Armadillidium maculatum "Chocolate Zebra"

Armadillidium maculatum "Chocolate Zebra" is a highly distinctive, strikingly patterned, and beautifully colored morph of the classic Zebra isopod. Instead of the typical jet-black base color seen on standard wild types, this specialized variety features a rich, deep chocolate-brown body that is broken up by crisp, bold white stripes running down the segments of their carapaces. As true pill woodlice, they are fully capable of tight, perfect conglobation, rolling up into a neat, striped brown bead when they feel startled or threatened. They are highly appreciated in the hobby because they pair an iconic, designer appearance with exceptionally straightforward, user-friendly care.

This species is a perfect match for both entry-level beginners who want a bulletproof starter pet and advanced collectors looking to add a beautiful color variation to a classic staple. Thanks to their extreme hardiness and confident nature, they spend plenty of time openly active on the surface, making them an excellent display animal for keepers who love to see their pets foraging. They serve as a fantastic, hard-working clean-up crew for temperate, semi-arid, or Mediterranean-style bioactive terrariums, efficiently managing waste from small to medium-sized reptiles and amphibians. If you want a peaceful, steady breeder that injects a stunning pop of high-contrast color into your collection, the Chocolate Zebra is a perfect candidate.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Armadillidium maculatum "Chocolate Zebra"

ORIGIN: Sourced from the French and Italian Riviera along the Mediterranean coast, with this specific rich chocolate color mutation perfected in captivity.

DIFFICULTY: Very Easy / Beginner

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 18-26°C. They adapt effortlessly to 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 strict layout where roughly one-third of the enclosure features a damp sphagnum moss patch for essential hydration, while the remaining two-thirds stay completely dry. Good cross-ventilation is highly important, as stagnant air and oversaturated substrate can cause molting issues.

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, a permanent source of calcium—such as cuttlefish bone or limestone chunks—must be kept in the enclosure at all times to ensure healthy, successful molts.

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

REPRODUCTION RATE: Prolific. Once they acclimate to their enclosure, they are incredibly reliable and steady breeders that establish dense colonies very quickly, producing healthy broods on a consistent basis.

SIZES: You will receive a healthy, robust mix of sizes ranging from developing juveniles to young adults, providing an optimal demographic mix to jumpstart your culture. Fully matured adults are a medium-sized species, reaching up to 1.8cm in length. Newborn mancae are never intentionally counted or shipped, though some may emerge naturally during transit.

PACKAGING: The isopods are packed with great care inside well-ventilated plastic travel tubs layered with damp sphagnum moss to ensure stable transit moisture. These containers are securely nested inside a sturdy shipping box padded with eco-fill, paper, or thick cardboard to completely insulate the culture from movement and extreme outdoor temperature spikes.

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

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