Amber Ducky Isopods For Sale

Cubaris isopods, especially the Amber Ducky isopods, are among the most popularly sold low-maintenance pets worldwide. These isopods are native to the South East Asian region and have earned popularity beyond the Asian boundaries.

Amber Ducky Isopods: A Glimpse

• Origin: Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan
• Scientific Name: Cubaris Sp. Amber Duckys
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Size: 1 to 2 cm
• Life Span: Two to three years
• Temperature: 70 to 80°F
• Favorite Foods: Fish flakes, sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, etc. 

Amber Ducky Isopods: An Overview

Amber Ducky isopods are originally from parts of Asia like Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, etc. They go by the scientific name Cubaris Sp. Amber Ducky and the common terms are amber isopods, amber ducky isopods, etc.

Amber Ducky isopods belong to the Armadillidae family. They are nocturnal creatures that are relatively smaller in size. They are widely used as beginner-friendly pets and feeders. They are characterized by their cleaning nature and tendency to aerate the soil they live in.

The ‘Amber’ part of the name Amber Ducky refers to the body color of the isopods. They feature a unique brown/ golden yellow color that reminds amber. They are natively found in mangrove forests and tropical rainforests in and around Asia.

Amber Ducky Isopods: Basic Care

Here are some pointers on the primary care that the pet owner has to provide Amber Ducky isopods.

• Amber Ducky isopods are pretty rare. So, providing comfortable living conditions is extremely important for them to survive.

 

• The temperature of the enclosure should always be kept moderate. The ideal temperature for Amber Duckys is between seventy- and eighty degrees Fahrenheit.

 

• The environment of the enclosure should always be humid. However, the owner needs to ensure the enclosure does not turn damp.

 

• A semi-dry, semi-wet environment is the preferable habitat for an Amber Ducky isopod.

 

• The enclosure of Amber Ducky need not have bright lights. It is ideal to keep the lights low inside the enclosure.

 

• Humidity inside the enclosure can be maintained at around 65%.

 

• Airflow or ventilation should always be minimal for an Amber Ducky enclosure. But during the breeding time, Amber Duckys prefers a bit more airflow. So, the arrangements should be adjusted accordingly.

 

• The ideal pH inside an Amber Ducky enclosure is 7.0.

Amber Ducky Isopods: Feeding

Amber Ducky isopods have a relatively large appetite for their small size. The diet of Amber Ducky isopods is pretty much similar to the other isopods, who prefer dead and decaying organic matter as the primary food.

Rotten wood, mosses, lichens, leaf litter, etc., are the most common food items in their diets. But Amber Ducky isopods are known as cleaners, and they consume almost everything, including the droppings of other animals in a shared enclosure.

Still, Amber Ducky isopods have some favorite foods. Some of them are as follows.

• Sweet potatoes

 

• Fish flakes

 

• Squash

 

• Zucchini

 

• Carrot

 

• Dried crickets

 

• Decaying wood

 

• Decaying leaf litter, etc.

One of the most important things to note regarding the diet of Amber Ducky is that it has a special Calcium requirement that aids its growth and reproduction. The owner has to supplement these isopods with proper Calcium supplements now and then.

The best way to provide enough Calcium to the Amber Ducky isopod enclosure is to sprinkle powdered cuttlebones once a couple of weeks.

Protein is another major nutrient that Amber Ducky isopods need, and the owner should ensure it. Fish flakes are a great source of protein for Amber Ducky isopods.

Amber Ducky Isopods: Appearance and Behaviour

Amber Ducky isopods are relatively small crustaceans.Amber Duckys usually grow up to about two centimeters. They have a body that is divided into seven different segments. 

The color of these isopods is indeed bright with golden yellow, orange, and brown. A dark stripe runs down the body of the Amber Ducky isopods. The head of these isopods features two antennae and two pincers.

Amber Ducky isopods have two pairs of tiny legs. These legs are helpful for them in burrowing, digging, walking, etc. An exclusive feature of these isopods is the presence of several hind legs named pleopods.

Amber Ducky isopods have four pleopods. Pleopods are mainly helpful for the isopods in swimming. Pleopods also help with the water flow regulation through the gills of the isopods.

Amber Ducky Isopods: Habitat

• The natural habitat of Amber Ducky isopods are mangrove forests and tropical rainforests, which are high in humidity and have a semi-wet soil surface.

 

• Amber Ducky isopods usually prefer humid, damp, and dark places where they can feed on organic matter.

 

• Although Amber Ducky isopods prefer semi-wet conditions, they can even live in water. But the water has to be stagnant for them to live.

 

• For housing an Amber Ducky isopod colony, buyers can use any thick plastic container with enough vent holes.

 

• The user can cut off an opening on any side of an Amber Ducky enclosure and cover it adequately with some nylon mesh for regulated airflow.

 

• According to the experts, an Amber Ducky isopod colony with up to 25 members can comfortably live in an enclosure the size of a shoe box.

Amber Ducky Isopods: Substrate Mix

The substrate mix in the enclosure provides food for the isopods. So, it must be high in quality. It is essential to lay the substrate mix a few millimeters thick on an Amber Ducky enclosure.

The ideal substrate mix for Amber Duckys is a mix of forest humus, lime, and rot wood. The substrate should be damp enough. But make sure that it is not getting dripping wet. To retain the moisture, the owner can use a layer of leaf litter and moss.

The ideal leaves used on the substrate mix of Amber Ducky isopods are as follows.

• Oak

 

• Beech

 

• Maple

 

• Chestnut

Below the substrate mix layer, it is ideal to lay a layer of cuttlefish bits and fodder lime powder. These can nourish the isopods with the required nutrients and minerals.