Armadillidium granulatum "Granulated Isopods"

Armadillidium granulatum "Granulated" is a highly distinct, impressively sized, and heavily built pill woodlouse species that brings a fantastic heavy-armoured presence to the hobby. True to its name, this classic species has a remarkably rough, bumpy, granulated carapace covered in tiny raised nodules that stand out from smoother pill woodlice. Their coloration consists of a deep slate-black or dark matte-grey base beautifully patterned with clean rows of bright yellow spots and flecks running down the length of their backs. As true pill woodlice, they are masters of defense and can fully conglobate, rolling into a large, rocky, high-contrast armoured ball when startled or handled.

This species is an absolute gold standard for total beginners who want a bulletproof starter pet, as well as advanced collectors looking for a massive, highly visible display animal. Thanks to their extreme hardiness, adaptive nature, and highly active behavior, they spend plenty of time openly roaming the surface, making them a true joy to observe. They serve as an exceptional, hard-working clean-up crew for temperate or Mediterranean bioactive setups, efficiently managing waste and keeping the environment clean. Because they possess thick, heavily calcified carapaces, they easily handle minor dips in humidity, making them highly forgiving and user-friendly.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Armadillidium granulatum

ORIGIN: Native to the Mediterranean region, found widely across Southern Europe and North Africa in limestone-rich environments.

DIFFICULTY: Very Easy / Beginner

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 18-26°C. They do perfectly at standard room temperatures and tolerate typical seasonal indoor temperature variations with total ease.

HUMIDITY & MOISTURE: 50-70% humidity. They require a distinct Mediterranean moisture gradient rather than a uniformly damp tropical environment. Maintain a clear layout where roughly one-third of the enclosure features a damp sphagnum moss patch for essential hydration, leaving the remaining two-thirds of the floor dry. Good ventilation is important to prevent stuffy, stagnant conditions.

DIETARY NEEDS: Their foundational diet rests upon a permanent, deep supply of organic deciduous leaf litter and crumbling white-rotted wood. They should be supplemented once or twice a week with easy protein updates like high-quality fish flakes, dried shrimp, or minnows. As heavy shell-builders that grow to large sizes, keeping a permanent, accessible source of calcium like cuttlefish bone or natural limestone chunks in the enclosure is critical for safe molting.

ACTIVITY LEVELS: High. They have a remarkably confident and non-cryptic disposition, regularly foraging out in the open and scaling pieces of cork bark during both day and night cycles.

REPRODUCTION RATE: Moderate. They are steady, reliable breeders, but they establish at a measured, patient pace rather than exploding in numbers overnight, meaning it takes a little time to grow a massive colony.

SIZES: You will receive a healthy, robust mix of sizes ranging from developing juveniles to young adults, providing an optimal demographic mix to ensure immediate colony establishment. Fully grown adults are a large species, easily reaching between 2.0cm and 2.5cm in length. Fragile newborn mancae are never intentionally counted or shipped, though some may emerge naturally during transit.

PACKAGING: The isopods travel in ventilated tubs filled with damp sphagnum moss to maintain proper transit moisture. These containers are securely nested inside a sturdy shipping box padded with paper or cardboard to protect them from temperature drops and movement.

100% LIVE ARRIVAL: At TerraPods, we offer a 100% live arrival guarantee

20% OVERCOUNT: All isopod packages will come with a 20% overcount