Care Sheet - Zebra Isopods (Armadillidium maculatum)
Written by: Richard’s Inverts
A group of Yellow Zebra Isopods (Armadillidium maculatum ‘Yellow’)
Common Name: Giant Throny Devil Stick Insect
Scientific Name: Eurycantha horrida
Distribution: Popondetta, Papua New Guinea
Scientific Classification:
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Lonchodidae
Genus: Eurycantha (Boisduval, 1835)
Species: horrida (Boisduval, 1835)
Etymology:
[horrida] meaning “with many prickles” in Latin
Size (body length): Females – 17-19 cm, Males – 14-16 cm
Foodplants (full list further down): bramble, oak, beech, etc.
Temperature: Room temperature (18-25°C)
Humidity: 70-80% RH
Enclosure size: LxWxH: 40x40x60 cm
Temperature: Room temperature (18-25°C)
Incubation length: 4-6 months
A group of Chocolate Zebra Isopods (Armadillidium maculatum ‘Chocolate’)
Common Name: Zebra Isopod
Scientific Name: Armadillidium maculatum
Distribution: Southern France, Mediterranean
Scientific Classification:
Order: Isopoda
Family: Armadillidiidae
Genus: Armadillidium (Brandt, 1831)
Species: maculatum (Risso, 1816)
Etymology:
[maculatum] meaning “spotted” in Latin
Size: up to 18 mm
Rolly vs. flat?: rolly
Calcium needs: average
Behaviour: terrestrial
Active vs. hidden: hidden until numbers increase
Ideal as clean-up-crew?: only in large numbers, better suited species available
Temperature: room temperature (18-25°C)
Humidity: medium (1/2 moist, 1/2 dry)
Established Hobby Morphs (non-exhaustive):
Armadillidium maculatum ‘Chocolate’ –
Armadillidium maculatum ‘Champagne’ –
Armadillidium maculatum ‘Yellow’ –
Armadillidium maculatum ‘Paradox’ –
Armadillidium maculatum ‘Yellow Paradox’ –
A group of Zebra Isopods (Armadillidium maculatum)
Species Description:
Armadillidium maculatum (zebra isopod) is a medium-sized species of isopod that has a distribution range in Southern France and the Mediterranean. A. maculatum is a favourite amongst hobbyists due to its ease of care, fecundity, and the iconic black and white zebra stripes.
Being a commonly kept species by many and its fecundity, colour mutations are frequently reported by keepers. Interestingly, the natural, wild-type form of the zebra isopod is the spotted morph, as hinted by its species name ‘maculatum’, meaning spotted in Latin. Despite this, Armadillidium maculatum has earned itself the common name of the ‘Zebra Isopod’ due to the pattern of some individuals where the white spots are connected, giving them a striped, zebra like appearance.
Behaviour:
Armadillidium maculatum is a fairly active species of isopod, and it can often be spotted exploring around the enclosure. While individuals may be harder to spot in smaller colonies, they become more visible as the colony size increases due to their active nature. Consequently, A. maculatum is well-suited for display setups or for enthuasiasts who enjoy observing their activity.
Despite their explorative nature, these isopods are also gentle and slow-moving, making them easy to handle. This combination of activity and docility makes them ideal as pets for young children, or to be used in educational settings for teaching about invertebrates and ecosystems.
Key Notes:
Armadillidium maculatum is a great beginner species as it is easy to raise and very prolific.
Easy to handle.
Multiple morphs exist in the hobby, such as ‘chocolate’, ‘champagne’, and ‘yellow’.
Substrate:
Substrate composition is very important when it comes to successful isopod husbandry as it is involved in many of ther essential life processes: it provides the environment in which they live and burrow, holds moisture, harbours beneficial bacteria, serves as a food source, buffers environmental changes, and more.
Armadillidium maculatum is a detritivore so their main food source will consist of decomposing wood and leaf litter. A pesticide-free top soil can be used as the base to add bulk, into which rich, organic materials such as white-rot wood (what is white-rot wood?) and decaying leaves can be mixed in to simulate their natural environment. On top of this substrate mix, a layer of leaf litter and some moss should be added which will be used as the main source of food for all growth stages. Additionally, pieces of bark (cork bark is commonly used) should be placed on the top of the substrate, which will serve a the main hide for the isopods.
Calcium:
Calcium is an important part of an isopod’s diet as it is essential for exoskeleton growth and maintenance. This can be provided in the form of cuttlefish bone, crushed eggshells, and limestone rock.
Food and Supplements:
Although Armadillidium maculatum is mainly a detritivore, it is recommended to provide supplemental foods such as vegetables, fruits, and protein to ensure that the isopods receive all necessary nutrients that might not be fully provided by their primary diet of leaf litter.
Here is a list of tested supplements that Armadillidium maculatum benefits from:
Peas (veggies) - can be offered fresh or in a dried form.
Carrots (veggies) - can be offered as slices.
