Fillipinodillo Isopods (3)

Experience the awe-inspiring presence of our magnificent Giant Banahoa Isopods! These extraordinary Philippine natives represent one of the most impressive terrestrial isopods available in the hobby, combining substantial size with breathtaking beauty that commands attention in any collection. With their almost armoured appearance featuring intricate rusty-bronze patterns and robust build, these remarkable Fillipinodillo specimens showcase the incredible diversity that the tropical Philippines has to offer. Perfect for serious collectors and experienced keepers who appreciate both size and striking visual appeal in their isopod displays. A Glimpse Origin: Banahoa region, Philippines Scientific Name: Fillipinodillo sp. "Giant Banahoa" Maintenance required: Medium to Advanced Average Size: 2.0-2.5 cm Rarity: Very High Lifespan: 2-3 years Temperature: 24℃-28℃ (75℉-82℉) Ventilation: Moderate Humidity: 75-85% Favorite food: Decaying hardwood, leaf litter, organic matter Supplements: Cuttlebone, calcium powder, protein sources Giant Banahoa Isopods: Introduction These spectacular isopods originate from the biodiverse Banahoa region of the Philippines, where the unique tropical mountain ecosystem has given rise to some of the most impressive terrestrial isopods found anywhere in Southeast Asia. The Philippines' reputation for extraordinary endemic species is perfectly exemplified by these remarkable creatures, which represent the pinnacle of size and beauty in the Fillipinodillo genus. Their imposing presence and distinctive armoured appearance make them true showstoppers that captivate everyone who encounters them. The intricate rusty-bronze patterning across their substantial exoskeleton creates a visual masterpiece that seems almost prehistoric, earning them a well-deserved reputation as one of the most sought-after species among serious collectors worldwide, rivaling even popular varieties like Cubaris species in desirability. Physical Traits and Characteristics These impressive isopods showcase the classic Fillipinodillo body plan scaled up to truly giant proportions, reaching an extraordinary 2.0-2.5cm in length Their most striking feature is the intricate rusty-bronze coloration that creates complex patterns across their heavily armoured exoskeleton The robust, almost tank-like build gives them an imposing presence that immediately distinguishes them from smaller isopod species Their substantial size and thick exoskeleton create an almost prehistoric appearance that captivates observers The segmented body displays beautiful contrast between darker and lighter areas, creating natural geometric patterns Their impressive antennae and well-developed compound eyes reflect their adaptation to the complex forest floor environments of the Philippines The substantial legs and robust build indicate their terrestrial lifestyle and ability to navigate through dense leaf litter and decomposing wood Their large size makes every detail of their anatomy easily observable, from their intricate mouthparts to their distinctive segmentation The overall appearance suggests a creature perfectly adapted to the rich, humid forest floors of tropical Philippine mountains Individual specimens may show subtle variations in patterning, making each isopod unique while maintaining the distinctive Giant Banahoa characteristics Diet Giant Banahoa Isopods are enthusiastic decomposers with appetites to match their impressive size. In their native Philippine mountain forests, they encounter a rich diversity of tropical hardwoods, exotic leaf litter, and the abundant organic matter typical of these biodiverse ecosystems. Provide a varied diet that reflects their tropical origins, including quality hardwood pieces (oak, beech, and tropical woods work particularly well), diverse leaf litter, and cork bark for sustained nutrition. Their substantial size means they can process larger food items than smaller species like Porcellio laevis, making feeding both easier and more rewarding to observe. Supplement their diet with fresh vegetables such as sweet potatoes, squash, and tropical fruits occasionally. Their robust metabolism requires regular calcium supplementation through cuttlebone, crushed limestone, or specialized calcium powders to support their impressive exoskeleton development and molting processes. Protein sources are important for maintaining their substantial size and supporting reproduction. Offer fish food flakes, dried shrimp, or specialized high-protein isopod foods regularly. Their impressive appetite means they can quickly process significant amounts of organic waste, making them excellent bioactive cleanup crews despite their rarity. Due to their size and value, monitor feeding carefully to ensure all individuals receive adequate nutrition without creating competition that might stress these valuable specimens. Giant Banahoa Isopods: Personality These magnificent isopods display a confident, robust personality that matches their impressive physical presence. Their substantial size gives them a bold demeanor, and they're often more visible during daylight hours than many smaller, more secretive species, making them excellent display animals. Their Philippine forest origins have instilled in them a curious, exploratory nature. They'll readily investigate new additions to their environment and aren't easily startled, allowing for excellent observation opportunities. This confidence makes them engaging terrarium inhabitants that reward patient observation with fascinating behaviors. Despite their imposing size, they're generally peaceful creatures that