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Armadillidium Isopods
Price range: $19.99 through $99.99 — or subscribe to save 5%
Premium, heavily armored cleanup crew species—the ideal choice for bioactive setups with reptiles that like to snack on smaller isopods.
Armadillidium Isopods (commonly known as “Pill Bugs” or “Roly Polies”) are robust, round-bodied invertebrates famous for their ability to roll into a tight, protective ball when disturbed. This specialized defense mechanism makes them incredibly hardy and highly sought-after for bioactive terrariums containing curious reptiles. Operating as an efficient cleanup crew, they spend their time beneath the surface recycling organic waste to keep your ecosystem pristine and healthy.
- Package Size: Shipped in a starter cup containing a 15+ mixed-age colony (including juveniles and adults for faster colony establishment).
- Roll-Up Defense: Rolls into a sphere, allowing them to better cohabitate with insectivores that quickly devour other isopod species.
- Bioactive Powerhouse: Highly effective at breaking down decaying leaf litter, rotting wood, waste, and mold spores.
- Perfect For: Semi-humid to arid setups, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, and display terrariums.
Description
Introduce a fascinating, industrious ecosystem manager to your terrarium with our premium Armadillidium Isopods. Well-regarded in the bioactive hobby for their bold personalities, distinct rounded armor, and wide array of vibrant morph variations, these isopods are the ultimate choice for creating a self-sustaining waste management system in your reptile enclosures.
The Ultimate “Heavy Armor” Mixed-Age Cleanup Crew
Each starter cup is carefully packed with 15+ individual isopods across various age groups. By including a mix of tiny juveniles, sub-adults, and fully mature breeding adults, your colony is optimized to establish itself much faster. The younger generations immediately burrow into the lower substrate layers to begin cleanup, while the adults focus on reproduction right under your pet’s nose.
Many keepers struggle to maintain isopod colonies in enclosures with active hunters like geckos or young dragons, as the lizards quickly eat them all. Armadillidium species tackle this challenge beautifully. Their signature ability to roll up completely hides their soft underside, making them much less appealing and harder to swallow for casual predators.
Why Choose Armadillidium Isopods?
- Natural Calcium Boost: Because these isopods build heavy, calcified exoskeletons, they function as a fantastic “accidental” nutritional supplement. If your reptile does manage to snack on one, they get a healthy dose of dietary calcium.
- Incredible Waste Recyclers: They work around the clock in your substrate layer, consuming mold, fungi, animal waste, decaying plant root systems, and shed skins before bad odors or bacteria can develop.
- Versatile Ventilation: They prefer a distinct moisture gradient—a damp, humid retreat on one side of the enclosure and a drier zone on the other. This preference makes them highly adaptable to various setups.
💡 Colony Care & Seeding Instructions
To ensure your new isopod colony thrives and establishes quickly, follow these setup guidelines:
- How to Seed Your Enclosure: Gently tip the contents of the culture cup directly onto the dampest zone of your enclosure’s substrate layer. We highly recommend placing them beneath a piece of cork bark, flat rock, or a heavy layer of moss to give them immediate security.
- Diet & Leaf Litter: While they eat animal waste, their primary diet must consist of decomposed hardwood leaves (such as oak or maple) and rotting wood. Supplement their diet once a week with an organic calcium source (like cuttlebone) and specialized isopod diet powders.
- Substrate Requirements: Provide a deep, nutrient-dense organic soil mix (like coco coir mixed with sphagnum moss and leaf litter). Keep one corner of the enclosure consistently damp while letting the rest stay moderately dry.
- Temperature: Maintain a comfortable room temperature between 21°C and 26°C. Avoid extreme heat or freezing drafts.
For Isopod food and supplies click here.
Additional information
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Isopod Species | American Magic Potion ‘Armadillidium Vulgare’, Armadillidium Peraccae, Clown ‘Armadillidium klugii Montenegro’, Clown Roly-poly ‘Dubrovnik’, European Spiny ‘Cristarmadillidium Muricatum’, Gem Mix ‘Armadillidium Vulgare’, Giant Gold Spotted ‘Armadillidium Gestroi’, Marbleized ‘Armadillidium Espanyoli’, Peach ‘Armadillidium Nasatum’, Roly-Poly ‘Casteldaccia’, Zebra ‘Armadillidium Maculatum’ |
Reviews (21)
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the isopods i received were beautiful and healthy.
Got well over 15 of these and they all arrived healthy! Lots of different colour variety – a couple Magic Potions as well.