Armadillidium peraccae

About this species

Armadillidium peraccae is a visually striking isopod native to Italy, recognised by its dark dorsal colouration with vivid orange or yellow lateral margins. This contrast makes it one of the more attractive Armadillidium species in the hobby. It is sometimes sold under locality names based on collection sites in southern Italy.

As an Armadillidium, A. peraccae can conglobate — rolling into a complete ball when threatened. Like all isopods, it is a terrestrial crustacean (not an insect) that breathes through gill-like pleopods, which must remain moist for gas exchange.

Enclosure

A ventilated plastic tub with a 20x15 cm footprint is suitable for a starter colony. Provide moderate ventilation and cork bark, dried hardwood leaves, and cuttlebone as standard furnishings. A. peraccae appreciates a slightly more humid setup than A. vulgare but does not need tropical conditions.

Substrate

• 60% coco coir
• 20% organic topsoil
• 10% fine sand
• 10% crushed limestone or cuttlebone powder

Maintain a moisture gradient — one moist end, one drier end. Depth 5–8 cm, topped with dried oak or beech leaves. Never use softwood (pine, cedar) in the enclosure — it is toxic to isopods.

Feeding

• Dried hardwood leaves (oak, beech, hazel) — staple food source
• Vegetables: courgette, carrot, sweet potato
• Cuttlefish bone — essential; Armadillidium species have high calcium demands for their thick exoskeletons
• Weekly protein: dried shrimp or fish flakes

Remove uneaten fresh food within 48 hours. Cuttlebone should remain in the enclosure at all times.

Breeding

A. peraccae breeds at the steady, moderate pace typical of Armadillidium. Females carry developing eggs in a marsupium and release small to moderate broods of mancae. Colony growth requires patience — plan for six to twelve months to build numbers from a starter group of 20. Avoid disturbing the substrate excessively, especially during the early months of colony establishment.