coexist well with other large isopod species. Their substantial build means they're not easily intimidated, but they're not aggressive toward smaller tank mates either, making them suitable for mixed species setups with appropriate companions like other Philippine isopods or similarly-sized species. Their impressive size and striking appearance make every sighting special, and their robust nature means they're tolerant of brief observation periods, allowing enthusiasts to fully appreciate their remarkable characteristics and behaviors. Breeding Giant Banahao Isopods are moderate breeders that require optimal conditions to successfully reproduce in captivity. Their impressive size means breeding females can carry substantial broods, but their tropical origins require consistent environmental conditions to trigger successful reproduction, similar to other tropical species like Cubaris but with even more specific requirements due to their rarity. Females reach sexual maturity at approximately 6-8 months and carry eggs for 6-8 weeks before releasing juveniles. Broods typically contain 15-30 offspring, with the exact number depending on the female's size and condition. The juveniles emerge as perfect miniatures of their impressive parents and grow steadily with proper care. For successful breeding, maintain stable tropical conditions with high humidity (80-85%), consistent temperatures around 25-27℃, and abundant calcium sources to support the development of their substantial exoskeletons. The impressive size of adults means they require more space and resources than smaller species. Given their rarity and value, successful breeding represents a significant achievement in the hobby. Establishing breeding populations helps ensure the long-term availability of these spectacular isopods while providing the satisfaction of working with truly exceptional creatures. Their substantial size and impressive appearance make breeding colonies particularly rewarding, as watching multiple generations of these magnificent isopods develop creates a truly spectacular display. Creating the Perfect Habitat Giant Banahoa Isopods require spacious, well-designed habitats that accommodate their impressive size while replicating the rich tropical conditions of their Philippine mountain origins. Use deep substrate (6-8cm minimum) composed of quality tropical soil mix, decomposed hardwood matter, and organic components that maintain the high humidity these giants require. Consider pairing with springtails to help maintain optimal substrate conditions. Their substantial size means they need appropriately scaled hiding spots and environmental features. Provide large pieces of cork bark, substantial hardwood chunks, and ceramic caves that can accommodate their impressive bulk while offering the security they need. Temperature management is crucial for these tropical giants. Maintain stable conditions between 24-28℃ with minimal fluctuations that might stress these valuable specimens. Their Philippine origins mean they thrive in consistently warm conditions that would be excessive for temperate species like Porcellio varieties. Humidity should remain consistently high (75-85%) while ensuring adequate ventilation to prevent stagnation. Their large size and substantial waste production means good airflow is essential, but balance this with their need for tropical humidity levels. Include substantial calcium sources throughout the substrate - crushed limestone, cuttlebone pieces, and oyster shell provide ongoing supplementation to support their impressive exoskeleton development. The visual impact of these magnificent creatures is enhanced by creating a Philippine-inspired biotope with tropical decorations that complement their striking appearance. Consider the spectacular display potential when designing their habitat - these impressive isopods deserve setups that showcase their remarkable size and beauty while providing the optimal conditions they need to thrive and potentially reproduce in captivity. For additional guidance on isopod care, explore our comprehensive care articles and setup guides.

Leopard Bee Isopods represent one of the most visually captivating species emerging from the biodiverse Philippines, combining eye-catching spotted patterns with the robust character typical of the remarkable Filippinodillo genus. These medium-sized tropical beauties have earned their common name through distinctive leopard-like markings accented with bee-inspired yellow tones, creating a stunning appearance that elevates any collection beyond ordinary species. Species Overview Place of Origin: PhilippinesGenus: FilippinodilloSpecies: Filippinodillo sp. "Leopard Bee" Key Care Requirements Maintenance Effort: Medium to AdvancedIdeal Temperature Range: 72°F-80°F (22°C-27°C)Reproduction Rate: ModerateVentilation: Medium to HighGeneral Size: 15-20mmRarity Level: HighHumidity Range: 70%-80%Preferred Diet: Hardwood, tropical leaf litter, protein supplementsEssential Supplements: Limestone chunks, cuttlefish bone, calcium powder Natural Habitat and Behaviour In the lush tropical forests of the Philippines, Leopard Bee Isopods inhabit the moisture-rich microhabitats beneath decomposing hardwood logs and thick accumulations of leaf litter. These island environments provide the perfect combination of high humidity, stable warm temperatures, and abundant organic matter that these remarkable creatures require to thrive. Like other members of the Filippinodillo genus, Leopard Bee Isopods display confident, exploratory behaviour compared to more secretive species. They actively forage through substrate layers and