Armadillidium Peraccae is an interesting and unique isopod. They are mostly various shades of gray with some being slightly beige. But as far as color goes, what makes this species unique is that some individuals when viewed just the right angle and lighting have subtle shades of blue. This is more prevalent in the lighter colored individuals, but nearly all have this trait. Their coarse tuberculated outer surface makes it appear as a mottled blue and it's quite a beautiful thing to see in an isopod! Color aside, they are also very well suited for bioactive janitor duties making quick work of decayed vegetation and or organic matter. They can also serve as feeders for insectivorous animals like frogs and lizards.
Being an Armadillidium they can conglobate or roll up into a ball when they feel scared or threatened. They are native to Greece and surrounding regions so they are best suited for temperate to semi arid environments. They often huddle in tight groups under wood or bark mostly coming out at night to forage though some day activity is not uncommon either. Care is simple and more or less on par with any other common Armadillidium species.
A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is sufficient for a small starter culture. 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. Peraccae does best with average 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. Please also note as with most Armadillidium, this species may tend to eat live plants so consider this if they are to be used in any type of planted vivarium or terrarium.
Peraccae isopods at a glance don't look special in appearance compared to many other available species. But if you take a moment to look at them in the right lighting, their blue undertones set them apart from any other run of the mill species. Their simple straight forward care combined with their prolific nature to reproduce readily make them a top tier choice if you want a simple isopod that has a desirable appearance less the typical cost of higher end species in the hobby. They are modestly day active and have a strong feeding response so you can enjoy them most any time of day or night!
Quick Facts
- Origin: Greece
- Family Classification: Armadillidiidae > Armadillidium > Peraccae
- Average Size: Around 0.70" inch
- Activity level: Active both day and night
- Difficulty: Easy