Price Ranges by Group
Beginner Porcellio and Armadillidium species (Dairy Cow, Powder Orange, Orange Dalmatian, Peraccae, Gestroi) typically run Rs.40-150 per piece, often with a "buy 5 get 1 free" structure since they're sold in bulk starter counts. Intermediate species and common Cubaris morphs (Citrus, Panda King) sit around Rs.200-450 per piece with a higher minimum order. Rare and collector-grade Cubaris and giant Spanish Porcellio (Lemon Blue, Daxin, Porcellio haasi) can run Rs.600-1,000+ per piece.
Why Breeding Speed Sets the Price
A Dairy Cow colony can double in a matter of weeks - a breeder can sell off genuine surplus constantly without touching the breeding stock. A rare Cubaris culture might take six months to produce a handful of sellable juveniles. The price reflects how long that culture has been tied up producing very little that can actually be sold.
Count vs. Culture Size
Beginner species are usually sold per piece with a minimum count (e.g. "buy 5 get 1 free"), since you're building a colony from a reasonable starting population. Rare Cubaris are sold individually or in small groups of 4-6, because a small founder group is enough to start a slow-breeding colony - and because the breeder can't spare more.
What a Fair Culture Includes
A fair price should get you captive-bred (not wild-caught) stock, a mix of juveniles and sub-adults rather than all-juvenile "filler," and some form of live arrival guarantee. If a price looks too good to be true for a genuinely rare morph, ask how the seller verifies it's captive-bred and what happens if the culture arrives in poor condition.
Cheap vs. Healthy
The cheapest isopods aren't always the best value if half the culture doesn't survive shipping or settle in. Pay attention to whether a seller ships with proper packaging and a live arrival guarantee - that matters more to your actual cost per surviving isopod than the sticker price alone. Browse our full isopod price list to compare.