Courgette/Zucchini (veggies) - can be offered as slices.
Butternut Squash (veggies) - can be offered as slices.
Apples (fruits) - can be offered as slices.
Fish Food (protein) - can be sprinkled over the substrate.
Dried Shrimp/Fish (protein) - can be offered whole to large colonies, or in smaller, broken up pieces for smaller colonies.
Dried Mealworms (protein) - can be offered whole and eaiser to manage than dried fish due to its smaller size.
Dried Calciworms/BSF Larvae (protein) - like mealworms, but high in calcium.
Supplementary food should be added only occasionally (1-2 times a week), and in small amounts. Any uneaten portions should be promptly removed the following day to prevent bacterial and fungal outbreaks as this can significantly affect the health of the isopods.
This precaution is particularly crucial for supplements that are high in nitrogen content, such as proteins. Proteins are composed of amino acids and its decomposition can quickly create spikes in ammonia levels, especially in a confined environment. Therefore, careful management of supplementary food, especially those high in proteins, is essential to maintain a healthy and stable environment for the isopods. Regular monitoring and prompt removal of uneaten food help to prevent the buildup of ammonia can protect the overall well-being of the colony.
Enclosure Type:
A moderately ventilated, escape proof container. Airholes should be provided for airflow, but it is imperative to cover these said airholes with mesh to prevent escapees. I personally use organza and find great success with it. Alternatively, circular vents with mesh can be purchased from certain vendors, which can be installed via holes cut in the enclosure using a hole-saw.
Substrate Depth:
Armadillidium maculatum is a terrestrial (ground dwelling) species that has a tendency to occasionally burrow into the substrate. Therefore, an absolute minimum of 3 cm in substrate depth should be offered for A. maculatum, but the deeper the better.
As a general rule, a good substrate depth is essential as it serves as it serves as the main moisture reserve within an isopod enclosure. Essentially, the deeper the substrate, the more moisture it can hold, meaning that there is a larger buffer until the point where the enclosure dries up and the isopods become dehydrated. Some species also use the substrate as a means of moisture regulation where they will burrow down until they can find the ideal moisture level to meet the needs of the individual at that particular moment. Therefore, a good substrate depth is a key element of an ideal isopod enclosure.
Temperature:
The natural range of Armadillidium maculatum spans from the Southern regions of France and across the Mediterranean. Therefore, in the wild, A. maculatum has evolved to live in a temperate climate (specifically Mediterranean) characterised by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. In captivity however, A. maculatum does well at room temperature (18-25°C) and an artifically created cold dormancy period to induce diapause is not necessary for this species.
On the topic of diapuse, 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 seen in other invertebrates that come from temperate regions).
Humidity:
Armadillidium maculatum are like most terrestrial isopods where they acquire their moisture from their environment and food. Maintaining substrate moisture is important and isopods should never be allowed to fully dry out as they breathe using gills and without moisture, they suffocate and pass away.
Half the enclosure should always be kept moist, whilst the other half should be kept on the drier side (but not fully). This mositure gradient that runs along the length of the enclosure allows them to self-regulate their moisute needs by moving to a spot that is ideal for them.
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms in the Isopod Keeping Hobby:
Biphasic moulting: the term given to the isopod moulting process. Isopods do not moult in one go like most other invertebrates and rather moult in two stages. Isopods first shed the posterior side (tail end) of their body, then moult the anterior end (head end) later.
Cephalothorax: the “head”. The first segment where the head is. In isopods, the head is fused with the first segment of the thorax, hence “cephalo(head)-thorax”.
Conglobation: the defense mechanism employed by many isopod species, where they roll up into a ball.
Detritivore: an animal that feeds on detritus.
Detritus: decomposing plant material such as leaves and wood.
Dorsal: the top side.
Gestation: the developmental period of the eggs in the marsupium.
Mandible: the main, first set of large jaws.
Manca (pl. mancae): the post-larval stage of isopods where they still only have 6 thoracic segments & pairs of legs. The 7th segment and accompanying legs are developed in subsequent moults.
Marsupium: a chamber formed by the oostegites on the ventral surface of the abdomen in females. This chamber, or “brood pouch” is used to hold the eggs and developing embryos.
Oostegite: a large, flexible, flap-like structure on the ventral surface of the abdomen that are developed by sexually mature females. Multiple oostegites overlap to form the marsupium.
Pleon: the “abdomen”. These are the 5 small segments that come after the pereon.
Pleopod: a flat, flap-like structure on the ventral surface of the pleon. There are multiples of these pleopods and these structures differ in shape between males and females. It is a key part of the process of telling the two sexes apart.
Pereon: the “thorax”. These are the 1-7 segments after the head.
Uropod: flap-like structures at the end of the body that resemble shrimp tails. In the males of certain species (particularly Porcellio members), the uropods are highly exaggerated in size.
Ventral: the bottom side.
