Zebra Pillbug (A. maculatum) (Zebra)
Armadillidium maculatum
Iconic pill-bug isopod from France. Deep black striped with perfect high-contrast white lines. Excellent cleaner in temperate terrariums.
Ambiente
Terrestre
Umidade
40 - 60 %
Temperatura diurna
22 - 27 °C
Temperatura noturna
22 - 27 °C
Descrição da espécie
Morphology (Zebra):: Iconic pill-bug isopod from France. Deep black striped with perfect high-contrast white lines. Excellent cleaner in temperate terrariums.
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Exclusive to the humid deciduous forests with chalky/calcareous soil of southern France (Provence).
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Armadillidiidae. (European Zebra Isopods). The nominal species has the famous perfect bands to warn predators like birds (aposematic coloration, 'maculatum' means spotted), but fabulous mutations like the 'Zebra Chocolate' (Brown and fluorescent cream) have been isolated in captivity.
Behavior and Habits: Nervous and showy tennis balls. Unlike the passivity of the common underground Vulgare, the Zebra isopod is much more confident. During the day it will swarm en masse and very visibly on food or raised twigs, without seeking the deepest darkness. If very bothered it will close into an impenetrable 'Pillbug' slipping away from the fingers, remaining a very hard black/white smooth candy.
Morphology: Total perfect smooth enameled dome (Up to 0.8 inches / 2 cm for colossal females). Unmistakable. Very glossy oil/black smooth carapace surgically cut by 3 to 5 longitudinal pearl/yellowish white stripes along the entire curved abdomen. Very fleshy.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
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.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Exclusive to the humid deciduous forests with chalky/calcareous soil of southern France (Provence).
Origem
Melhoramento seletivo e cultivaresEuropa, Mediterrâneo e Ásia Ocidental
Perfil de invertebrados terrestres
- Dieta
- Detritivore
- Their diet consists largely of hardwood leaf litter, decaying white wood, and varied vegetable scraps. They require a constant supply of calcium, such as limestone or cuttlebone, to maintain their thick, protective exoskeletons. Supplemental protein, like fish flakes or dried insects, should be offered occasionally.
- Tamanho adulto
- 1.8 cm
- Estilo de vida/Microhabitat
- Terrestrial
- They follow a largely terrestrial, surface-active lifestyle. While they appreciate a moderately deep substrate for occasional burrowing, they spend the majority of their time navigating the upper layers of leaf litter and climbing on pieces of cork bark, preferring slightly drier conditions than many other isopods.
- Ciclo de atividades
- Diurnal
- They are quite active and bold, often seen exploring their environment during daylight hours, though their peak activity still occurs during the evening and night. Their striking black and white patterns make them easy to spot as they roam across the terrarium surface searching for food.
- Socialidade
- Gregarious
- They are sociable and thrive in multi-generational colonies. They live peacefully alongside conspecifics and rarely exhibit aggressive tendencies. A healthy, growing colony will often cluster together under favorite pieces of bark or near hydration stations, demonstrating their strong communal nature.
- Reprodução
- Viviparous
- They reproduce readily in captivity when provided with appropriate environmental conditions. Females carry their fertilized eggs in a ventral marsupium until they hatch as fully formed, miniature versions of the adults. The gestation period can be influenced by temperature, with warmer conditions generally speeding up the process.
- Venenoso
- No
- Tolerância de tratamento
- Tolerant
- They can be handled gently without significant issue. When disturbed, their immediate defensive reaction is to roll tightly into a perfect sphere, an iconic trait of the Armadillidium genus. They should be handled with care to avoid accidentally dropping them while they are curled up.
- Brumação
- Não obrigatório
- Native to Mediterranean climates, they can tolerate a natural cooling period during the winter, which mimics their wild environment. While a strict brumation is not necessary for survival in captivity, a slight temperature drop can encourage synchronized breeding cycles when temperatures rise again in the spring.
- Muda
- Regular
- Shedding occurs in the typical two-part sequence, with the back half molting first and the front half shortly after. Providing a microclimate with localized moisture is important to facilitate a smooth molt. As always, the shed skin is an important dietary supplement and should be left in the enclosure.
Espécies relacionadas
Recomendações agrupadas por parentes próximos, escolhas de acompanhantes e cuidados semelhantes.
