“Zebra” isopods (Armadillidium maculatum)

Zebra Isopod Armadillidium maculatum is one of the most recognizable isopods in the hobby, with bold black-and-white bands that give it its common name.

They originate from the Mediterranean region of southern Europe and are a relatively dry-tolerant Armadillidium. Adults reach roughly 18 mm (0.7 in) and can roll completely into a ball when disturbed.

For husbandry, the important distinction is that Zebras shouldn’t be kept uniformly wet. A good setup has a pronounced moisture gradient: keep roughly 1/31/2 of the enclosure moist with sphagnum moss or damp substrate while leaving the remainder substantially drier and well ventilated. Normal room temperatures work well; roughly 6580F is a practical range.

Their staple diet should be decaying hardwood leaves and decomposed hardwood, available continuously. Supplemental vegetables and occasional protein such as dried shrimp or fish food are useful, and they should have a continuous calcium source such as cuttlebone, limestone, calcium carbonate, or crushed eggshell.

They’re generally considered beginner-friendly to intermediate, reproduce at a moderate rate, and are especially attractive as a display colony because they’re fairly conspicuous once established. They can work as a bioactive cleanup crew, although there are faster-reproducing species better suited when cleanup performance is the primary goal.