Pineapple Spiky Isopod

Cristarmadillidium muricatum

IsopodintermediateHarmlessCommunal OK

Harmless to people

Isopods are harmless to humans — no venom, no sting, and no bite that breaks skin. They are detritivores, so wash your hands after handling the substrate.

About

A small spiny pill isopod from Spain — the rows of pale spikes along its back are why the trade calls it Pineapple or Crystal Pineapple. It rolls into a ball when disturbed. Think dry woodland floor, not rainforest: keep roughly half the tub moist (sphagnum, moss, leaf litter) and the rest dry, with good airflow. Stagnant, wet-throughout tubs are the usual way colonies fail. One seller describes it as a humid tropical species; that contradicts its Spanish range and the other care sheets, so treat high-humidity advice for it with suspicion. It is a light eater: keep leaf litter and rotting white wood available, offer protein (fish flake, dried shrimp) in small amounts, and take uneaten food out before it molds. Calcium (cuttlebone or limestone) should always be in the tub. Growth and breeding are steady but slow, so a new colony can look quiet for months — that is normal. A display species rather than clean-up crew. DETRITIVORE, harmless.

Taxonomy

FamilyArmadillidiidae

GenusCristarmadillidium

Native regionSpain, including Mallorca (dry Mediterranean habitat)

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentharmless, shy, mostly nocturnal

Size & growth

Adult size0.25-0.3 inches

Body length0.24–0.31 in

Growth rateslow

Life stagesNo distinct stages

Climate

Temperature65–78°F

Humidity50–70%

Enclosure

Adult sizesmall to shoebox tub, well ventilated

Substratetopsoil and coco fiber, about half kept moist with moss and leaf litter, the rest dry

Substrate depth2 inches

Water dishOptional

Moisture gradientRequired — keep one end damp, one end dry

Feeding

Feeding modeDetritivore (decaying matter)

Food & scheduleleaf litter and rotting hardwood always available; protein sparingly, remove leftovers

Supplemental calciumRequired — cuttlebone or a calcium powder

Times kept: 0 · Unverified community entry