Armadillidium gestroi: a species profile on a most incredible and beautiful ISOPOD

Today's video is a more indepth look at one incredible Isopod, Armadillidium gestroi Tua 1900. This Isopod is the largest know member of the Genus Armadillidium thus far and can reach an impressive size.
Hailing from Italy and Southern France this Isopod is fairly variable of its habitat needs.
One unique thing about this wonderful Isopod is that they are sexually dicromatic meaning boys and girls can be told apart simply by colouration.
So I hope you'll join me today as we take a look at Armadillidium gestroi.
Thanks for watching,
Biggs

[@MIsopods]

Perfect timing. My kiddos ate breakfast, brushed their teeth and get some device time. Now I get MY time, and get to spend it meeting the neighbors in the hobby! This is actually my favorite species of isopods. I'm lucky to have found it so early. Not yet watched the video, but am now and leaving a like!

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

Thanks so much

[@themantisgarden]

Great video Chris, I love these guys - they look like someone has spent the time to dab bright yellow paint on their backs.

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

Yes perfect description

[@TomokoAbe_]

Beautiful? YES! Well priced! YES! Even better. Not as prolific as dairy cows (thank God!) but once settled down in a few months they will start having babies 🙂 I won't be getting rubber duckies--they are too shy and they cost too much. They are SO CUTE!

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

Gestroi has all the good qualities with none of the bad!

[@TomokoAbe_]

@@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556 They are so cute too! Don't get me wrong--I wish I had the nerve to buy rubber ducky isopods, but I'm afraid of losing my money.

[@ChantalsCritters]

Would love to see more of these.

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

There’s several On the original channelThe Mad Aquarist as well but I shall be doing more for this channel going forward

[@amyesworldcatherinesminime7945]

Thanks Biggs 😃 I've had my gestroi for a year now and spotted a juve just the other day but think I'll add some more calcium. Would like to see them properly thrive.

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

Your in the road to success my friend

[@FluffyDarkPrincess]

What temperature do they need? To be honest that was a pretty glaring omission from a care guide! I live in the UK, and I rarely turn the heating on but my flat is well insulated. If these creatures can do well at this temperature I'd love to try keeping them, but if they need heat I know that isopods do badly when heated from below and I don't want to mess about with trying to setup overhead heating inside a plastic tub.

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

Sorry it Wasn’t intended as a care but a species profile. I keep All my isopods with the exception of the more specialized ones like Merulanella and some Cubaris, at room temperature. We live in 🇨🇦 Canada so room temperature would be around 20-21*celsius. Up or down a few degrees won’t be an issue as the species natural range is is France and Italy

[@AnthonysFishyFriends]

Thank you Chris! I can't believe I missed this one for 3 months 😮 I finally have multiple stages of mankai 😊 I have a ton of clean crushed coral and aragonite. Do you think I could use it as a calcium source?

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

Yes definitely

[@jase123111]

I havr just got granulated isopods. Is their care the same as these? I am worried i am keeping mine too hunid, because I read they like dryer conditions.

[@themadaquaristsrealmnatura2556]

Yes pretty much the same