Know your companions
Armadillidium vulgare
Wild Type Armadillidium vulgare is the naturally variable form of the familiar pillbug. Gray, brown and muted mottling can occur within the culture. It is a terrestrial crustacean, and its ability to roll into a ball does not remove its need for moist shelter.
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Build the stronghold
A refuge beneath the leaves
Begin with about 5–8 cm of organic substrate, decaying hardwood, deep leaf cover and bark shelters. A smooth-sided, securely closed tub with protected ventilation can support a starter culture; expand floor space as the colony becomes crowded.
Choose clean, pesticide-free materials and substrate without fertilizer or other chemical additives. Do not rely on plain coco fiber as the whole food supply. Secure ventilation openings against escapes, place the enclosure away from direct sun, and prepare it before the animals arrive.
Give them a choice
Two paths through the habitat
Maintain one reliably damp refuge and a less-wet ventilated area. Avoid direct sun and check that room heating or air conditioning has not dried the moss unexpectedly. Water according to the bedding's condition rather than a rigid calendar.
Air humidity alone cannot tell you whether the substrate under a hide is suitable. Check the refuge gently, keep cover in place, and adjust watering to ventilation and room conditions. Small juveniles need nearby sheltered moisture too.
Stock the royal pantry
Provisions for a living colony
Keep a broad supply of decaying leaves and hardwood within reach. Offer calcium continuously and small vegetable or prepared-food supplements as needed. Leaves remain both food and shelter, even when a supplement disappears quickly.
A suitable calcium source, such as cuttlebone, should remain accessible. Fresh and protein foods supplement the habitat's decaying plant material. Remove spoiled leftovers, reduce the next portion when food persists, and keep an eye on leaf cover as the colony grows.
Steady care, patient growth
Take up the colony watch
On arrival
Have the enclosure ready before opening the shipping container. Follow our arrival and acclimation guide, and give the colony a quiet place to settle.
During maintenance
Check moisture, leaf cover, leftovers and airflow. Observe a familiar shelter without overturning every hide. Use this colony to practice checking the damp refuge, estimating portions and recording changes without constant disturbance.
Give pale or molting animals space and avoid peeling away old shell. Females carry developing young in a brood pouch; growth varies with age, conditions and the starting group. Do not expect a fixed breeding timetable. Never release captive isopods outdoors.
A role in the living habitat
Every companion has a place
Wild Type vulgare can process decaying organic material in suitable bioactive habitats. It cannot replace spot cleaning or make an unsuitable enclosure safe. Keep a backup colony, and consider whether the resident animal will eat the isopods faster than they establish.
Continue removing excessive waste and checking the needs of every inhabitant. A cleanup crew supports routine care; it does not replace it.
Observe before you adjust
Read the signs along the trail
| What you notice | First checks |
|---|---|
| Refuge drying out | Inspect beneath the moss; restore moisture gradually without flooding. |
| Mold on fresh food | Remove leftovers and review portion size, water and airflow. |
| An overheated enclosure | Check sunlight and nearby heaters; protect the culture from heat. |
| Repeated losses | Record conditions and recent changes. Send clear photos to our keeper team. |
These are habitat checks, not diagnoses. If problems continue, ask Isopod King for help before making several large changes at once.
From the keeper’s camp
Questions along the journey
Should every Wild Type individual look identical?
No. Wild Type describes a naturally variable culture rather than a tightly selected color morph. Different shades alone do not mean that each animal belongs to a different species.
How often should I water?
Use the condition of the damp refuge as your guide. Ventilation, substrate depth and room conditions change how quickly it dries, so check it and water selectively instead of following one fixed schedule.
Where can I continue learning?
Explore moisture gradients, feeding essentials and your first 30 days in the Care Archives.
Find your colony
Begin your Wild Type colony story
Wild Type Isopods
Armadillidium vulgare
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The keeper’s journal
Your colony’s ongoing story
Use this colony to practice checking the damp refuge, estimating portions and recording changes without constant disturbance. A few short notes on watering, feeding, molts and enclosure changes help reveal patterns without constant disturbance.
- Keep a usable damp refuge.
- Replenish leaves, suitable wood and calcium.
- Remove spoiled supplements.
- Record changes and ask for help when needed.
Care guide reviewed October 25, 2026. Speak with the Isopod King keeper team →