Cubaris sp. 'Red Edge Albino / Anderman's Pearl' Isopods for Sale

Cubaris sp. 'Red Edge Albino' — also widely traded as 'Anderman's Pearl' (and occasionally 'Andaman Pearl', 'Red Edge Blonde' or 'Red Edge White Phase') — is the albino morph of the well-known Red Edge Cubaris. A striking premium isopod from the wider Southeast Asian Cubaris cluster, this morph carries the same elegant body shape and red skirt markings as the standard Red Edge, but with the dark base colour replaced by a luminous pale cream-to-white body produced by the albino condition. The contrast between the pearly body and the retained red edges is genuinely distinctive and unlike anything else in the standard Cubaris catalogue.

This is part of our wider Cubaris collection. It sits naturally alongside the standard Red Edge isopods as the albino-morph sibling, and pairs well in a focused premium Cubaris collection with species like Rubber Ducky, Crazy Horse and Lemon Blue. For anyone working through the premium Cubaris range, this is one of the most visually unusual options available.

One honest framing point up front. 'Red Edge Albino' is genuinely uncommon in the UK hobby, and acquisition cost reflects that. Care itself is in the moderate intermediate range — more forgiving than the most demanding Cubaris like Rubber Ducky, but still firmly outside beginner territory. New isopod keepers should master Cubaris murina or another beginner Cubaris first before stepping up to this morph.

Quick Care Summary

• Scientific Name: Cubaris sp. 'Red Edge Albino' (also traded as 'Anderman's Pearl', 'Andaman Pearl', 'Red Edge Blonde', 'Red Edge White Phase')
• Family: Armadillidae
• Origin: Cultured albino morph of the wild-type Red Edge Cubaris, native to Southeast Asia
• Adult Size: 15–20 mm
• Lifespan: 2–3 years typical
• Difficulty: Moderate — intermediate-level care, more forgiving than premium Cubaris like Rubber Ducky
• Temperature: 22–27 °C
• Humidity: 65–80% with a clear moisture gradient — the genus needs a moist zone but not uniform wetness
• Ventilation: Moderate — balance airflow with humidity retention
• Conglobation: Yes — rolls into a tight protective ball when disturbed
• Appearance: Pale cream-to-white pearly body produced by the albino condition, retaining the red-orange skirt markings along the body margin; classic Cubaris rounded body form with the recognisable 'duck face' head profile; characteristic red eyes from the albino trait
• Behaviour: More active than many premium Cubaris; visible foragers once settled; semi-fossorial with regular surface activity
• Breeding: Reasonably prolific in established colonies, slower to establish initially
• Rarity: Very Rare in the UK hobby

What Makes 'Red Edge Albino / Anderman's Pearl' Special

The albino genetics. This is a true albino morph — not a colour phase, not a pattern variant, but a genuine genetic mutation that reduces or eliminates the dark melanin pigmentation across the body. The result is a pale cream-to-white "pearl" body in place of the standard Red Edge's darker base colour, with the characteristic red eyes that confirm the albino condition. Albino morphs are rare across the entire Cubaris genus and even rarer in the Red Edge line specifically, which makes this morph a genuinely uncommon acquisition in the UK and international hobby.

The two-tone contrast. Where many premium Cubaris go for either bold colour saturation or subtle pastel monochrome, 'Red Edge Albino' delivers something different — a pearly cream body offset by the retained red skirt edging along the body margin. The combination is unusual because most albino isopods lose all pigmentation; here, the red edge marking is preserved separately from the body pigmentation system, giving a striking two-tone look that's distinct from the rest of the premium Cubaris catalogue.

The trade-name story. You'll see this morph sold under several names internationally — most commonly 'Red Edge Albino', but also 'Anderman's Pearl', 'Andaman Pearl', 'Red Edge Blonde' and 'Red Edge White Phase'. 'Pearl' refers to the pearly pale body produced by the albino condition; 'Blonde' and 'White Phase' refer to the same lightening effect. The 'Anderman/Andaman' element appears to reference the Andaman Sea region of Southeast Asia, though as a cultured morph rather than a wild-type, the geographic name is more of a hobby trade designation than a verified collection locality.

