Spanish Spiny Pineapple (Cristarmadillidium muricatum)
Cristarmadillidium muricatum "Spanish Spiny Pineapple" Isopod Care Guide
Cristarmadillidium muricatum, known in the hobby as "Spanish Spiny Pineapple," is a fascinating species with a textured, spiny exoskeleton that gives it a pineapple-like appearance. It is a more sensitive, slow-breeding display species best suited for advanced keepers.
Enclosure:
Provide a well-sealed container with adjustable ventilation. Use a deep, moisture-retentive substrate of flake soil, sphagnum moss, and plenty of leaf litter. Include lots of tight hides—cork bark, stacked bark, and clay pieces. They prefer secure environments with minimal disturbance.
Temperature & Humidity:
Maintain temperatures between 72-78°F. "Spanish Spiny Pineapple" requires high humidity (80-90%) with very minimal dry areas. Mist regularly to maintain consistent moisture and avoid sharp humidity drops.
Feeding:
Feed a base of decaying leaf litter and soft hardwoods. Supplement with isopod diet, fish flakes, shrimp pellets, and occasional vegetables or fruit. Protein-rich foods support growth and steady breeding.
Behavior:
"Spanish Spiny Pineapple" isopods are shy and slow to establish, with a more delicate nature than many common isopods. They are prized as an advanced display species and thrive with stable conditions and patient care.
Cristarmadillidium muricatum "Spanish Spiny Pineapple" Isopod Care Guide
Cristarmadillidium muricatum, known in the hobby as "Spanish Spiny Pineapple," is a fascinating species with a textured, spiny exoskeleton that gives it a pineapple-like appearance. It is a more sensitive, slow-breeding display species best suited for advanced keepers.
Enclosure:
Provide a well-sealed container with adjustable ventilation. Use a deep, moisture-retentive substrate of flake soil, sphagnum moss, and plenty of leaf litter. Include lots of tight hides—cork bark, stacked bark, and clay pieces. They prefer secure environments with minimal disturbance.
Temperature & Humidity:
Maintain temperatures between 72-78°F. "Spanish Spiny Pineapple" requires high humidity (80-90%) with very minimal dry areas. Mist regularly to maintain consistent moisture and avoid sharp humidity drops.
Feeding:
Feed a base of decaying leaf litter and soft hardwoods. Supplement with isopod diet, fish flakes, shrimp pellets, and occasional vegetables or fruit. Protein-rich foods support growth and steady breeding.
Behavior:
"Spanish Spiny Pineapple" isopods are shy and slow to establish, with a more delicate nature than many common isopods. They are prized as an advanced display species and thrive with stable conditions and patient care.
Cristarmadillidium muricatum "Spanish Spiny Pineapple" Isopod Care Guide
Cristarmadillidium muricatum, known in the hobby as "Spanish Spiny Pineapple," is a fascinating species with a textured, spiny exoskeleton that gives it a pineapple-like appearance. It is a more sensitive, slow-breeding display species best suited for advanced keepers.
Enclosure:
Provide a well-sealed container with adjustable ventilation. Use a deep, moisture-retentive substrate of flake soil, sphagnum moss, and plenty of leaf litter. Include lots of tight hides—cork bark, stacked bark, and clay pieces. They prefer secure environments with minimal disturbance.
Temperature & Humidity:
Maintain temperatures between 72-78°F. "Spanish Spiny Pineapple" requires high humidity (80-90%) with very minimal dry areas. Mist regularly to maintain consistent moisture and avoid sharp humidity drops.
Feeding:
Feed a base of decaying leaf litter and soft hardwoods. Supplement with isopod diet, fish flakes, shrimp pellets, and occasional vegetables or fruit. Protein-rich foods support growth and steady breeding.
Behavior:
"Spanish Spiny Pineapple" isopods are shy and slow to establish, with a more delicate nature than many common isopods. They are prized as an advanced display species and thrive with stable conditions and patient care.