IsopodAtlas

Field guides for living soil

Know your isopods. Build a better habitat.

Clear species profiles and practical care notes for keepers creating healthy colonies and balanced bioactive enclosures.

Browse species Care guides
Dairy Cow isopod close-upDairy Cow
Rubber Ducky isopod on barkRubber DuckyPanda King isopod on barkPanda King

Field notes 01

Popular species

Compare nine sourced profiles, including accepted parent species, hobby morphs, and uncertain trade designations.

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Porcellionides

Beginner

Porcellionides pruinosus

Porcellionides pruinosus

Care signal: Fast-moving parent species

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Source, photographer, and license were not provided with this local file.

Armadillidium

Beginner

Armadillidium vulgare

Armadillidium vulgare

Care signal: Moist shelter with choice

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Source, photographer, and license were not provided with this local file.

Cubaris

Advanced

Rubber Ducky

Cubaris sp. "Rubber Ducky"

Care signal: Stable moisture gradient

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Source, photographer, and license were not provided with this local file.

Porcellio

Beginner

Dairy Cow

Porcellio laevis "Dairy Cow" (trade identification)

Care signal: Monitor food and colony growth

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Source, photographer, and license were not provided with this local file.

Porcellionides

Beginner

Powder Blue

Porcellionides pruinosus "Powder Blue"

Care signal: Keep a damp retreat

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Source, photographer, and license were not provided with this local file.

Porcellionides

Beginner

Powder Orange

Porcellionides pruinosus "Powder Orange"

Care signal: Keep a damp retreat

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Photo by EthanPo · CC0 1.0

Armadillidium

Intermediate

Zebra

Armadillidium maculatum

Care signal: Damp retreat with drier areas

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Source, photographer, and license were not provided with this local file.

Armadillidium

Beginner

Magic Potion

Armadillidium vulgare "Magic Potion"

Care signal: Keep trade lines documented

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Source, photographer, and license were not provided with this local file.

Cubaris

Intermediate

Panda King

Cubaris sp. "Panda King"

Care signal: Covered, moist refuge

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Taxonomy shelf

Browse isopods

Use genus-level groups to compare broad body forms and care tendencies before choosing a species.

01

Cubaris

Tropical species and hobby forms, often with slower breeding cycles.

02

Porcellio

Larger, active isopods with varied ventilation and protein needs.

03

Armadillidium

Familiar pill bugs that can roll into a protective ball.

04

Porcellionides

Powder isopods and other active bioactive candidates.

Beginner pathway

Start here

A dependable colony starts with the enclosure fundamentals. Work through these topics in any order.

Visit the care library

Folsomia candida photographed on soil; identification supplied by the photographer.

Photo by AJC1 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized / WebP.

The microscopic crew

Springtails

Springtails graze on fungi and decaying material in moist habitats. Learn how they complement isopods and how to keep a starter culture ready for new enclosures.

Explore springtail guides

Build a living system

Bioactive terrariums

Connect substrate, leaf litter, plants, microbes, springtails, and isopods into an enclosure that cycles organic material instead of merely hiding it.

Learn the bioactive basics

A planted bioactive vivarium built for golden poison frogs (Phyllobates terribilis).

Photo by Connor Long · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized / WebP.

Reading desk

Essential guides

Three concise foundations connect species choice, daily care, and enclosure ecology.