All Isopods

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

The Marbleized Isopod (Armadillidium Espanyoli) is a smaller sized armadillidum from Spain. They have an aesthetically pleasing light to dark beige coloring intermixed with a creamy off white. The patterning is unique on each individual, but all have incredible contrast likening their appearance to a modern marble counter top. Some say it conjures up thoughts of espresso and lattes! However you may interpret their appearance, the Marbleized Isopod boasts the impressive feat of taking typically bland colors and making them "pop" just as much as other brightly colored species. They are communal with large numbers of individuals often found huddling tightly together in a tight mass under cork bark or decayed wood. For housing, a 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is sufficient for a small starter culture of 15 to 30 individuals. 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. Average room temperature will suit them just fine. A good temperature range is 72-80F leaning more towards the warmer end if possible. A standard moisture gradient with around 30-40% of one side moist (not wet) with the remainder tapering off is adequate. Note though even the driest section should still have a nominal amount of moisture in it. They will not fare well if more than a small section of the enclosure gets too dry. A few pieces of cork bark strategically placed over different parts of the enclosure 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 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. Marbleized Isopods relish food options like squash, carrots, cucumbers and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy Morning Wood. They also appreciate some protein once or twice a week so offer them 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. The Marbleized Isopod is not an overly difficult species to keep, but they are noted as being "slow" to start. It should also be noted they are primarily nocturnal so to truly enjoy those flashy creamy colors you will have to look in on them after daylight hours. Some moving about during the day is not uncommon once your colony has started to reproduce and shows higher density. They are a bit skittish when disturbed and move surprisingly fast for an isopod! A. Espanyoli is a fantastic Isopod worth adding to your collection or simply as a bioactive custodian in the proper environmental set up. Quick Facts Origin: Spain Family Classification: Armadillidiidae > Armadillidium > Marbleized Average Size: Between 1/4" and 1/3" inch Activity level: Primarily nocturnal. Some day activity is common with larger established cultures Difficulty: Easy

Not to be confused with it's cousin Armadillidium Vulgare, this isopod does share the same genus but it's a separately classified species. It's scientific name "Nasatum" is actually derived from a rectangular protrusion on the head that resembles a nose. Hence one of the common names for this species "Nosy Isopod". This is one quick easy way to distinguish it from similar isopods. Taxonomy aside, A. Nasatum is just as easy if not easier to care for as A. Vulgare. Nastaum isopods on average can grow up to around .80 inch in length and have a slightly elongated build. You can likely find the common version in earth tone colors in your own back yard, but this version called "Peach" is from years of selective breeding and they do not occur naturally in the wild. When they are tiny babies they have little to no color and tend to stay hidden or buried in the substrate. Juveniles and sub adults are brightly colored and mature adults have a slightly deeper hue. Armadillidium Nasatum is a common isopod species and the one most people are referring to when the iconic term "pill bug" or "roly poly" as they can roll up into a nearly perfect ball. But Nasatum falls short of a perfect sphere which is another distinguishing difference from other comparable species. They are native to Europe, but have established themselves nearly worldwide with the help of humans and agriculture. They are a beginner friendly species and can thrive in nearly all environmental conditions ranging from semi arid to sub tropical. This makes this isopod one of the few that can can serve as a valuable clean up crew for other animals that like it more on the dry side. As always, they still need some moisture and will quickly desiccate in a zero humidity environment. It should be noted that the newborns do require a bit higher humidity and are more sensitive to drying out during this stage of their life cycle. Armadillidium Nastum 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. 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 in the low to mid 70sF will suit them just fine. 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 Nasatum "Peach" is a very easy species to keep and is forgiving with the learning curves of new keepers or the occasional memory lapse. The range of orange-pink tones in an established culture is aesthetically pleasing and you won't always have to hunt for them to enjoy this as they are both day and night active. See our store front for many other fascinating and unique isopods! Quick Facts Origin: Northern and Southern Europe Classification: Armadillidiadae > Armadillidium > Nasatum Characteristics: Pinkish-orange coloration. Fairly prolific. Generally outgoing and friendly. Average Size: 0.70" to 0.80" inch Activity level: Active both day and night Difficulty: Easy

