There are far too many wonderful species of isopods that I get to see every day, but you might not even know they exist. It's part of why I've been writing about the underrated species or the ones you might not know about. But there is it a good thing to collect rare isopods? I'm going to say yes, as long as you purchased from an environmentally conscious, sustainable breeder. Like us. Check out the range of isopods we stock here (link to the shop home page)
What is a rare isopod?
This is where things get tricky, something that’s rare in the hobby might be common in the wild, and that’s something that’s important to remember. There are a lot of reasons it might be rare in the hobby, maybe the species is more difficult to breed, and that's often because it needs more specialist care. They might need c arefully controlled temperature, humidity, or a different diet.
What sort of care might a rare isopod need?
Many isopods live in a range of conditions and can thrive in a range of temperatures and humidities. Some of them however need temperature and humidity to be in a narrower range, they might need a specialist diet, or maybe larger enclosures. On each of our sales listings, we tell you the rarity, how difficult they are to care for, and the conditions required.
Isopods that are new to the hobby
Sometimes it's not that they need specialist care to get them reproducing, instead they might be new to the hobby. Particular colour morphs might have only recently occurred, and there might only be small numbers available for sale. Or it could be that a new species has been discovered, often when researchers notice tiny differences in a population. Or it could be that due to the conservation status of these isopods in the wild, no new stock is being taken from the wild, meaning that the captive population is needed to not only supply new isopods but also as a potential source of individuals to be released back into the wild in the future. You only have to look at the success of snails and fish conservation to see that the populations in zoos and private ownership can be the difference between extinction and reintroduction.
Why have a collection of isopods
One of the great things about isopods is how little space they need. So there's nothing wrong with having a few extra species in the collection as long as you are sure that you can care for them. The good news is that each of our listings has a care rating and detailed information about all the isopods and springtails that we sell.
Rare isopods
Armadillidium Frontetriangulum Corfu Isopods
These are often seen as a beginner's species, and despite that and their striking colours, these aren’t seen that often in the hobby as some of the more common species. They need higher than average humidity and could do with a source of heat at least for part of the year. But other than that they’re definitely one to consider.
Sunset Isopods (Troglodillo)
Another easy to keep but rarer species. I suspect the inverted colours mean people might overlook them. They're an orange colour with occasional brown spots, although there is a huge variation in the species. Some research suggests that they're a Cubaris species, but at present, they're in Troglodillo sp.
Giant Cannonball Isopods (Helleria brevicornis)
The largest known species that can roll itself up into a ball, these are just fantastic. Larger than your average isopod, although not the largest in the hobby, they’re so worth space in your collection.
Black Pearl Isopods (Cubaris sp.)
There is something enchanting about any of the Cubaris species, and these are something special. The pearlescent sheen over a mostly black body makes these a species well worth having to display in a dedicated setup.
Venezillo Parvis 'Dalmation' Isopods
These aren't a beginner's species, but they are well worth the effort. Slow to breed, and they can be sensitive if the conditions aren’t in the right range for them, but once you have a colony set up and things suitable for them. It can be so rewarding to achieve them actually breeding.
The joy of collecting
One of the great things about isopods is the varieties that you can keep, and the rewarding feeling that comes from seeing your colonies increase in size. Even today after years of owning and breeding isopods, and with a sizeable collection myself, I still get that leap of excitement when I get to start working with a new species.