Panda King Isopod

Cubaris sp. "Panda King"

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

Bold black-and-white banding on a burrowing Cubaris, and one of the more available species in a genus known for being expensive. NOT the same animal as Porcellio laevis "Dairy Cow", which is also black and white, much cheaper and much faster — the two are confused constantly, including by sellers. If it is inexpensive and breeding quickly, it is almost certainly the Porcellio. Care follows the genus: consistently high humidity with deep substrate it can burrow through, permanent access to limestone, and a moisture gradient that never fully dries. It reproduces slowly and stays buried most of the time, so a healthy colony can look like an empty tub for months. Resist the urge to dig. DETRITIVORE — leaf litter and rotting hardwood continuously, protein sparingly. Harmless.

Taxonomy

FamilyArmadillidae

GenusCubaris

Native regionThailand

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentharmless, secretive

Size & growth

Adult size0.4-0.6 inches

Growth rateslow

Life stagesNo distinct stages

Climate

Temperature70–80°F

Humidity75–90%

Enclosure

Adult sizesmall tub; deep substrate matters more than floor space

Substratecoco fiber and topsoil over a damp base; limestone essential, leaf litter

Substrate depth3-4 inches

Water dishOptional

Moisture gradientRequired — keep one end damp, one end dry

Feeding

Feeding modeDetritivore (decaying matter)

Food & scheduleleaf litter and rotting wood always available; protein sparingly

Supplemental calciumRequired — cuttlebone or a calcium powder

Times kept: 1 · Unverified community entry