Armadillidium Granulatum White Pearl Isopods

Armadillidium Granulatum White Pearl Isopods are an extraordinary species known for their striking pale and pearlescent appearance. Unlike the typical yellow-spotted Spanish Yellow morph, the Pearl variety showcases a softer, more uniform light coloration that makes them highly unique and desirable among collectors. These isopods are hardy and adapt well to artificial habitats, making them a popular choice for enthusiasts. With their easy care and beautiful appearance, they stand out as a favourite in many bioactive setups.

Armadillidium Granulatum White Pearl Isopods: Insight

• Common Name: Spanish Yellow Isopod
• Origin: Spain
• Size: 2.5 cm
• Difficulty level: low
• Temperature: 64℉ to 82℉
• Rarity: Low
• Humidity: 75% to 80%
• Favourite Food: Repashy bug burger, leaf litter
• Supplements: Cuttlefish bone

Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods: Introduction

Armadillidium Granulatum isopods are one of the largest isopods. They settle into new environments easily and are easy to breed. The yellow spots on the exoskeleton are unique, and they are different for each isopod. 

These critters are indigenous to Spain and can be found in, among others, wet environments like fallen leaves, rocks, carks, etc. They are hardy and quite easy to take care of in captivity and are a great addition to terrariums.

Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods: Characteristics and Traits

• They have a textured carapace; therefore, they are also known as Granulated Pill isopods.
• These roly-polies have soft shells and are used as clean-up crews.
• Their spots are unique in each isopod.
• They are semi-aquatic creatures and can be grown in terrariums and paludariums. 
•  They have humps behind their body called "uropods". They help in movement, especially when they feel threatened.
• It is highly prolific in nature and breeds very early. 
• Easy to maintain and are child-friendly.
• They are omnivores, docile and easy to care for.
• They are from the southwestern part of Europe and are commonly found in gardens, forests, grasslands and urban areas. 

Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods: Morphs

The Armadillidium Granulatum is commonly seen in dark colour with bright yellow spots. However, there are various morphs for this species. They are the following:

• Armadillidium Granulatum (lemon): has a higher yellow expression than the dark colour with a brown background.
• Armadillidium Granulatum (white pearl): rare albino morph of the regular Armadillidum Granulatum. 

Armadillidium Granulatum white pearl Isopods: Diet

Armadillidum Granulatum feeds on pretty much all types of food. They are scavengers and feed on detritus, like decaying plants, fungi, roots, and algae. They also feed on dead insects and other invertebrates. 

When breeding in a closed enclosure, it is important to provide a balanced diet. Feeding greens, veggies, and fruits helps to maintain its health. Shredded shrimp and oyster shells are provided for calcium and protein. Repashy bug burger is given as an alternative to traditional food, which helps balance all nutrients.  

Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods: Offspring

• Armadillidium Granulatum is highly prolific and produces offspring before reaching adulthood. 
• It is expected to find small broods along with these isopods who are sub-adults. They produce a large number of litters.
• The mating of these species is simple. After the mating ritual, the male will deposit spermatozoa into the female's pouch. The female stores them till they are ready to produce offspring.
• Once the development is complete, the female deposits them in pouches. This later produced up to 40 youngs per brood. 
• These species can reproduce without their mate. The females that produce offspring without mating will be born as clones.

Armadillidium Granulatum white pearl Isopods: Basic Care

Here are the following tips and instructions to provide basic care for Armadillidium Granulatum isopods. 

• For the isopods, provide a closed terrarium with a moist substrate made of coco peat or peat moss.
• Mist twice a day, and it is essential to maintain humidity around 75% to 80%.
• Keep live plants and organic materials in the enclosure.
• Keep ⅓ of the enclosure moist and leave the rest arid. 
• Use a glass or a plastic container for breeding the isopods.
• Provide holes for ventilation to prevent excess humidity.
• Avoid keeping the isopod box under direct sunlight.
• Add springtails to prevent and mitigate moulds.
• Cork bark, lotus pods, coconut halves and egg cartons to create hiding spots for the isopods.
• Provide calcium and protein-rich food for healthy offspring and moulting.
• Add various types of moss to serve both as a snack as well as a hiding place for the isopods.

Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods: Natural Habitat

The natural environment of the Armadillidium Granulatum is typically cold, with a lot of decayed food and hiding areas. These species are nocturnal, and they hide under the soil during the daytime. In the wild, these species form clusters under rocks and wooden barks. This is done to retain their body moisture and to ward off predators. 

It is necessary to understand the natural environment of Armadillidium Granulatum isopods so that it can be replicated in the artificial habitat setting. 

Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods: Artificial Setting

The method of setting up an artificial setup for the isopods should be done in a plastic shoebox tub. Providing a lid for the tubs adds safety to the enclosure. Making a series of holes on the sides of the container will help attain healthy flow and control the humidity inside the enclosure. 

Providing a substrate of 1-3 inches (4 in for burrowing species) will provide a proper foundation or base for the habitat. Isopods prefer deep layers and like to feel safe. Add sphagnum Moss and lots and lots of leaf litter, along with pieces of wood or cork bark, to help provide them with a better environment. 

It is important to maintain a temperature of around 75℉ and a moisture gradient of around 75% to create an optimal environment for the isopods to live in the artificial setting. 

Armadillidium Granulatum Isopods: Substrate Mixture

Making a high quality substrate mixture is crucial. As the Armadillidium Granulatum isopods are humidity-loving creatures, one must offer a suitable substrate mix.

The ABG substrate mix is a combination of charcoal, orchid bark, sphagnum moss, tree fern fibre and peat moss. They are very much suited for tropical terrariums as well as isopod substrate mix. It helps maintain moisture without trapping water for proper drainage, thus creating an ideal environment for isopod and springtail colonies.

Making a thick base creates a stable foundation for the isopod enclosure. This, along with adding wood bark, leaf fodder, and protein supplements, creates a suitable environment for the isopods to thrive.