Armadillo officinalis "Greece” - The hissing isopod

Armadillo officinalis isopods are a species native to Greece, Spain, and France, and can reach a size of about 2.0cm in length. The name "hissing isopod" comes from the species' unusual defense behavior—when it curls up, it creates a hissing noise by rubbing its legs together inside its shell.

This species requires 60-75% humidity, a moderate amount of ventilation, and thrive in temperatures between 20-24 degrees Celsius.

As with all isopods, it is important to provide them with a moisture gradient, a substrate that can retain moisture and contains leaf litter and calcium for nutrition, and to include pieces of cork bark and botanicals in their enclosure for them to use as hides.