Cubaris sp. 'Platin Tung Song' Isopods for Sale

Cubaris sp. 'Platin Tung Song' is one of the more genuinely distinctive smaller Cubaris in the international hobby — a metallic platinum-toned isopod with bright yellow spotting, discovered in the limestone karst caves of Thung Song District in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Southern Thailand. The visual combination is properly unusual: most premium Cubaris emphasise bold contrast (Rubber Ducky) or pale subtlety (Ice Flower); the Platin Tung Song combines a cool metallic silver-grey base with vivid yellow spots concentrated toward the centre of the dorsal surface, producing a distinctive sheen-and-spots aesthetic that sits between the two extremes.

One honest note up front. This is a properly small Cubaris — adults reach 10–15 mm, with European keeper documentation (Exuvium) indicating peak adult sizes around 10 mm in established colonies. Set expectations toward "detailed observation at small scale" rather than "substantial display animal." Browse the full Cubaris collection for larger options if size matters more than this morph's specific aesthetic.

Like all Cubaris, the Platin Tung Song conglobates — rolling into a tight defensive ball when disturbed. The rolled metallic ball with yellow spots is genuinely photogenic in good light.

Quick Care Summary

• Scientific Name: Cubaris sp. 'Platin Tung Song' (undescribed; hobby trade name)
• Family: Armadillidae
• Origin: Thung Song (Tung Song) caves, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Southern Thailand — limestone karst formations
• Adult Size: 10–15 mm — a properly small Cubaris
• Lifespan: 1.5–2 years typical
• Difficulty: Medium — manageable with stable conditions but less forgiving than beginner Cubaris
• Temperature: 23–26°C (warm-preferring tropical)
• Humidity: 70–85% — high tropical humidity with proper gradient
• Ventilation: Moderate — balance airflow with humidity retention
• Conglobation: Yes — rolls into a tight defensive ball
• Appearance: Metallic platinum-silver base with bright yellow spots concentrated centrally; individual variation in spot density and placement; subtle metallic sheen visible under good lighting
• Behaviour: Notably shy and primarily nocturnal; more visible in larger established colonies; slower-moving than the most active Cubaris
• Breeding: Slow but reliable — generally considered a slower grower than typical Cubaris
• Rarity: Very Rare in the UK hobby

What Makes 'Platin Tung Song' Special

The visual is genuinely unique. Most premium Cubaris fall into recognisable aesthetic categories — bold contrast (Rubber Ducky), pastel subtlety (Ice Flower), tricolour patterning (Red Pak Chong), or marbled neutrals (Cappuccino). The Platin Tung Song combines a cool metallic silver-grey base with central yellow spotting in a way that doesn't directly match any other established line. Properly distinctive for keepers building a Cubaris collection across aesthetic categories.

The Thung Song locality provenance. Thung Song (Tung Song) is a real district in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Southern Thailand — properly known for its limestone karst landscape and cave systems (Khao Khao Caves, Phra Phromlok Caves, and others). The "Platin Tung Song" name reflects this genuine geographic origin rather than a fabricated trade-name locality. The district name itself ("Thung Song") means "two fields" in Thai, referring to the agricultural plains between the karst hills where the limestone formations rise.

The slow-grower characteristic. Unusually for a Cubaris, Platin Tung Song are documented as growing notably slower than the genus average — adults take longer to reach mature size, and colonies build more gradually than typical. This isn't a flaw to breed out; it's a species characteristic that contributes to the rarity and value.

Genuine shyness. Where most premium Cubaris are framed as "shy" partly as marketing language, Platin Tung Song are documented across multiple authoritative European breeder sources (Exuvium, isopod.com) as genuinely reclusive. The natural behaviour: small groups stay hidden; larger established colonies (20+ individuals) gradually become more confident and visible. Plan colony size accordingly if visibility matters.

