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
Two Dairy Cow isopods on fibrous substrateDairy Cow
Front view of a Rubber Ducky isopod showing its yellow face and darker backRubber DuckyPanda King isopod (Cubaris sp.) on damp substratePanda King

Field notes 01

Popular species

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

Browse the full directory
Photo by Igor Balashov · CC BY 4.0

Porcellio

Beginner

Dairy Cow

Porcellio laevis "Dairy Cow" (trade identification)

Care signal: Monitor food and colony growth

Moisture
Damp refuge plus a drier, ventilated feeding area
Breeding
Often prolific after establishment; no fixed production schedule
Read researched profile
Photo by Alex Abair · CC BY 4.0

Porcellionides

Beginner

Powder Blue

Porcellionides pruinosus "Powder Blue"

Care signal: Keep a damp retreat

Moisture
Damp retreats with a less-wet surface and airflow
Breeding
Fast in established breeder cultures
Read researched profile
Photo by Igor Balashov · CC BY 4.0

Porcellionides

Beginner

Powder Orange

Porcellionides pruinosus "Powder Orange"

Care signal: Keep a damp retreat

Moisture
Maintain a damp shelter; allow a less-wet area
Breeding
Typically prolific in suitable cultures; variable in displays
Read researched profile
Photo by EthanPo · CC0 1.0

Armadillidium

Intermediate

Zebra

Armadillidium maculatum

Care signal: Damp retreat with drier areas

Moisture
Damp refuge, drier surface areas, and moderate ventilation
Breeding
Variable; generally slower than powders in supplier guidance
Read researched profile
Photo by Daniel Das · CC0 1.0

Armadillidium

Beginner

Magic Potion

Armadillidium vulgare "Magic Potion"

Care signal: Keep trade lines documented

Moisture
Moist refuge with less-wet areas; never entirely dry
Breeding
Line-dependent; do not assume all Magic Potion stock grows alike
Read researched profile

Taxonomy shelf

Browse isopods

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

012 profiles

Cubaris

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

023 profiles

Porcellio

Larger, active isopods with varied ventilation and protein needs.

036 profiles

Armadillidium

Familiar pill bugs that can roll into a protective ball.

043 profiles

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.