Isopods

  Welcome to the my page on Isopod species I work with, the information on this page will overall be more brief and generalized as Isopods are overall more widely known and distributed. I also focus on working with more unique, communal and bioactive friendly species, that is why the list here will seem very small but I've narrowed down my collection of species to the most beneficial and least aggressive species, but still take care when adding Isopods with a majority of other invertebrates.  If you'd like to make any orders/inquiries, scroll to the bottom of the page to see shipping and contact info! Also, ask for availability regarding species labeled with prices!

                                                                                                                                                     

Arid Tolerant Isopods

                                                                                                                                                     

Titan Isopods

Porcellio Hoffmanseggi

$50/10

One of the largest species I keep, and relatively the easiest of the Spanish Giant family of Isopods. They prefer high ventilation/drier enclosures with plenty of spaces to hide, these are one of the least aggressive of the giants as you're more likely to see several full grown males in a colony at a time without any issue. Diet wise they do prefer a level of detritus/leaf litter more than other giants, but similar to other species, weekly protein with fish flakes and the standard chunk of carrot is fine for them.

                                                                                                                                                   

Giant Spanish Isopods

Porcellio expansus

$65/10

One of the more sought after members of the Spanish Giant family, bearing striking patterns and morphology, and males having extremely long uropods (the tail like appendages at the end of their body). This species is also sometimes known as Dragon Isopods and their temperament really shows it, males are known to be highly aggressive and territorial towards each other to the point of killing each other, and in unfortunate can kill females in the colony as well. Otherwise this species is relatively easy to maintain, however they are the least active of the 3 giants I keep, being the most easily spooked when disturbed, diet wise though they're identical to Hoffmanseggi/Titans.

                                                                                                                                                   

Giant Magnificent Isopods

Porcellio magnificus

$80/10

My personal favorite of the Spanish Giant family of Isopods as well as overall the most arid tolerant species, being kept in the same conditions as my various Desert Darkling Beetle species listed on my beetles page. This species is the largest of the 3 giants I work with, they're also the most active in regards to foraging behavior, although nocturnal. They are also a Hypercalcemic species so they will visibly and actively chow down sources of Calcium to grow their large and thick carapace. Species has the more unique diet in relation to the other 2, with the aforementioned higher rate of calcium ingestion, barely takes to vegetables and prefers a higher protein diet, however they are not particularly aggressive and will not be terribly territorial, but minimal space can stress them out causing the behavior.

                                                                                                                                                   

Pallas' Pill Woodlouse

Armadillidium pallasii

$20/10

After years of cycling through different species in this genus for the perfect Armadillidium species, I finally landed on Armadillidium pallasii! This is a slower growing species with a very broad diet of detritus and general foods, larger for an armadillidium species as well, tolerant of a wide range of conditions but prefers drier enclosures. They're also not big on burrowing like other species but you may see a few oddballs, they're in majority a terrestrial species. They're also not terribly competitive or aggressive either, I have recently produced 2 morphs of this species that will take quite some time to breed as I need to isolate the genetics so only the colors are produced.

                                                                                                                                                   

Temperate Preferring Isopods

                                                                                                                                                   

Cannonball Isopods

Helleria brevicornis

$100/6

The largest terrestrial Isopod species and the closest related to marine isopods, and one of my personal favorites, basically a Millipede in an Isopods body! They prefer temperate to high humidity conditions with environments rich in detritus such as leaf litter, flake soil/rotting wood and otherwise they can burrow into, they will largely ignore vegetables but will take to fish flakes. The species is quite long lived, taking quite some time to reach their max size, they are also seasonal breeders, with females only raising one clutch a season! There is a little contention regarding their exact conditions/requirements to trigger them to breed again but they do at least require some level of a cold period. Not freezing! Just allows them to get some level of a mild cold period during the winter season as it's the easiest to recreate indoors, in terrariums I've had them on a windowsill where it cools the tank down enough for them from the cold seeping in through the glass.

                                                                                                                                                   

Shiny Skirted Isopods

Maple & Mardi Gras morphs

(Oniscus asellus)

Prices TBD

One of the handful of species established in Canada and the largest of them. Very beautiful species with a known variety of naturally occurring morphs with Brown Maple, Orange Maple & Mardi Gras being the most notable. Can be mildly aggressive when underfed but easy to manage, they are also temperature sensitive and cant tolerate high heat, not recommended to keep with reptiles for this reason as it can stress them out and wipe the colony. Fairly generalist diet of detritus, fish flakes and misc. given foods such as carrots.

                                                                                                                                                   

Higher Humidity Isopods

                                                                                                                                                   

Spiky Pineapple Isopods

Cristarmadillidium muricatum

$60/10

One of the cases of "I'm a 'rare' new species in the hobby so I cost a fortune" Isopod species, don't get me wrong their physiology of the spiny rough carapace and yellow coloring is quite unique but these things need such minimal care and breed like rabbits, not as crazy as lets say P. pruinosis or P. laevis but not far off, big benefit seems to be they're not an aggressive/oppurtunistic species either as many faster breeding species tend to be. They are also quite small but their body and dense populations make them stand out quite a bit. they're also know to hangout on the topside of hides/bark as well so they make cute additions to higher humidity enclosures with some arboreal features they could colonize on.

                                                                                                                                                   

Little Sea Isopods "Papaya"

(Cubaris murina "Papaya")

$20/10

One of the only morphs I actively work with over the base version of the species, very easy to keep small species that loves high humidity, slightly slower breeding but will actively maintain a steady population. One of the few species I have that has a very detritus rich diet, they will go to town on leaf litter almost exclusively and largely ignore vegetables but do enjoy fish flakes for the protein value.

                                                                                                                                                   

Trogolodillo sp. "Soil"

$50/10

an absolute gorgeous Isopod species that produces a range of these soft browns to a vibrant, amber like color, these are a somewhat larger "pill bug" species that thrives in humid condition given some air flow. Pretty generalist diet but not particularly heavy eaters as you may see some food gone uneaten. Overall a nice, non-aggressive species, tends to spook pretty easy but aren't nearly as reactive as many other species to run off right away. Great to keep with other species in my experience, they tend to stay to themselves in their colonies, relatively slow to grow and breed but they will produce multiple clutches.

                                                                                                                                                   

Sinodillo sp. "Vietnam"

NFS at this time

Still a bit of a work in progress as I had only received this species in a low head count in the last few months but progress is being made! I believe I have seen some babies recently so this section will be updated once they are available!

                                                                                                                                                   

Shipping Information & Placing Orders

 Only species that are available for sale have prices below the photos, if listed with N/A they're currently out of stock. Shipping is available from Spring to Fall, end of November generally, spring is determined by weather. Shipping is a flat $30 express rate in Ontario, $50 Canada-wide with Canada Post, or local delivery is available for $15 for me to deliver within the first 50km. Local meetup is also an option as well as pickup at events I vend at. For placing orders, contact me directly on Instagram or E-mail me at planetinvertscanada@gmail.com. Orders are shipped every Monday/Tuesday pending Holidays.