Defining Characteristics: 

• A large isopod that makes a great clean-up crew and pet
• Formerly thought to be A. sordidum which has since been disproved by successful pairings with other morphs; isopods do not cross-species hybridize
• This is a locale of vulgare from the Dominican Republic
• You can tell you have Punta Cana by the characteristic black cephalon or face segment present in all females

Name: Armadillidium vulgare ‘Punta Cana’ isopods

Recommended Enclosure Size: A 6 quart Sterilite container or something similar works great for a starter culture. Upgrade to a 37 quart Sterilite gasket box or similar for larger cultures. Josh's Frogs Isopod Substrate works great as a bedding!

This isopod is a pet variety that is best kept by itself. They have a knack for eating live plants and reproduce too slowly to make a good long-term clean up crew in most environments. 

Temperature (°F): 60-85 degrees 

Humidity: 60-80% which can be accomplished by regular misting when the enclosure starts to get dry.

Size: These isopods will be at least 1/4 inch at the time of sale.

 Age: They can live for 2-3 years. Due to the mixed nature of our 10 counts, they will contain a variety of isopod ages.

Feeding: Josh's Frogs Pod Power, Repashy Bug Burger, Repashy Morning Wood, and a calcium supplement two times per week in portions according to the population of the colony.

In rare cases, starving isopods may attempt to consume the carapace of freshly molted invertebrates or even gnaw on small or delicate reptiles or amphibians. We strongly recommend providing supplemental food to your clean up crew in the enclosure, such as Josh's Frogs Clean-Up Crew Cuisine. When in doubt, using dwarf species of isopods, such as dwarf tropical whites, may be a safer option.

Sexing: Males have a penile papillae on the underside of their tail, their pleopod segments(underside of the tail) are more angular while females are more square. Due to their age, isopods sold by Josh's Frogs are sold as unsexed animals.

Color/Pattern: males being solid black as usual but the females display a unique pattern featuring 3 colors that are unique to each individual. These range in shades of red, orange, yellow, white, brown, black, and green. 

Breeding: Will readily breed in well set up colonies.

Natural Range: native or introduced to most of the world

Please read our blog about Isopods in the Bioactive Enclosure!

Still not sure if Armadillidium vulgare ‘Punta Cana’ from Josh's Frogs is the right pet for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!