Ankylosaur Isopods (Reductoniscus tuberculatus)

Four millimetres long and built like a tank. The Ankylosaur is a dwarf isopod whose whole body is covered in raised tubercles, bumps and ridges that give it the rugged, armour-plated look of the dinosaur it is named after. There is very little else in the hobby quite like it, and its size only sharpens the effect: all that sculptured armour packed onto an animal you could lose under a fingernail. It is a genuine collector's centrepiece rather than a working cleanup crew.

Introduction

This is Reductoniscus tuberculatus (Leistikow, 1997), a tropical dwarf woodlouse from Southeast Asia, around the Malaysia and Borneo region, sometimes traded as the "Dwarf Gator". The species name, tuberculatus, points straight at the knobbly armour that defines it. It belongs to a small, lesser-known genus of tropical woodlice, and sits among the most prized of the "spiky" and armoured isopods alongside the Shiny Gator. Being an Armadillidae, it curls up defensively when disturbed. It is a premium, genuinely rare species and rated medium difficulty, so it rewards a keeper with a little experience.

Appearance

Around 4 mm fully grown, this is a true dwarf best appreciated up close, where the full extent of the sculptured, tuberculate shell becomes clear. The armour develops as the young mature, so juveniles look less defined than settled adults. It is slow-moving and secretive, spending much of its time tucked under cover, and rolls up tight when disturbed, all of which suits its armoured-tank character. Our notes on spiky isopods put it among its peers.

Care

Despite being tropical, the Ankylosaur does not want a swamp. Aim for a stable, medium humidity, around 60 to 70%, on a gentle gradient, a damp side and a slightly drier one, rather than a soaked tub, with medium ventilation. Consistency matters more than high moisture. A smaller enclosure is actually easier here, since it holds conditions steady and keeps the tiny animals findable; fit fine ventilation the mancae cannot slip through. Give a substrate of organic topsoil, sphagnum and flake soil with limestone worked through, and be generous with calcium, which both feeds that heavy armour and appears to help reproduction. Keep plenty of flat cork bark and leaf litter over the top for the cover it needs to settle.

Diet

A straightforward detritivore: decaying hardwood and leaf litter, oak and beech, form the base of the diet, with small amounts of soft fruit or vegetable for variety and a little fish flake for protein once or twice a week. Keep a constant calcium source, cuttlebone and limestone, which matters more than usual for so heavily-armoured an animal. A springtail culture handles mould around fresh food.

Breeding

The Ankylosaur breeds at a moderate pace, building steadily under stable, medium-humidity conditions, and given its rarity a thriving colony is a real achievement. The one thing to watch is the mancae: they are extremely tiny and easily lost or harmed, so work in the enclosure gently and as little as possible while a colony establishes. Plenty of calcium, generous flat-bark cover and minimal disturbance are what it asks for.

Who is this for?

The Ankylosaur suits the collector after something extremely rare and unmistakable, the armoured- and spiky-isopod enthusiast, and anyone keeping the Shiny Gator who wants its heavier-armoured counterpart. It is not a beginner's isopod, not a budget cleanup crew, and not for a setup where tiny mancae could be lost in maintenance; the easy Dwarf White is the better first dwarf. More unusual species are in our other-species collection.

Our stock ships under our live arrival guarantee, in a ventilated deli tub with damp sphagnum inside a double-walled box. We post Monday to Thursday by Royal Mail next day before 1pm, with a 20% overcount in every order. Setup kit is in our accessories range.