Orange Vigor Isopods (Armadilldium Vulgare) for sale UK

Armadillidium vulgare "Orange Vigor" is a common isopod that has the ability to conglobate (roll up into a ball when handled/startled). They are medium speed breeders, slower than most people assume, especially if they start with Porcellio laevis or Porcellionides pruinosus before these. Keeping Armadillidium vulgare is rewarding, they do have plenty of babies and they grow quite well, however they are a very shy species that is quite fossorial (but you will still see them above substrate). These isopods have been in the hobby for a very long time, and are very well established, with a lot of different morphs. Although, they seem to be a little bit overlooked and the only one that is relatively common is the "Magic Potion" line (actually, make that 2 lines - there is an American Magic Potion and a Japanese Magic Potion, the Japanese one is more common in the UK).

Armadillidium vulgare is native to Mediterranean Europe, but it quickly became a cosmopolitan species, now found on almost every single landmass that the Earth has (except for Antarctica and colder places because they cannot survive in that). Due to these isopods being so widespread, there are a lot of differences between the locales and colour strains. While some wild-types are bigger and have subtle golden flaking down their backs, the line-bred "Orange Vigor" strain completely replaces the typical dark grey with a striking, vibrant orange coloration across their entire heavy-bodied shell.

Discovered by Pierre André Latreille, a French zoologist who is widely considered the father of modern entomology (the study of insects and arthropods), in 1804 Armadillidium vulgare was officially introduced into the world. He published the species name in his massive 14-volume work on Natural History, Histoire Naturelle, by combining the Latin genus Armadillidium (meaning resembling a little armadillo) with the species name vulgare (meaning common or ordinary), Latreille perfectly captured the creature's incredibly widespread nature that set it apart from rarer localised woodlice.

This species is perfect for passionate isopod enthusiasts and invertebrate collectors looking to keep a beautifully bright, heavy-bodied isopod species as an engaging pet. It is amazing for those who appreciate unique animals, as these isopods love to roll into a tight, perfect defensive ball when handled or startled making them incredibly fun to observe. It is also ideal for slightly patient hobbyists who want to watch an adaptable colony establish, as Armadillidium vulgare breed at a steady, moderate pace compared to hyper-prolific species like Porcellio laevis or Porcellionides pruinosus, rewarding you with an incredibly robust, long-lived, and vividly orange display group over time. If you are looking for a hardy starter isopod that thrives in a clean tub with a strong moisture gradient, plenty of ventilation, and loads of leaf litter and rot wood, this chunky, bright orange variant of the globally famous isopod species is exactly what your collection needs.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Armadillidium vulgare "Orange Vigor"

ORIGIN: Mediterranean Europe (Line-bred morph)

DIFFICULTY: Beginner

DIETARY NEEDS: Decaying matter such as leaf litter and rot wood along with a constant calcium source and plenty of protein.

ACTIVITY LEVELS: Relatively shy, not very bold like Porcellionides sp. Very fossorial.

REPRODUCTION RATE: Moderately fast breeders, not extremely prolific.

SIZES: The isopods that you will receive will be mixed sizes, most of them on the slightly larger size. Mancae will never be shipped out, but sometimes isopods will give birth during transit.

PACKAGING: The isopods will be packed in small, ventilated plastic containers packed with damp sphagnum moss in a cardboard box, secured by either packing peanuts, paper or cardboard.

100% Live Arrival Guarantee: At TerraPods, we offer a 100% live arrival guarantee.

20% Overcount: All isopod packages will come with a 20% overcount.