Armadillidium Maculatum "Zebra" Care
Housing- A standard 6 to 8 quart gasket sealed storage tote or small glass aquarium 5-10 gallons is sufficient for a small starter colony of 12-20 isopods. Be aware this species is rather prolific once established so be prepared to upgrade enclosure size when the space is dwindling. Provide hides such as cork bark, rotting wood slabs and leaf litter on both the damp and dry side. This allows your isopods the option to move to different areas of the enclosure that best suit their biological processes at any given time while still having the security of not being exposed in the open. These furnishings also create "micro climates" within the enclosure by adding more dimensions than just a moist and dry side which in turns facilitates a strong healthy culture.
Temperature- Slightly above average room temperature is where zebras do their best, but will also survive just fine in a typical room temperature setting. A night drop no lower than the mid to low 60sF will not do them any harm and is actually beneficial as it mimics their natural environment. Daytime highs should not exceed the mid 80sF. Carefully consider the room and location where they will placed to ensure a relatively stable temperature range. Low wattage plant seedling heat mats with a thermostat can be used for supplemental warmth at night or during colder seasons if needed.
Humidity- Armadillidium Maculatum prefer a temperate environment. Around 1/3 but no more than half of the enclosure should have damp (not wet) sphagnum mossing covering the hides and leaf litter. A slightly deeper substrate depth combined with a thin layer of leaf litter on top of the moss will do well to retain humidity and reduce the frequency of watering needed to keep the moist side from drying out. The rest of the enclosure should be a bit dryer, but not completely bone dry. An occasional misting or light watering to keep a minimum level of moisture is sufficient. Zebras isopods can actually tolerate dryness better than most isopods, but they are require a moist area to to rehydrate or they will perish.
Ventilation- A. Maculatum needs modest to high ventilation. Air flow is the biggest factor when determining how to keep stable humidity levels. It is essential because without it, the entire enclosure can quickly get stagnant causing mold and pests like gnats and mites to appear. Too much ventilation means more frequent watering and the risk everything could dry out to the point the isopods perish. There is no one size fits all answer on how to facilitate good ventilation. Numerous factors like the ambient air temperature, where the enclosure is placed in your home, substrate depth, substrate type, top and/or cross ventilation holes along with how the enclosure is furnished are typically the biggest influencers. Making adjustments to each of these specific aspects as needed and observing the results after a day or two will help you dial in the ideal balance between humidity and air flow that suits your unique set up.
Diet- Always have an abundance of dried leaf litter and soft rotting wood as their primary diet. They will eagerly accept most any veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and squash. Commercially available isopod foods like Repashy morning wood, bug burger or meat pie can be offered on a supplemental basis 1-2 times per week. If you have a bioactive enclosure, be aware Armadillidium isopods have a reputation for munching on both dead and live plants. A good protein source like freeze dried shrimp, minnows or fish food should also be offered on a supplemental basis 1-2 times a week. Be sure to place protein based foods on the dry side as they will spoil quickly in humid conditions. Any supplemental foods not fully consumed in 12-24 hours should be removed from the enclosure.
Supplements- Crushed oyster shell, eggs shell or cuttlebone are highly recommended for calcium and can be replaced as needed. A good calcium source helps ensure easier molting, fast growth rates and optimal reproduction success for your culture.
Breeding- If you desire to grow and expand your zebra isopod numbers, the slightly elevated temperature range of 75F-82F mentioned earlier will help you do this much faster. Not letting the calcium supplements lapse for too long will also make this process faster. There are no strenuous specifics or tight guidelines with this species outside of these few points. They put out average brood sizes year round. Just give them good consistent proper care and you'll see babies much sooner than you think!