Armadillidium vulgare “Japanese Magic Potion”

Description

Armadillidium vulgare is a European native species with near cosmopolitan distribution. There are two different strains of the “Magic Potion” variant; the Japanese strain results in white isopods with yellow highlights and pronounced black spots. This species conglobates, meaning they curl up into tight balls as a means of defense.

Isopods should be housed in a secure terrarium or plastic tub. Some ventilation is required for all species, although care should be taken that ventilation holes are not too large to allow escape. We recommend 15-quart plastic storage bins for most starter cultures. Use a deep, moisture-retaining substrate, such as a mix of flake soil, leaf litter, and unfertilized top soil, and maintain humidity around 70-80% with regular misting. Keep the temperature between 68-77°F (20-25°C). Isopods thrive with a variety of hiding places, such as sanitized bark, decaying wood, or cork bark. We recommend keeping damp sphagnum moss on one side of your enclosure to provide a moist environment at all times.

Isopods are detritivores, meaning they will eat any and all organic matter that is offered to them. Decaying leaf litter is a staple for any isopod diet while also providing hiding places and protection. They do best with a varied diet including blanched vegetables, freeze dried insects, and decaying wood, along with a calcium source such as cuttlebone.