Gestroi 'Milky Way' Isopods (Armadillidium)

Though the world of isopods is filled with various species, something about Milky Way Isopods makes them captivating keepers and hobbyists. One outstanding feature that makes them adored by isopod lovers is their speckled exoskeleton, which imitates a starry night sky. It is nothing less than an illusion that makes you keep admiring them. Other than that, Milky Way Isopods are easy to maintain and involve no hassles like some other species do. If you are a beginner, you will find them easy to handle.

A Glimpse

• Origin: UK (Jennifer Gosling)

• Scientific Name: Armadillidium gestroi

• Difficulty: Easy

• Temperature: Around 20°C

• Rarity: Not rare

• Size: Up to 1.5 inches

• Humidity: High

• Favourable Foods: Vegetable scraps, leaf litter, rotten hardwoods, cuttlebone, eggshells, oyster shells.

An Overview

Milky Way Isopods are land-dwelling isopods which were first successfully isolated and developed by Jennifer Gosling in the UK. But you can now find them in other regions due to trading among keepers.

These isopods are exotic because of their coloration and patterns, which are hard to find in other species. Their speckled exoskeleton makes them look attractive and appealing to keepers.

Belonging to the Armadillidiidae family, this species is known precisely for its unique self-defense mechanism called conglobation. A mechanism allows them to curve into a ball to keep themselves from attacking their soft bellies. They usually do this in the wild, but you can also see this behavior in captivity if they are threatened.

Compared to other isopods, Milky Way Isopods are much bigger. They grow up to 1.5 inches long and can easily adapt to captive environments.

Basic Care

You cannot expect your isopods to live healthily unless you take care of them properly. Here are the key aspects of their care:

• Use a large container with enough space for your isopods to roam freely and build a colony when they breed. You can use plastic or glass terrariums; the choice is yours.

• To thrive without correct humidity and temperature is almost impossible for them, making it crucial for you that levels don’t fluctuate much; otherwise, it can cause problems.

• Milky Way Isopods are found in humid areas, which means you must create a similar setup in captivity as well. Mist the terrarium regularly, and everything should be fine.

• Since they are nocturnal, they don’t need special lighting. Just an ambient room light is sufficient for them to thrive.

Milky Way Isopods: Feeding

Milky Way Isopods are not different when it concerns their diet. Just like the majority of species, they, too, love to feed on decaying organic matter. To keep their bellies happy, feed them rotting leaves from hardwood trees like oak or beech. Not just their happy meal, but these also contain nutrients essential for their development. Veggies like carrots, zucchini, or potatoes also add to their better health and well-being. 

Appearance & Behaviour

• Milky Way Isopods are one of the most attractive species. The patterns they have sprinkled on their bodies create a unique look.

• Their appearance and behavior make them a highly sought-after species in the isopod-keeping.

• Milky Way Isopods are most active at night when the sun goes down, and it is the perfect time to explore their surroundings.

• They are social creatures and prefer to live in colonies like other isopods do.

Milky Way Isopods: Habitat

Milky Way Isopods need a stable and safe environment to live and breed peacefully without fear. You can create a similar setup by adding moist areas in their habitat. For this, use rich organic matter like leaf litter and decaying wood that are found in forest floors naturally. Also, add a lot of hiding places where they can seek shelter or rest when not active.

Substrate Mix

Be it Milky Way Isopods or any other species, they don’t do well without a good substrate mix. This is why you should pay more attention to this aspect and ready a proper substrate mix. For the base layer, use coconut coir and organic potting soil as they encourage burrowing behaviors. For moisture retention, incorporate sphagnum moss to maintain the necessary humidity levels and provide additional foraging material. You can also add leaf litter and calcium sources to complete the setup.