All Isopods

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

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

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