Product description

This listing is for 15+ Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods. You will receive a mix of juveniles and adults. All orders are over packed 5% to 10% to compensate for any nominal losses in the shipping process.

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 others 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 around the mid 70sF 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. 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.

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.

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