With a pale, ghost-like appearance, Vulgare T-Albino isopods never fail to grab your attention, whether in the wild or captivity, because that’s what is special about them. They have a unique color combined with gentle behaviour, which makes them highly-sought after and not easily available in pet trades or shops as you would expect. Though a rare find, they are easy to look after, and can thrive in bare minimum efforts to maintain their enclosure. Let’s take you through the details of Vulgare T-Albino Isopods and give you an idea of what it is like to own them as pets.
Vulgare T- Albino Isopods: A Glimpse
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Origin: North America
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Scientific Name: Armadillidium vulgare
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Difficulty Level: Easy
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Size: Up to 1.8 cm
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Rarity: Rare
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Temperature: 18-24°C
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Humidity: 70-80%
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Favorite Foods: Leaf litter, rotting wood, fruits, veggies, decaying leaves, fish food flakes, dried shrimp, active yeast.
An Overview
Vulgare T - Albino isopods belong to the Armadillidium genus and are found in different regions. Their origin lies in North America, where hobbyists develop them because of their unique yellow or white coloration.
Vulgare T-Albino grow up to 1.8 cm and are popular because of their pale, almost ghostly appearance, which is unlike that of any other isopods.
Despite being a rare breed, isopods are easy to care for and don’t require much effort like other isopods. Many beginners choose them over other breeds and keep them as part of a bioactive setup in terrariums because of this.
Vulgare T- Albino Isopods: Basic Care
Caring for Vulgare T - Albino Isopods requires you to do the following things if you want them to be happy and healthy.
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Offer them humid environment while ensuring that it is not too wet. A level between 70% and 80% is good enough for them.
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A plastic container or glass terrarium is big enough for them to move around freely and not feel cramped as their colony grows.
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The enclosure needs to have both dry and moist areas so your isopods can choose a side according to their mood and physical needs without you worrying about their discomfort.
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You should mist the enclosure regularly to prevent it from drying quickly. Also, keep them in a shaded place away from direct sunlight.
Feeding
As nature’s little cleaners, Vulgare T- Albino Isopods eat decaying leaves, wood, and other organic matter that are available in abundance in the wild. But in captivity, you can add small amounts of veggies and fruits so they can have a balanced diet and not grow weak from malnutrition. Occasionally, you can give them dried shrimp or fish food flakes because they are great supplements, making your isopods stronger and healthier.
Appearance & Behavior
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Vulgare T- Albino Isopods have a soft white or pale cream body, a unique coloration that sets them apart from other breeds, and is popular among keepers.
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Their light coloration comes from a lack of pigmentation, a rare trait you won’t see in other isopods.
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Unlike many isopods, Vulgare T-Albino moves slower and hides underneath leaf litter most of the time if it is not looking for food.
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They have a shy nature but that doesn’t keep them from exploring, eating, and interacting with each other, particularly at night when there’s nobody around to bother or attack them.
Habitat
Vulgare T- Albino Isopods prefer a cozy setup, just like their natural habitat, with moist and dry areas. You can create a similar environment by adding lots of leaf litter, moss, bark, and wood pieces so they can hide or eat whenever they like. Also, keep the humidity and temperature levels stable so they can live comfortably and not deal with frequent changes.
Substrate Mix
As far as the substrate mix is concerned, you can use a mix of crushed leaf litter, sphagnum moss, and organic soil because they retain moisture well and prevent the enclosure from drying. You can also add a bit of fine coconut fiber to control the moisture to the right level. For a calcium source, sprinkle powdered calcium or crushed eggshells.