The hardier Cubaris option. Where premium Cubaris like Rubber Ducky or Mandarin can be unforgiving of husbandry mistakes, the standard Red Edge line — including the albino morph — is noticeably more tolerant. They handle minor humidity swings better, breed more reliably once established, and stay visible enough to actually observe in the enclosure. A genuinely sensible step up for keepers who want a premium-tier Cubaris but aren't yet ready for the most demanding species in the genus.

The premium Cubaris cluster. This morph slots naturally into a focused premium Cubaris collection alongside standard Red Edge for the wild-type comparison, Rubber Ducky for the next step up in difficulty, and Lemon Blue for a contrasting visual. A genuine collector's piece rather than a casual addition.

About the Name

This morph is sold under several different trade names — a brief clarification.

• Cubaris sp. 'Red Edge Albino': The clearest and most precise name — describes the parent morph (Red Edge) and the genetic basis (albino). This is the form used in scientific-leaning hobby sources.
• 'Anderman's Pearl' / 'Andaman Pearl': The most common UK trade name. 'Pearl' refers to the pearly pale body; the 'Anderman/Andaman' element likely references the Andaman Sea region of Southeast Asia. Both spellings are used interchangeably in the hobby.
• 'Red Edge Blonde' / 'Red Edge White Phase': Alternative trade names used by some European breeders to describe the same morph.

All refer to the same animal — the albino morph of the Red Edge Cubaris.

Setting Up the Enclosure

A 10–15 litre plastic container with a secure clip-lock lid suits a starter colony of 5–10 individuals. Drill ventilation holes on opposite sides for proper cross-flow, covered with fine mesh. Cubaris appreciate moderate ventilation — enough airflow to prevent stagnation without compromising the humid microclimate they need. Get this balance right and the colony establishes well; get it wrong and you'll see mould issues at one extreme or stress-related losses at the other.

Provide multiple hides distributed across the moisture gradient — cork bark flats, decaying hardwood pieces, lotus pods, ceramic hides. Cubaris are semi-fossorial and appreciate cover, but they're also relatively social and tend to aggregate under shared hides rather than dispersing. Keep the enclosure out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources that cause humidity to swing.

Important husbandry note: Skip the standing water dish. Misting and a moist corner provide all the moisture this morph needs, and open water encourages mould in the high-humidity setup while risking drowning of smaller individuals. A wet sphagnum patch on the moist side is more than enough.

Substrate

Use a moisture-retentive tropical substrate mix appropriate to the genus:

• Organic topsoil (pesticide-free) as the foundation
• Sphagnum moss for the moist section and overall moisture retention
• Composted hardwood leaf litter mixed throughout
• Flake soil for added nutrition and structure
• Crushed limestone or oyster shell distributed throughout for calcium
• White rotten hardwood pieces — a particularly important food source for Cubaris

We recommend a topsoil and sphagnum-based mix rather than coco coir. Substrate depth around 7–10 cm gives the colony room to burrow and supports moisture-gradient stability, which matters for the humidity-sensitive Cubaris genus.

Top layer: a generous covering of hardwood leaf litter — oak, beech, magnolia — plus cork bark and lotus pods for cover. Maintain the moisture gradient carefully.

Humidity and Temperature

Maintain humidity around 65–80% with a clear moisture gradient — keep roughly one third of the enclosure consistently damp using sphagnum moss, while the remainder stays slightly drier with leaf litter coverage. The substrate should feel damp like a wrung-out sponge, never waterlogged. Cubaris in general — and the Red Edge line specifically — needs a clear gradient rather than uniform humidity; constant wetness across the whole enclosure is one of the most common reasons colonies struggle.

Temperature should be 22–27 °C, which is warmer than UK room temperature for most of the year. Many keepers maintain Cubaris colonies in a heated room or with mild supplementary warming via a low-wattage heat mat on a thermostat, set to one side of the enclosure to create a thermal gradient alongside the moisture gradient. Avoid placement near radiators or windows where temperatures fluctuate dramatically.

