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Granulated Pill Bug

Armadillidium granulatum

The European giant of the Armadillidium genus. The carapace is granular to the touch, dark grey with bright mustard yellow spots.

Taxonomy
Class:Malacostraca
Order:Isopoda
Family:Armadillidiidae
Genus:Armadillidium
Species:Armadillidium granulatum

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

40 - 60 %

Day temperature

22 - 27 °C

Night temperature

22 - 27 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about geographic origin and habitat for Armadillidium granulatum. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Taxonomy and Genetics: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about taxonomy and genetics for Armadillidium granulatum. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Behaviour and Habits: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about behaviour and habits for Armadillidium granulatum. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about morphology and sexual dimorphism for Armadillidium granulatum. Consult this record's parameters and sources.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: STANDARD BINS OR MIXED/FRENCH BIOACTIVE TERRARIUMS. Resistant species for beginners, but slightly more demanding on horizontal 'solid' woods/barks and superficial dry foliage on which to walk on parade. Standard soil mixed with crumbled limestone.
Lighting and Heating: ABSENCE OF DIRECT LIGHT. They easily survive at 64-75°F (18-24°C). Better not to constantly exceed 79°F (26°C) in closed boxes to prevent lethargy. They can go into a slight reproductive block in the cold winter months.
Humidity and Hydration: TOLERANT MEDIUM-FRENCH GRADIENT (50-80%). They tolerate lower levels of humidity than many tropical isopods. Asphyxiating Asian condensation would drown them. Create a corner dripping with moss (fundamental) where the females will lay the tiny transparent Zebras (mancae), and a large ventilated moderate central area.
Feeding and Supplementation: Ravenous Detritivores. They go crazy (Literally create swarming masses impressive to see) for protein flakes of spirulina/krill (Fish food). They consume slices of carrots at an exhausting pace. Essential basal consumption of pure rotten white wood (fundamental for microbiome) dusted with plaster/calcium powder everywhere.
Compatibility: Exceptional Show Clean-Up Crew. Incredibly useful and harmless. Thanks to the rounded shell that can be closed in case of bites (from crested geckos, large frogs or non-lethal millipedes), they guarantee excellent survival in community tanks where they shine for their flashy livery as real bioactive inhabitants not harmful to amphibian eggs.
Health and Common Diseases: Slowed Decay (Silent 'Death Collapse' from too much humidity ). A lethal mistake of newbies is to consider them 'Zebras from humid Jungle' keeping them drowned in stagnant boxes of dart frog style swamp without air. You will find them all open in a row and motionless for a rapid-course viral asphyxia that crystallizes the black and white carapace.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Francia (Endemico delle foreste umide calcaree del sud).

Origin

Europe, Mediterranean, and West Asia

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
2.3 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 2.3 cm. The Montesanto et al. — Armadillidium granulatum specimen measurements source reports a maximum adult measurement of 2.3 cm for this species, recorded as body length. The taxonomic record consulted is Armadillidium granulatum. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Last updated: 08/10/2026
Granulated Pill Bug (Armadillidium granulatum) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium