Armadillo isopods are one of the most frequently misidentified genera in the hobby. The name, the conglobation, the pill-bug shape — everything about them invites comparison with Armadillidium, and the two genera are indeed related. But Armadillo is a distinct genus with one characteristic that sets it completely apart from anything else commonly kept: they hiss.

When threatened and rolled into a ball, Armadillo officinalis rubs its legs against the inner surface of its shell in rapid circular motions, producing an audible stridulation — a subtle rattling or hissing sound that becomes more noticeable as colony numbers grow. Research has shown the sound peaks around 9 kHz and likely functions as both a defence signal and an alarm to other colony members. No other readily available isopod does anything like it. If you want an isopod that genuinely surprises people, this is the one.

Currently we stock three species. The Armadillo officinalis Red Brick and Armadillo officinalis Brown are colour morphs of the same Mediterranean species — A. officinalis originates from Southern Europe and the western Black Sea coasts and prefers low to medium humidity (around 55–70%) with a clear moisture gradient. The Armadillo tuberculatus is a Greek species with a distinctive bluish exoskeleton, a slower breeding rate, and a preference for even drier conditions (40–60% humidity). All three are relatively easy to keep, though they do need good ventilation and should not be kept in uniformly wet conditions — excessive humidity causes moulting problems across the genus.

One practical note for enclosure setup: unlike Ardentiella or tropical Cubaris which need high humidity, Armadillo are Mediterranean species that actively suffer in very damp environments. If you're used to keeping Armadillidium, the care is broadly similar — think moisture gradient, good airflow, plenty of leaf litter and cork bark — just err drier rather than wetter, and ensure calcium is always available for healthy moulting.

All orders are dispatched Monday to Thursday via Royal Mail's next day by 1pm service, with a live arrival guarantee and 20% overcount on every order. Check our new arrivals page for updates, and visit the accessories collection for leaf litter, cuttlebone, and cork bark for your enclosure setup. Any questions before buying, get in touch — we're always happy to help.