Armadillidium peraccae

Armadillidium peraccae Isopods for Sale

This listing is a live culture of Armadillidium peraccae, an Italian and Greek pill bug with a heavily textured tuberculate body and a distinctive bluish-gray color cast, packed by TC INSECTS for intermediate keepers, semi-

arid bioactive vivarium owners, and collectors building an Armadillidium shelf. The species was formally described by Italian zoologist Paolo Tua in 1900. That description was published in the Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia e Anatomia Comparata

della R. Università di Torino, the same Italian zoological journal and the same year in which Tua described Armadillidium gestroi. The species name peraccae honors Italian herpetologist Mario Giacinto Peracca (1861-

1923), a contemporary of Tua who worked extensively on Italian reptiles and amphibians.

Overview

Adults reach about 15 to 18 mm and have a noticeably bulky, broad body shape compared with many other Armadillidium. The dorsal surface is covered with raised tubercles. These give the species its bumpy, almost

cobblestone-like texture. The base color is usually a bluish-gray to silver-gray, sometimes with beige or lighter tones along the margins, and the bluish cast is most visible under good light against a dark substrate.

The body conglobates into a tight ball when disturbed, the classic pill bug behavior of the genus. Among Armadillidium, A. peraccae is one of the more drought-tolerant species in the hobby. Additionally, it handles lower-humidity

setups better than most Armadillidium. The Italian and Greek wild range overlaps with hot, dry summer Mediterranean conditions, which is reflected in the species’ tolerance for semi-arid captive setups.

Why Keep Armadillidium peraccae?

• Distinctive tuberculate texture: The bumpy, cobblestone-textured dorsal surface is unique among commonly available Armadillidium and gives the species real visual character.
• Bluish-gray color cast: A subtle but distinctive coloration that catches light differently than the brown-gray of most pill bugs.
• Drought-tolerant: Handles lower humidity better than most Armadillidium, suited to semi-arid Mediterranean setups.
• Eponymous heritage: Named for Italian herpetologist Mario Giacinto Peracca, with a documented 1900 description by Paolo Tua.
• Italian shelf fit: Pairs naturally with Armadillidium gestroi (Tua’s other 1900 description) on a collector shelf.

Honest Note on the Eponymous Name

The species name peraccae honors Mario Giacinto Peracca (1861-1923), an Italian herpetologist who worked extensively on Italian reptiles and amphibians during the same era when Paolo Tua was describing Italian

isopods. This is one of two species that Tua described in 1900 in the same journal volume, alongside Armadillidium gestroi (named for naturalist Raffaello Gestro). Collectors with both species on the same shelf have a

small piece of Italian zoological history: two pill bug species named for two different Italian naturalists, described in the same paper, still in the hobby trade more than 120 years later.

Honest Note on Adult Size

Some hobby listings claim adult sizes up to 2.5 cm (25 mm) for this species, but documented breeder colony measurements consistently place adults at about 15 to 18 mm. Pangea Reptile lists 1.8 cm and Exuvium

documents adults reaching 17 mm. Individual animals may occasionally exceed that range. However, an 18 mm adult is the realistic upper expectation. Expect a medium-bodied Armadillidium rather than a particularly large one,

and budget enclosure size accordingly.

Honest Note on Subspecies and Taxonomy

For collectors who track Armadillidium taxonomy closely, the subspecies Armadillidium peraccae odhneri Verhoeff, 1930 has been elevated to full species rank as Armadillidium odhneri in current taxonomic databases.

This means your A. peraccae culture is the nominate form and does not include what was previously considered the odhneri subspecies. If you cross-reference older hobby literature mentioning the odhneri name as a subspecies, that listing predates the current taxonomic separation.

Care and Setup

A. peraccae care is built around four things: stable warmth, a clearly defined dry-to-moist gradient (heavier on the dry side than most pill bugs), steady airflow, and reliable calcium availability. The species suits a semi-arid Mediterranean care style. This is different from uniformly damp tropical setups.

Temperature

Aim for 68 to 77°F as the everyday range. The species is adapted to Italian and Greek Mediterranean conditions, which means warm-to-moderate temperatures with seasonal variation. Room temperature works for most keepers. Avoid sustained heat above the mid-80s and avoid cold drafts.

Humidity

Keep one section moist (only about one-fifth of the enclosure) with sphagnum moss and damp substrate, and let the rest stay drier with leaf litter and bark. This is a drier setup than most Armadillidium need. The substrate should not be uniformly wet. Documented breeder care notes consistently recommend low-to-medium humidity rather than the moderate-to-high range used for tropical species.

Substrate

Use an isopod substrate blend that holds light moisture without compacting. A coco fiber base mixed with decomposed hardwood, sphagnum, and crushed limestone or oyster shell works well. The added limestone supports the heavy conglobating exoskeleton. This exoskeleton carries more dorsal material than smoother Armadillidium because of the tuberculate texture.

Food

Leaf litter and decaying hardwood should always be available. Supplement with TC INSECTS Isopod Food, calcium, and small portions of vegetables. Feed moderately because the drier setup makes uneaten soft food more prone to molding.

Ventilation

Cross-ventilation works best, and this species benefits from more airflow than most Armadillidium because of the drier setup. Two side vents or a vented lid beats a single small airhole.