The compact display size. At ~10 mm, the Platin Tung Song is a dwarf-tier Cubaris — small enough to feel naturalistic in a planted display vivarium without dominating the scene. Properly suited to display setups where the isopods complement the planting rather than commanding attention.

Limestone cave provenance translates to husbandry needs. The natural Thung Song karst habitat is mineral-rich limestone — explaining the species's relatively high calcium requirements compared to non-cave isopods. Provide abundant calcium sources in captivity to maintain healthy moulting cycles and pigmentation.

How 'Platin Tung Song' Compares to Other Cubaris

• vs Rubber Ducky: Both are small premium Thai Cubaris (~10–15 mm), but visually distinct. Rubber Ducky shows the iconic yellow-and-dark "rubber duck head" pattern; Platin Tung Song shows metallic silver with central yellow spots and normal Cubaris head proportions. Comparable care, very different visual identities.
• vs Ice Flower: Both are pale-toned premium Cubaris at similar size and difficulty. Ice Flower is the soft pastel white/cream aesthetic; Platin Tung Song is the cooler metallic platinum with yellow accents. Different positioning on the pale-Cubaris spectrum.
• vs Cubaris murina: The natural step-up choice. Murina is the easy beginner-tier Cubaris (forgiving care, prolific, accessible pricing); Platin Tung Song is the premium-tier specialist (slower-growing, shy, demanding consistency). Master murina first, then move up.

About the "Rubber Ducky" Face — A Common Confusion

Some hobby descriptions claim Platin Tung Song shows the "rubber ducky facial features" iconic to Cubaris sp. 'Rubber Ducky'. This isn't accurate. The distinctive elongated head shape that gives Rubber Ducky its name is specific to the Pak Chong lineage (Rubber Ducky, Red Pak Chong, Cherry Blossom — same species in different colour pedigrees). Platin Tung Song has normal Cubaris head proportions — properly rounded rather than rubber-duck-shaped. The metallic colouration and yellow spots are the species's identifying features, not the head shape.

Setting Up the Enclosure

A 5–8 litre plastic container with a secure clip-lock lid suits a starter colony of 5–10 individuals, with larger setups recommended as the colony grows (since visible activity correlates with population size for this species). Cubaris appreciate consistent humidity, so aim for a setup that holds moisture while allowing moderate ventilation — enough airflow to prevent stagnation without drying out.

Provide plenty of tight hiding spots — cork bark flats, cork tubes, limestone pieces, and decaying wood. The species spends much of its time hidden, so feeling secure matters more than visibility. Keep the enclosure out of direct sunlight.

Important husbandry note: Cubaris do not need a standing water dish. Misting and a moist corner provide all the moisture they need — open water risks drowning small individuals and encourages mould in the high-humidity setup. Skip the water dish.

Substrate

Use a substrate mix that retains moisture and reflects the limestone-cave origin:

• Organic topsoil (pesticide-free) as the base
• Sphagnum moss for the moist section and moisture retention
• Composted hardwood leaf litter mixed throughout
• Flake soil for added nutrition and structure
• Crushed limestone or oyster shell distributed throughout — particularly important for this limestone-cave species
• Rotting white wood pieces (important nutrition source)

We recommend a topsoil and sphagnum-based mix rather than coco coir. Substrate depth around 8–10 cm gives them room to burrow and supports moisture-gradient stability.

Top layer: generous hardwood leaf litter — oak, beech, magnolia — plus cork bark and sphagnum moss patches. The platinum colouration shows particularly well against dark naturalistic substrate.

Humidity and Temperature

Maintain humidity around 70–85% with a clear moisture gradient — keep one-third of the enclosure consistently damp using sphagnum moss while the rest stays slightly drier with leaf litter coverage. The substrate should feel damp like a wrung-out sponge, never waterlogged.

"Moist but not wet" is the operating principle for all Cubaris. Overwetting is the leading cause of die-offs in premium Thai Cubaris. When in doubt, err slightly drier and increase ventilation.

