Armadillium gestroi "Wild Type" Isopods - Count: 10 (Starter Colony)

Armadillidium gestroi “Wild Type” is a hardy and attractive isopod known for its dark body contrasted by vivid orange spotting. This species is active, highly visible, and tends to thrive when provided with a balanced humidity gradient and calcium-rich environment. Their bold coloration and larger size make them excellent display isopods for both beginner and intermediate keepers.

Care Snapshot:

Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
Temperature: 70–78°F (21–26°C)
Humidity: Moderate to high with a proper moisture gradient
Enclosure: Well-ventilated enclosure with cork bark, leaf litter, and calcium sources
Bioactive Role: Excellent clean-up crew and display species

Feeding: 

Provide a varied diet consisting of decaying hardwood leaves, rotting wood, quality isopod diets, fish or shrimp pellets, and occasional vegetables such as carrot, squash, or sweet potato. Armadillidium gestroi especially benefit from consistent calcium supplementation to support healthy molts and maintain their vibrant coloration. Good calcium options include cuttlebone, oyster shell, limestone, or cleaned baked eggshells.

Habitat Notes:

Wild Type gestroi prefer a balanced enclosure with both moist and drier areas so they can self-regulate humidity. Keep one side consistently moist with sphagnum moss while allowing the opposite side to remain relatively dry. They enjoy hiding beneath cork bark and within deep leaf litter. Good airflow is important to prevent stagnant conditions while maintaining adequate humidity.

Behavior & Breeding:

This species is fairly active and often visible during the day. They reproduce steadily under stable conditions and tend to establish thriving colonies over time. Juveniles display lighter coloration initially and gradually develop the characteristic orange spotting as they mature.