navigate complex terrains with purpose, making them engaging subjects for observation. Their conglobation ability—rolling into a protective ball when startled—provides both defensive capability and entertainment value for dedicated keepers. These isopods serve essential roles as ecosystem engineers in their native habitats, breaking down substantial amounts of organic matter and returning vital nutrients to the forest floor. Understanding these natural behaviours helps recreate appropriate conditions in captivity, ensuring successful bioactive vivarium setups that mirror their wild environments. Physical Characteristics Leopard Bee Isopods showcase the impressive size and robust build characteristic of Philippine Filippinodillo species. Their medium to large bodies typically reach 15-20mm in length, providing substantial presence without the space demands of truly giant varieties. Their most distinctive feature remains the striking spotted pattern that gives them their leopard designation. Rich brown to chocolate base coloration provides canvas for irregular creamy-yellow spots distributed across their armoured segments, creating natural camouflage that becomes stunning ornamentation in captivity. The bee-inspired yellow tones add warmth to their appearance, distinguishing them from other spotted isopod varieties. The heavily calcified exoskeleton displays characteristic thickness associated with conglobating species, requiring significant calcium intake to maintain. Their segmented bodies show clear demarcation between pereon segments, creating visual interest as they move through their environment. Diet and Nutrition As specialized detritivores adapted to nutrient-rich Philippine forests, Leopard Bee Isopods require diverse feeding programmes that reflect their tropical origins. Their natural diet consists primarily of decomposing hardwoods—particularly tropical varieties—along with the thick leaf litter layers characteristic of Southeast Asian forests. Provide a foundation of quality hardwood pieces including oak, beech, and any available tropical woods. Cork bark serves dual purposes as both hiding structure and supplemental food source, making it invaluable in their setups. Calcium supplementation proves absolutely critical for maintaining their impressive exoskeletons. Provide limestone chunks, cuttlefish bone pieces, and crushed oyster shell throughout the substrate. Protein requirements remain moderate but important for colony health. Offer high-quality fish flakes, dried shrimp, or specialized isopod protein foods 2-3 times weekly. Creating the Perfect Enclosure Successfully housing Leopard Bee Isopods requires replicating the warm, humid conditions of Philippine tropical forests. Start with well-ventilated containers of at least 6-8 quart capacity for starter cultures. Substrate depth should reach 6-8cm minimum to accommodate their burrowing behaviours. Create a base layer using quality organic topsoil mixed with decomposed hardwood matter. Avoid products containing fertilizers, pesticides, or coconut-based materials. Layer substantial amounts of hardwood leaf litter over the base substrate, creating the thick accumulations these isopods encounter in nature. Add cork bark pieces, hardwood chunks, and limestone rocks throughout to create complex environments. Temperature and Humidity Management Maintain enclosures between 72-80°F (22-27°C), with 74-78°F representing the ideal range. Temperature stability proves more important than achieving specific numbers—avoid dramatic fluctuations that stress colonies. Humidity management requires careful attention with these tropical species. Maintain 70-80% relative humidity through regular misting with dechlorinated water. Create moisture gradients by keeping one enclosure section slightly drier. Breeding and Colony Development Leopard Bee Isopods reproduce at moderate rates once established. Females typically produce broods of 10-20 offspring after 6-8 week gestation periods in their marsupial pouches. Sexual maturity arrives at approximately 4-6 months under optimal conditions. Creating breeding-conducive environments requires maintaining consistent temperature and humidity levels, providing abundant high-quality foods, and minimizing disturbances. Care Difficulty and Considerations Leopard Bee Isopods fall firmly into the medium to advanced difficulty category, making them inappropriate for absolute beginners. Their tropical requirements demand attention to environmental parameters that more forgiving temperate species tolerate. However, experienced keepers familiar with tropical isopod care fundamentals find them rewarding subjects. Those new to isopod keeping should gain experience with hardy species before attempting Leopard Bee Isopods. Understanding fundamental care principles with forgiving varieties builds skills necessary for success with these demanding tropical beauties. Why Choose Leopard Bee Isopods? These remarkable Philippine natives represent outstanding additions for intermediate to advanced collectors seeking distinctive species that command attention. Their leopard-and-bee inspired patterning creates visual interest surpassing most common varieties. Whether expanding existing isopod collections or seeking centerpiece species for tropical display setups, Leopard Bee Isopods deliver exceptional value through their combination of beauty, behaviour, and breeding potential. Shipping Information Isopods are posted Monday to Thursday using Royal Mail's next day by 1pm servicePlus 20% overcount sent with every order24/7 live chat available - We are always here and happy to chat! (subject to sleeping)