Temperature should be 23–26°C — warm-preferring tropical species that appreciates stable conditions. Room temperature in heated UK homes generally works well; avoid fluctuations and don't place the enclosure near heat sources or windows.

Diet

Platin Tung Song are detritivores feeding on the typical Cubaris range:

• Hardwood leaf litter (oak, beech, magnolia) — the dietary foundation, always available
• Rotting white wood pieces (important nutrition source)
• Vegetables 1–2x weekly: carrot, courgette, sweet potato, squash. Replace within 24–48 hours.
• Fruit occasionally (small amounts of soft fruit)
• Protein 1–2x weekly: fish flakes, dried shrimp, dried daphnia. Feed protein on the drier side of the enclosure to prevent spoilage.
• Calcium (essential — always available): cuttlefish bone, crushed limestone, oyster shell. Particularly important for limestone-cave species — provide multiple sources.

Their smaller size means crushed or smaller food pieces work better than large chunks. Don't overfeed — excess fresh food spoils quickly in humid conditions.

Breeding

Platin Tung Song breed slowly but reliably under stable conditions. They're documented as slower growers than typical Cubaris, with juveniles taking longer to reach maturity. Females develop a marsupium (brood pouch) and produce small broods of approximately 10–20 mancae per cycle, with longer intervals between breeding cycles than faster-growing Cubaris species.

For breeding success:

• Stable temperature within range (24–25°C is ideal)
• Consistent humidity (75–85%) — avoid fluctuations
• Deep substrate (8–10 cm) for burrowing
• Abundant calcium for breeding females
• Regular protein supplementation
• Plenty of secure hiding spots — the species needs to feel safe to breed reliably
• Larger starter groups (10+) establish faster and provide both genetic diversity and the colony confidence that encourages visible activity

The metallic colouration and yellow spots develop as juveniles mature through successive moults — expect colour variation across the developing colony.

Who Should Buy 'Platin Tung Song' Isopods?

Ideal for:

• Experienced Cubaris keepers wanting a distinctly different aesthetic from the standard premium lines
• Display enthusiasts drawn to subtle metallic colouration with vivid central spotting
• Collectors building a comprehensive Cubaris collection across aesthetic categories
• Naturalists interested in genuine Thai limestone-cave provenance (Thung Song District)
• Keepers willing to invest in larger starter groups for better visibility and breeding success
• Anyone appreciating the slow-growth, reclusive character of properly cave-adapted Cubaris

Not ideal for:

• Complete beginners — start with Cubaris murina first, then progress through hardier Cubaris before considering this species
• Keepers wanting fast-establishing colonies — Platin Tung Song are genuinely slow
• Display setups requiring active, visible isopods — these are properly reclusive
• Anyone wanting larger display animals (these are 10–15 mm)
• Setups prone to humidity or temperature fluctuation

Realistic Expectations

They're small. 10–15 mm with documented peak sizes around 10 mm in many colonies. Don't expect substantial display animals; expect properly compact specimens with intricate detail visible on close observation.

They're genuinely shy. Smaller groups will spend most of their time hidden. Larger established colonies become more visible over time, but never as bold as the most outgoing Cubaris species.

They grow slowly. Juveniles take longer to mature than typical Cubaris, and colonies build at a more measured pace. Patience is part of keeping this species.

The colouration is subtle. Metallic platinum-silver with yellow centrally — properly distinctive but understated rather than vivid. The metallic sheen requires reasonable lighting to appreciate fully.

They don't have the "rubber ducky" head. That distinctive head shape is unique to the Pak Chong lineage (Rubber Ducky, Red Pak Chong, Cherry Blossom). Platin Tung Song has normal Cubaris head proportions.

"Platin Tung Song" is a trade name. Cubaris sp. Platin Tung Song is an undescribed species — like Rubber Ducky, Lemon Blue, and most other premium hobby Cubaris, it doesn't have formal taxonomic identification. The category is well-established in the international hobby; the underlying genetics aren't formally documented.