Cubaris Sp. Red Edge is a visually striking isopod that has a bright red/orange skirt wrapped around a dark base giving them great contrast. As with most cubaris, they are a little bit more on the needy side but also not considered advanced or extremely sensitive like many of their other cubaris cousins. If you have a firm foundation in basic isopod husbandry and success keep other beginner friendly species, then Cubaris Sp. Red Edge is an ideal first step into the world of Cubaris isopods.
A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium is sufficient for a small starter culture. Standard or bioactive enclosures can be enhanced with natural botanical items to simulate the isopods habitat in the wild. This helps them feel secure which in turn promotes their natural processes like eating and breeding. Average room temperature will suit them just fine but keep in mind they are native to tropical to sub tropical areas so so do not let it get too cool. A good temperature range for Red Edge is 74-82F leaning more towards the warmer end if possible. Red Edge isopods do not need a pronounced moisture gradient like most other isopods. A small gradient is fine, but a consistent lightly damp (not wet) enclosure is ideal. They will not fare well if allowed to get any level of dry. A 65%-75% humidity level without large deviations will keep them in their comfort zone. A few pieces of cork bark strategically placed over different parts of the enclosure will help retain the humidity levels and reduce the frequency of watering needed to maintain a proper moisture gradient. This species tends to enjoy bark flats slightly off or above the substrate so offer several hides with various levels of clearance from the substrate ranging from very close to a few inches so they can self regulate as needed.
Isopods are detrivores. Their primary diet in nature is leaf litter and decayed wood. Both of these should always be available in abundance. They will also happily consume any other decomposing organic plant or animal matter they come across. As such it is vital to supplement your isopods with other food sources on a semi regular basis. Red Edge isopods enjoy food options like squash, carrots, cucumbers and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food. They also tend to be protein hungry so offer them things like freeze dried minnows, shrimp, fish pellets, dried insects and other protein based food sources. Be sure to feed these on the drier side as they can spoil quickly in humid environments and attract unwanted pests. As with most any other Cubaris isopod, it's recommended to have some limestone in their enclosure. This mimics their natural cave environments and they do seem to enjoy it. This can be in the form of crushed pellets they can nibble or small light weight stones they can crawl on and hide under. In our experience either will work, but our pods seem to enjoy small chunks of Texas holy rock.
Cubaris Sp. Red Edge is a rewarding species to keep and will produce small to medium sized broods fairly consistently once established and a good care regimen is consistently maintained. They are most active at night and readily move about and explore their surroundings under cover of darkness. Their relative low demands combined with their visually appealing colors make them a popular choice among many keepers and hobbyist.
Quick Facts
- Origin: Southeast Asia and Thailand
- Classification: Armadillidiidae > Cubaris > Cubaris Sp.
- Average Size: 3/4” inch
- Activity level: Primarily nocturnal and active at night
- Care Level: Intermediate