Greek pill woodlouse (Armadillidium gestroi)

Short answers

Greek pill woodlouse: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A box from 25×20×15 cm for a colony (a larger species); a colony animal.

Greek pill woodlouse: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 21–26 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Greek pill woodlouse: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Greek pill woodlouse: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 2–3 years.

Greek pill woodlouse: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

21–26 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

55–70 % (with one humid area)

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

a box from 25×20×15 cm for a colony (a larger species); a colony animal

Substrate

Soil or coco with plenty of leaf litter, rotten pale wood and cork bark; one damp corner (sphagnum); it likes things a little damper and less ventilated than other pill woodlice

Feeding

Food

Fallen leaves, rotten pale wood, vegetables; protein (dried shrimp) and calcium (cuttlebone or shell grit)

Feeding interval

protein and vegetables 1–2×/week, leaf litter and wood always available

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 1.5–2.0 cm (one of the largest Armadillidium)

Life expectancy

approx. 2–3 years

Origin

Nordwest-Italien: nur an einem kurzen Küstenstreifen Liguriens (Riviera di Ponente) – der Handelsname „Griechische“ ist irreführend

Protection status

Not protected (no CITES, no German Federal Nature Conservation Act listing)

Brumation

None (a European species; a cooler overwintering is possible but not essential)

Cohabitation

Colony. Isopods are gregarious and are kept as a group – 10 to 15 animals to start; a single animal cannot breed. Provide plenty of hides so adult males can avoid each other. Only this one species per tub: a faster-breeding isopod will crowd out the rather slow gestroi in the long run.

Notes

A robust, diurnal pill woodlouse with striking black-and-yellow markings; it rolls into a ball. It likes it damper and more sheltered than, for example, zebra isopods. Note the discrepancy between the name and the origin (its scientific distribution is Italy and France).

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Greek pill woodlouse (Armadillidium gestroi) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Common pill woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare) – Beginner
• Marbled pill woodlouse (Armadillidium granulatum) – Beginner
• Clown isopod (Armadillidium klugii) – Beginner
• Nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum) – Beginner
• Werner's isopod (Armadillidium werneri) – Beginner to intermediate
• Zebra pill woodlouse (Armadillidium maculatum) – Beginner
• Little sea isopod (Cubaris murina) – Beginner
• Giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Greek pill woodlouse (Armadillidium gestroi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a box from 25×20×15 cm for a colony (a larger species); a colony animal), substrate (Soil or coco with plenty of leaf litter, rotten pale wood and cork bark; one damp corner (sphagnum); it likes things a little damper and less ventilated than other pill woodlice), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.