Rubber Ducky Isopod

Cubaris sp. "Rubber Ducky"

IsopodadvancedHarmlessCommunal 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

The species that made isopods a collector's hobby, named for a face marking that resembles a rubber duck. It is genuinely demanding and genuinely expensive, which is why it is rated advanced: it comes from limestone caves, wants consistently high humidity with deep substrate and permanent access to limestone, reproduces slowly, and reacts badly to drying out or to being disturbed. Expect to see very little of them — they stay buried. This is still an undescribed Cubaris species sold under a trade name, so care information across sources varies and some of it is guesswork; treat confident-sounding numbers elsewhere with suspicion. DETRITIVORE, harmless.

Taxonomy

FamilyArmadillidae

GenusCubaris

Native regionThailand (limestone cave systems)

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentharmless, secretive

Size & growth

Adult size0.4-0.5 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: 0 · Unverified community entry