This is a small species that was first discovered in Madagascar, but it has since been found in several other locations, including Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, the Arabian Peninsula, and Southern China. In the hobbyist community, they were originally labeled as Philoscia sp. 'Thai' because the founding hobby stock was derived from specimens collected in Northern Thailand. However, upon examination, they were identified as Agnara madagascariensis, although no formal publication lists this species as occurring in Thailand.

This species is easy to cultivate and reproduces quickly under favorable conditions. They can adapt to a wide range of ventilation conditions, but it is important to maintain humidity and soil moisture levels because dry conditions can be fatal. Generally, they prefer higher ventilation or drier conditions if ventilation is low. However, it is important to note that if ventilation is too low and conditions are too wet, it can lead to an increase in mancae and adult mortality. This species is typically active and can be easily found within their enclosure as they favor surface activity over burrowing. Due to their small size and non-aggressive nature, they make a good choice for use as a clean-up crew in bioactive enclosures.

They are an extremely sexually dimorphic species, with males sporting a red coloration of varying intensity and females maintaining a grey color. The attached photos illustrate the differences between the sexes.