All Isopod Species

This page lists every isopod we currently stock - over 200 species and morphs - in one place. It's the full range, useful for browsing everything at once or searching for something specific. If you already know which genus you're after, the collection links below are quicker, and each one has its own introduction and care guidance.

The range spans beginner-friendly workhorses through to some of the rarest designer morphs available in the UK. Everything is captive-bred here in the UK, dispatched Monday to Thursday by Royal Mail next-day, and covered by a live arrival guarantee with a 20% overcount as standard.

Browse by Genus

Isopods are grouped by genus, and the genus tells you most of what you need to know about how an animal behaves and what it needs:

• Porcellionides - fast, prolific and forgiving. The hardest-working cleanup crew species and the easiest place for a beginner to start. Home to Powder Orange, Powder Blue and Oreo Crumble.
• Porcellio - large, active and visible, ranging from easy to intermediate. Includes the Dairy Cow and Snow White, plus a broad selection of Spanish and European species.
• Armadillidium - the true pill bugs, the ones that roll into a complete ball. Hardy, temperate, and available in more colour morphs than any other genus. Includes Zebra and Magic Potion.
• Cubaris - the genus that transformed the hobby. Premium tropical cave species including Rubber Ducky, Panda King and White Shark, plus over fifty other morphs.
• Ardentiella - bold, semi-arboreal Vietnamese species with some of the most striking colours in the hobby. Demanding, but spectacular.
• Oniscus and Trachelipus - temperate species, including UK natives and their selectively bred morphs.
• Armadillo, Cristarmadillidium, Fillipinodillo, Ignama, Troglodillo and Venezillo - the rarer and more unusual genera, for collectors looking for something few other keepers have.
• Other species - everything that doesn't sit neatly in the groups above.

Which Genus Should You Choose?

A rough guide, based on what you actually want from the animals:

• First isopods, or a cleanup crew that just works: Porcellionides. Fast, prolific, forgiving of mistakes, and happy at UK room temperature.
• Something large and visible you'll actually see: Porcellio. The Dairy Cow is the usual starting point and one of our best sellers for good reason.
• The classic roll-into-a-ball pill bug: Armadillidium. Hardy, temperate, and the widest choice of colour morphs.
• A premium display animal, once you have experience: Cubaris. Slower, more demanding, and worth the patience.
• Colour above all else: Ardentiella - though these are best left until your husbandry is solid.

If you're new to the hobby, our beginner's guide to keeping isopods is the place to start, and our guide to isopod species and morphs explains how the genera differ in more depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of isopods?
Hobby isopods are grouped by genus. The main ones are Porcellionides (fast, prolific, beginner-friendly), Porcellio (large and active), Armadillidium (the true pill bugs that roll into a ball), Cubaris (premium tropical cave species) and Ardentiella (vivid, semi-arboreal Vietnamese species). Rarer genera include Armadillo, Cristarmadillidium, Fillipinodillo, Ignama, Oniscus, Trachelipus, Troglodillo and Venezillo.

Can all isopods roll up?
No - and it's the clearest dividing line between the genera. Armadillidium and Cubaris are conglobators, meaning they roll into a complete ball when threatened. Porcellio and Porcellionides cannot; they're flatter-bodied and rely on speed instead. If you specifically want the classic pill-bug rolling behaviour, choose Armadillidium.

What are the easiest isopods for beginners?
Porcellionides species like Powder Orange are the most forgiving - hardy, prolific, and happy at UK room temperature without heating. Dairy Cow (Porcellio laevis) and Zebra (Armadillidium maculatum) are also excellent first choices. Avoid premium Cubaris such as Rubber Ducky until you've kept an easier species successfully for six months or so.

What is the most visually appealing isopod?
It depends what appeals to you. For sheer colour, the Ardentiella species and Cubaris morphs like the Rubber Ducky are the most striking in the hobby. For pattern, Zebra and Dairy Cow are hard to beat. And for variety within a single colony, Jelly Bean produces a different colour in almost every individual.

Can you mix types of isopods?
It's best avoided, particularly as a beginner. Different morphs of the same species will interbreed and dilute your colour lines, larger species can outcompete or predate smaller ones, and different genera often want different humidity. One species per enclosure is the safe default for any breeding project.

How many isopod species do you stock?
Over 200 species and morphs, spanning every major hobby genus - from common beginner species through to rare designer morphs. All captive-bred in the UK.

Looking for something specific? Our main isopods for sale page is the best overview, or check new arrivals for recent additions and special offers for current deals. For substrate, leaf litter and setup essentials, browse our accessories, and pair any colony with springtails for a complete bioactive cleanup crew.