Bioactive Use

This species works particularly well in semi-arid bioactive enclosures, including bearded dragon transitional setups, leopard gecko vivariums with moist hides, and Mediterranean-themed planted setups. For tropical dart frog setups, a more humidity-tolerant species like Dwarf Whites is a better fit.

Breeding Notes

Mature females carry developing young in a brood pouch called a marsupium and release small juveniles that hide in the moist retreat and leaf litter. Reproduction is moderate to fast once the culture has stable

temperature, a reliable moist refuge, and consistent calcium. Larger starter counts establish more reliably. This is because they include more breeding-age adults from the start. A. peraccae is considered one of the more prolific

Armadillidium in the hobby once settled, with established cultures producing visible juveniles within the first month or two.

Best For

• Semi-arid bioactive vivariums with a moist refuge
• Mediterranean-themed naturalistic display setups
• Collector shelves featuring Tua’s 1900 Italian Armadillidium descriptions
• Reptile habitats requiring a drought-tolerant cleanup species
• Intermediate keepers comfortable with a drier moisture-gradient approach

Not Best For

• Fully wet tropical setups (use Cubaris murina “Little Sea” instead)
• High-volume feeder cultures (the bumpy, hard exoskeleton makes it harder for many predators to digest)
• First-time isopod keepers wanting the easiest possible starter (try Powder White or Dwarf Whites first)
• Display setups expecting bright or flashy color (the bluish-gray is subtle, not bold)
• Sterile or completely freshly built enclosures with no leaf litter or decaying wood

Origin and Locality Notes

The species was described from Italian specimens by Tua in 1900, with the type locality in Italy. Documented modern distribution covers Italy and Greece, with the species included in Schmalfuss’s 2006 review of Greek

terrestrial isopods. Captive hobby culture lines may not trace to a specific Italian or Greek collection point, so manage this as a captive Mediterranean line with known husbandry needs rather than a strict locality animal.

Receiving and Acclimation

Bring the package indoors as soon as it arrives and open it in a calm area away from direct sun, heat, or cold drafts. Prepare the enclosure before opening the cup so the isopods move directly into a stable environment with

substrate, leaf litter, bark hides, a small moist moss retreat (about one-fifth of the enclosure), calcium, and a larger drier feeding zone already in place.

Gently tip the cup contents, including shipping material, into the prepared enclosure near the moist side. Some animals will stay curled or hidden during the first few days because conglobating species often roll up when

stressed. Feed lightly during the first week, then increase feeding once the colony becomes more active. Avoid digging through the culture during this settling period.

Recommended Add-Ons

• TC INSECTS Premium Isopod Habitat Kit for a straightforward starter setup matched to the drier moisture-gradient approach
• TC INSECTS Assorted Hardwood Leaf Litter for food, cover, and the natural grazing layer
• TC INSECTS Isopod Food to supplement leaf litter
• TC Calcium Ultra Fine for healthy molts on a heavily tuberculate conglobating pill bug
• Springtails to handle mold in the moist retreat alongside the peraccae culture

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name “peraccae” mean?

The species name honors Mario Giacinto Peracca (1861-1923), an Italian herpetologist who worked on Italian reptiles and amphibians during the same era when Paolo Tua was describing Italian isopods. Both men were Italian zoologists active in Turin. This occurred around the turn of the 20th century.

How is this species related to Armadillidium gestroi?

Both species were described by Paolo Tua in 1900 in the same journal volume (Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia e Anatomia Comparata della R. Università di Torino). They are different species and look different (the bumpy bluish-gray peraccae versus the smooth dark-with-yellow-spots gestroi). However, they share a taxonomic history. Both are popular among collectors building an Italian Armadillidium shelf.

Are these isopods beginner-friendly?

Generally yes for intermediate beginners. They tolerate a reasonable care window and are documented as prolific breeders. First-time keepers usually do better starting with an easier species like Powder White before moving up.

How is the bumpy texture different from other Armadillidium?

The dorsal surface is covered with raised tubercles that give the body a heavily textured, almost cobblestone-like appearance. Most other Armadillidium have smoother dorsal surfaces or only light granulation. The peraccae texture is one of the more pronounced in the hobby, which is part of the species’ visual character.

How dry can I keep them?

Drier than most pill bugs but not bone dry. Aim for about one-fifth of the enclosure consistently moist with sphagnum moss. Let the other four-fifths stay clearly drier with leaf litter and bark. Documented breeder care notes from established sellers recommend low-to-medium humidity. This range is drier than the moderate-to-high range used for most Armadillidium.

How fast will the colony grow?

Moderate to fast once established. A. peraccae is considered one of the more prolific Armadillidium in the hobby. Expect visible juveniles within the first month or two and consistent colony growth over the following months in a stable culture.

Learn More About Armadillidium and Italian Pill Bugs

The following references offer useful background on the species, its native habitat, and the broader pill bug family.

• World Register of Marine Species: Armadillidium peraccae Tua, 1900. The authoritative species record, useful for confirming the scientific name, the original 1900 description by Tua, and the type locality in Italy.

• British Myriapod and Isopod Group: Woodlouse and Waterlouse Recording Scheme. Background on the wider terrestrial isopod group from a long-running scientific recording body, helpful for understanding how pill bugs and other woodlice live, feed, and reproduce.

• Natural History Museum: Giant isopods, curious crustaceans on the ocean floor. A short, plain-language overview from the NHM that puts the woodlouse family in context with their marine relatives.