods while the females will be a bit small in size with smaller uropods.  Isopods are detritivores. Their primary diet in nature is dried leaf litter and rotting 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 Morning Wood. This designer isopod will eat these and all of the typical food options. But like most Porcellio, they are very fond of protein based foods like freeze dried minnows, shrimp pellets, fish flakes and dried insects.  Porcellio Expansus is likely a "goal" for any isopod keeper who enjoys all of the different species and their unique characteristics. There are certainly few that even qualify as similar in terms of looks to this amazing creature. If you have more than minimal experience with isopod keeping and have a solid grasp on their husbandry along with the many variations of it needed for different types, P. Expansus may just be the next exciting step in your journey! Quick Facts Origin: North Eastern Spain Classification: Porcellionidae > Porcellio > Expansus Characteristics: Medium to bright oranges accented with random white splotching along the pereon. Large in size, especially width. Average Size: Around 1.2 inches at adult size Activity level: Primarily nocturnal and active at night Difficulty: Advanced

Porcellio Ornatus Witch's Brew Is a beautifully patterned isopod. The common name "Witch's Brew" is a subtle nod to its distant cousin the "Magic Potion" Isopod (Armadillidium Vulgare). They have the same orange yellow splotching on a translucent white base. This coloring is not as pronounced on mancae and younger individuals, but will start to show with sizes from sub adult to adult. Set up and care for this species is similar to that of other large Porcellio Isopods.   Porcellio Ornatus Witch's Brew does have a few specific care requirements that set it apart from most other typical isopods. They need a sharp moisture gradient with good section of their environment with very minimal moisture to 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. A "middle area" where it's not damp as the moist area, but not completely dry is fine. Natural botanicals can be used not only for decorative appeal, but also to create micro climates within the enclosure to give your isopods more choices to regulate their moisture needs. Next is ventilation. It needs to be moderate to high. This can create challenges with keeping the moist area from drying out. A deeper substrate on the moist side 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 cork bark. This impressive isopod will eat all of the typical food options like various vegetables, powdered isopod diets like Repashy Morning Wood, Bug Burger and others. But like most Porcellio, they are very fond of protein based foods like freeze dried minnows, shrimp pellets, fish flakes and dried insects. Remember that isopods in their natural elements are detrivores. Their primary diet is decayed wood and dried leaf litter which should always be available. Porcellio Ornatus Witch's Brew is at this time still relatively rare in the hobby and is a highly desirable isopod to have in any collection. Ornatus is not overly difficult to keep, but a culture can quickly crash if it's care needs are neglected for more than a very short time. But, if you give them what they need consistently, they will flourish and breed readily. Check out our care guide for Porcellio Ornatus Witch's Brew that takes a closer look at specifics for successfully keeping and breeding this designer isopod. Quick Facts Origin: Spain Family Classification: Porcellionidae > Porcellio > Ornatus Morph Name: Witch's Brew Average Size: Up to 1 inch Activity level: Daytime active but primarily nocturnal Difficulty: Intermediate

Porcellio Spatulatus is one of the largest Porcellio isopods in the hobby. Not in length but in width. As the name implies, they have a very thin vertical profile, but in contrast have a large wide skirt with attractive serrated edging. Like other large Porcellio, they do best with a mostly dry set up, but still need an area of moisture to re-hydrate. They have a laid back disposition and do not scatter to hide quite as much as other species. They are largely hidden by day, but will beout in force during night hours exploring their enclosure and foraging for food. The young are somewhat brownish to tan with adults being light to dark gray in appearance. Porcellio Spatulatus originate from the Sardinia Islands off the coast of Italy in areas that have steep and vertical cliffs in many areas. As such they need high airflow to mimic their natural environment. An enclosure that offers some extra vertical space is ideal such as a 5-10 gallon glass tank. Carefully stacked cork bark and decayed wood will meet this need and be appreciated by this species. No more than 25% of the enclosure should be damp. This can create challenges with keeping the moist area from drying out. A deeper substrate in this area can help with this since deeper soil will retain moisture longer. This highly sought after 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. Quick Facts Origin: Sardinia Islands and surrounding area near Italy Classification: Porcellionidae > Porcellio > Ornatus Characteristics: Porcellionidae > Porcellio > Spatulatus Average Size: Up to 0.8" inch Activity level: Primarily nocturnal Difficulty: Intermediate

Porcellio Werneri, sometimes referred to as the "Greek Shield Isopod" gets it's name from it's wide flattened body. They have a gray base colored adorned with white serrated edges. Mancae and juveniles will have a brown base color which transitions to gray when they reach adulthood. Their flattened body shape is likely an evolved defense mechanism. When frightened they will scurry away quickly and if possible they will wedge themselves into any available narrow crevice making it exceedingly difficult for predators to get at them. They are generally wary and reclusive coming out to forage largely during night time hours. This particular species is considered "advanced" and we highly recommend that only experienced keepers purchase this species. They have particular care and environmental needs that if not strictly adhered to will quickly lead to their demise. A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is sufficient for a small starter culture of these rare gems. 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. Porcellio Werneri is a dry climate isopod originating from the mountainous areas of Spain, often found near bodies of water on rocky structures. We recommend no more than 1/3 of the enclosure be damp (not soaking wet) and this must be combined with modest ventilation. This is best achieved by setting them up in a taller enclosure with a deeper substrate that retains moisture longer. You can then arrange various hides or other structures in a stacked or raised configuration. This gives them the option to self regulate as needed by moving closer or further away from the substrate where humidity levels can be high or low. 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. They enjoy food options like squash, radishes, carrots and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy Morning Wood. 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. Porcellio Werni also benefits from a consistently available calcium source, so be sure you always have some cuttle bone or other calcium source available for them. While Porcellio Werneri can be a challenging species, the good news is if you're able to get them properly dialed in and comfortable they will flourish so long as you keep their environmental parameters in check. Please note adults males can be territorial so set them up with ample space and several hide options so they have a modest amount of room for separation. Werneri isopods are seasonal breeders reproducing with small broods only once or twice per year on average. So growing a large colony does take time and is one of the bigger reasons they are higher on the price point scale. Quick Facts Origin: Eastern Greece Classification: Porcellionidae > Porcellio > Werneri Characteristics: Large oval shaped body with a slim profile. Brown to gray base with white serrated edging. Average Size: 0.80" inch Activity level: Mostly night and early morning hours Difficulty: Advanced