Armadillidium Vulgare is one of the most readily available isopods in the hobby that has numerous color morphs and localities. They range all over the color spectrum from plain Jane gray to several different bright and vibrant colors. The albinos however always pack that extra "WOW" factor and these little gems do not disappoint! A. Vulgare has two albino variations: T positive and T negative. But what does that even mean and what is the difference?! The "T" is an abbreviation for an enzyme called Tyrosinase which plays a key role in the development of melanin in every living creature. Melanin of course translating to pigmentation or color. It does this by acting as a crucial rate limiting step in this much deeper molecular process. Simply stated, more amounts of tyrosinase will produce more melanin resulting in darker pigmentation.  T Positive is a condition in which tyrosinase is present, but has reduced activity in comparison in how it works in a non albino specimen of the same species. T Negative means the tyrosinase enzyme is completely absent or non functional. How does this translate to isopods? The T Positive strain is expressed with a slightly semi translucent caramel base with ultra bright yellow flecking and splotching. They are absolutely gorgeous and have to be seen in person to truly and fully appreciate! The T negative variant is devoid of all pigments which makes them primarily white or cream colored. For clarification purposes, neither variant has red eyes! The red eye color associated with albinism is a result of ambient light shining through a non pigmented eye which illuminates the blood vessels thus making the eyes appear red. But isopods like most other invertebrates do NOT have blood. They have a colorless protein that delivers nutrients to their bodies in the same manner. Hence, T positive isopods will have dark colored eyes and T negative will have white eyes. Armadillidium Vulgare is a very common isopod species and the one most people are referring to with 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 to a variety of environmental conditions. A. Vulgare is a relatively outgoing isopod that can be seen exploring and moving about their enclosure at various times both day and night. As with most isopods, higher numbers means higher overall 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 to facilitate their biological processes as needed. 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 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, cucumbers, 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 T Positive Albino is an easy species to keep and is fairly forgiving with the learning curves of new keepers or the occasional memory lapse. Their vivid colors combined with their partial daytime active disposition makes them an ideal candidate for a display isopod. If you're curious about the T Negative Albino strain mentioned in the "educational section", yes we have those too! Quick Facts Origin: Mediterranean Europe Classification:  Armadillidiidae > Armadillidium > A. Vulgare Characteristics: Semi translucent caramel base with ultra bright yellow flecking and splotching Size: 1/2" to 3/4" inch Activity level: Active both day and night Difficulty: Easy

Armadillidium Granulatum, is among the largest in the Armadilidium genus capable of reaching sizes of up to 0.75 inch. Rivaling that of A. Gestroi. They actually are quite similar to A. Gestroi but with a few key differences. They have a matte finish look on their pereon and pleon vs having a glossy finish. A. Granulatum's yellow markings are also not quite as bright and vibrant as A. Gestrio. Please do note A. Granulatum's yellow spotting varies from individual to individual. Some have quite striking yellow markings and some are more subdued. Some will have yellow markings that are only faint and minimal. This is normal for the species. A close up view with a magnifying glass will show they have small raised bumps along their backside giving them a somewhat rough texture. This feature gives them another common which is the "Granulated Isopod". Armadillidium Granulatum is a common isopod in the hobby these days and within the same class most people are referring to with the iconic term "pill bug" or "roly poly" since this species can conglobate or roll up into a ball. They are native to most of Europe, and Northern Africa as well. They are a beginner friendly species being fairly flexible in their needs and tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions. Armadillidium Granulatum is a relatively outgoing isopod when present in high numbers that can be seen exploring and moving about their enclosure at various times. A small or starter colony may be more reclusive, but if well cared for it won't take long to see babies and watch your isopod culture grow. 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 will suit them just fine. A. Granulatum 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.  All considered Armadillidium Granulatum is a great choice if you're just getting into isopods or just want some diversification to your collection. They can be a great tool for teaching in the classroom or a general display enclosure once your colony grows beyond minimal numbers. Their forgiving nature in care needs means they won't be high maintenance and disasters are likely not be an issue long as they aren't neglected for an extended period of time. Their variable yellow markings and larger size are desirable features not commonly found in many comparable species. Check out our store front to see our entire selection of unique and amazing isopoids!

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 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