Diet

'Red Edge Albino' are typical Cubaris detritivores with a clear preference for the genus's staple foods:

• White rotten hardwood pieces — the single most important food source, always available
• Hardwood leaf litter (oak, beech, magnolia) — the dietary foundation, always available
• Vegetables 1–2x weekly: carrot, courgette, sweet potato, squash. Replace within 24–48 hours.
• Fruit occasionally in small amounts (apple, melon)
• Protein 1–2x weekly: fish flakes, dried shrimp, dried daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworm. The Cubaris genus is moderately protein-driven; the Red Edge line especially benefits from regular protein supplementation.
• Calcium (essential — always available): cuttlefish bone, crushed limestone, oyster shell, eggshell.

Don't overfeed — excess fresh food spoils quickly in the warm, humid conditions Cubaris prefer, and rotting food damages air quality in the enclosure. White rotten wood does most of the dietary work; fresh foods are supplemental rather than staple.

Breeding

'Red Edge Albino' breed reasonably prolifically once a colony is established, though they're slower to start than the most reliable Cubaris breeders like C. murina. Females carry developing young in a brood pouch (marsupium) and release fully-formed miniature versions of the adults — which inherit the albino body colouration from birth, though the red eye colouration is visible immediately.

For breeding success:

• Stable temperature in the warmer half of the range (24–27 °C is ideal for peak breeding)
• Consistent humidity gradient — avoid wet swings or stuffy conditions
• Deep substrate (7–10 cm) for burrowing and microclimate stability
• Abundant calcium for breeding females
• Regular protein supplementation to support reproductive output
• Plenty of secure hides, especially flat cork bark and lotus pods
• Patience — initial colony establishment can take several months before breeding picks up

Because the albino trait is recessive, breeding two albino parents produces albino offspring reliably. Crossing with the standard Red Edge will produce wild-type-appearing young carrying the albino gene as a hidden heterozygous trait — which can then re-express in later generations if those young are bred together.

Who Should Buy 'Red Edge Albino / Anderman's Pearl' Isopods?

Ideal for:

• Experienced isopod keepers ready to step up from beginner species to a premium Cubaris
• Display enthusiasts drawn to genuinely unusual visuals — the pearly body with retained red edges is unlike anything in the standard catalogue
• Collectors building a focused premium Cubaris cluster alongside standard Red Edge, Rubber Ducky or Lemon Blue
• Keepers interested in albino genetics and selective breeding within the Cubaris line
• Anyone wanting a premium-tier Cubaris that's noticeably more active and visible than the most reclusive species in the genus

Not ideal for:

• Complete beginners — start with Cubaris murina or other beginner species first
• Keepers who can't reliably maintain warm temperatures (22–27 °C) year-round
• Setups that run uniformly wet without a proper dry zone — Cubaris need the moisture gradient
• Anyone expecting Porcellio-style rapid colony expansion — Cubaris breed steadily, not explosively
• Keepers who can't commit to the consistent husbandry this genus requires

Realistic Expectations

The temperature requirement is real. UK room temperature drops below the ideal range for Cubaris through much of the year, especially in winter. A heated room or a low-wattage heat mat on a thermostat is realistically necessary for sustained breeding in most UK homes. Without supplementary warmth, expect the colony to tick over rather than expand.

The albino body is pearly cream, not pure white. Photos online can vary in lighting — under bright light the body looks luminous and almost white, while in normal viewing the colour is more of a soft cream-to-pearl with the red skirt providing the contrast. The look is genuinely striking but not vivid in the way some bright colour morphs are.

Colony establishment takes time. Premium Cubaris in general are slower to settle into a productive breeding rhythm than the easier species. Plan for several months of careful husbandry before the colony reaches reliable breeding pace, and don't be alarmed if the first few weeks show the animals being more reclusive than expected as they acclimate.

The name spellings will vary. You'll see 'Anderman's Pearl' and 'Andaman Pearl' used interchangeably, alongside 'Red Edge Albino', 'Red Edge Blonde' and 'Red Edge White Phase' — all referring to the same morph. The variation reflects independent hobby trade names rather than distinct animals.

This is the albino form, not an orange phase. There's some confusion online — some retailers describe this morph as having "orange body coloration" or label it as a "colour phase" rather than an albino. Both framings are inaccurate. The body is pale cream-to-white from the albino condition (with classic red eyes confirming the trait); the orange-red colouration is restricted to the skirt edges, which the albino mutation leaves unaffected.