armadillidium
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Armadillidium Gestroi
Gestroi at first glance look similar to some other species of isopods such as the Armadillidium kluugi, but get much larger, and more active, then their cousins! This makes the gestroi one of our favorite isopods to keep and enjoy. These isopods are native to France and Italy and are said to be found in areas with ample sandstone and limestone. We offer cuttlebone to our gestroi for this reason. In the terrarium they will spend much of their time clinging to the underside of cork bark and leaves. These isopods are best kept on the drier side with a pile of damp sphagnum moss on one side to act…
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Armadillidium maculatum “Zebra Pillbug”
Armadillidium maculatum, also known as the zebra isopod or zebra pill bug is an Armadillidium species of woodlouse, named for its black and white patterns. It is native to southern France, especially the Mediterranean region characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. “On the topic of diapause, a cold dormancy period should hypothetically not have any negative effects if you should wish to give them one, provided that the temperatures do not drop below what they naturally experience in the wild. Although not tested for in A. maculatum, an artificial cold dormancy period may potentially introduce some fitness benefits such as seasonal breeding regulation and increased life-span (as…
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Armadillidium vulgare “magic potion”
These little “roly polys” are a color morph of the commonly kept A. vulgare. Magic potion are gorgeous with their crystal white background and black and yellow markings. As they grow they get more and more color with the oldest adults sporting a beautiful tricolor look. Vulgare are one of our favorite pods to keep as they are often out and about, roaming their terrarium. They will roll into a ball if they feel threatened, but quickly unroll and keep moving. Due to their larger size, sturdy exoskeleton, and slow-but-steady way of moving these pods are great for gentle handling or observation by children. Armadillidium species love vegetable matter in…
