Spherillo sp. "Hainan Black" Isopods for Sale UK

Spherillo sp. "Hainan Black" is a compact dark roller isopod associated in the hobby with Hainan, China. Instead of the brighter or more patterned look seen in many tropical isopods, Hainan Black is valued for its deep charcoal to near-black colour, rounded body shape, and understated appearance.

Like other Spherillo, this is a conglobating roller that can tuck into a ball when disturbed. It is a relatively small species, with hobby references commonly placing adults at around 12–15 mm, so the appeal comes more from colour, shape, and colony behaviour than from giant size.

What makes Hainan Black different

• Colour: deep charcoal to near-black tones give this species a clean, unusually dark appearance.
• Shape: compact, rounded Spherillo form with the ability to roll up when disturbed.
• Origin: traded in the hobby as a Hainan, China Spherillo.
• Display style: best for keepers who enjoy checking bark, litter edges, and shaded feeding areas rather than expecting constant open activity.

How they use the enclosure

Expect Hainan Black to spend much of its time underneath bark, leaf litter, and other close cover, especially during the brighter parts of the day. Once settled, animals may appear around feeding spots, shaded edges, and the upper layers of the substrate.

A good enclosure should give them choices rather than one uniform condition. Keep a dependable damp refuge while allowing the rest of the enclosure to remain slightly drier but still covered. If the entire colony stays compressed into one wet corner, review ventilation, moisture distribution, and the amount of usable surface cover.

Setup that suits Spherillo

Start with a mature, organic substrate and cover much of the surface with leaf litter. Add bark or cork to create tight shaded spaces and incorporate rot wood as both structure and a long-term grazing resource.

A patch of sphagnum moss works well for maintaining the damp refuge without soaking the whole enclosure. Hainan Black is tropical-leaning, but that does not mean stagnant or waterlogged: airflow should remain good and the enclosure should offer a clear moisture gradient.

If you are building the enclosure from scratch, the isopod habitat setup guide covers the core balance of substrate, cover, moisture, and ventilation.

Feeding priorities

The staple diet should come from the enclosure itself: decomposing leaf litter, rotting hardwood, and a biologically active substrate. Supplemental foods can be offered in small amounts, but they should support rather than replace the natural detritus base.

Keep a consistent calcium source available. A piece of limestone provides a simple long-term mineral option. For a broader overview of supplemental foods and feeding frequency, see what do isopods eat.

Before you order

• Have a mature enclosure ready before the colony arrives.
• Provide a reliable damp refuge without keeping the entire tub wet.
• Use plenty of leaf litter and close-fitting hides.
• Maintain good ventilation alongside tropical-style moisture.
• Keep calcium and decaying hardwood available as long-term resources.

Who tends to enjoy Hainan Black most

This species makes sense for collectors looking for something visually different from brightly coloured Cubaris-style animals. The almost monochrome appearance is distinctive in its own way, and the compact rolling form gives it a very different character from larger, flatter Porcellio.

It may be less suitable for buyers wanting a large species that spends all day in the open. Hainan Black is better appreciated as a covered, tropical roller whose activity becomes easier to read once the colony is established.

If you are comparing options

For another Spherillo with a completely different visual style, compare it with Spherillo "Orange Soda". You can also browse the tropical isopods collection for other humid-leaning species. For longer-term colony stability, the isopod husbandry guide for healthy colonies is also useful.