Armadillo officinalis “White pina”

Armadillo officinalis “White Pina” – elegant puffer from the Mediterranean region

Armadillo officinalis “White Pina” is a noble, almost ivory-colored breeding form of the European woodlouse Armadillo officinalis. Their smooth, curved body shape and ability to curl up completely make them not only visually attractive, but also highly interesting biologically. Their bright, almost pearly carapace is particularly striking and clearly sets them apart from the wild-colored varieties.

This species originally comes from the Mediterranean region – including regions in southern France, Italy, Croatia and Greece. There it prefers to live in dry, stony habitats with loose soil layers and plenty of hiding places under bark, stones or foliage. And it is precisely these requirements that it also reflects in the terrarium.

In contrast to tropical isopod species A. officinalis it not permanently moist. Instead, she prefers a Well-ventilated environment with a dry basic climate. A small damp area (e.g. with moss or under a piece of bark) is completely sufficient for the animals to retreat to if necessary. Permanently wet conditions, on the other hand, quickly lead to problems – this species is adapted to dry soils and should be kept as such.

A suitable substrate is a loose mixture of forest humus Forest humus, leaves, white rotten wood and some lime. Additives such as cuttlefish shell or crushed eggshell provide the calcium that is important for building up their shells. Pieces of bark and small stones are also popular hiding places. The animals are active at dusk to at night and can usually be found under furniture during the day.

The posture shows White Pina quite robust and peaceful. With a good diet of vegetables, leaves, pollen or special isopod food, they reproduce regularly. The females carry the young in a brood chamber on their belly until they are independent – an exciting insight into reproduction in isopods.

Armadillo officinalis “White Pina” is the perfect choice for lovers of Mediterranean species who do not want to recreate tropical humid conditions. Its calm nature, special coloration and ease of keeping make it ideal for Isopod fans looking for that certain something – functional and decorative at the same time.