Pak Chong Isopods (Cubaris sp.)

One of the utterly famous Thai isopods, the Pak Chong isopods, originates from the Southeast Asia region. Located in the impressive district of Pak Chong in Northeast Thailand, they make an excellent choice of isopods for beginners to start breeding with.

Pak Chong Isopods: A Glimpse

• Origin: Thailand

• Scientific Name: Cubaris sp.

• Difficulty Level: Easy

• Size: Average Size 1.5 Centimeters

• Rarity: Low/ Medium

• Temperature: 70℉ to90℉

• Humidity: Moderately Humid

• Favourite Foods: Freeze Dry Shrimp, Dried Leaves, Vegetables, Wood, Grass, Decaying Matter

Pak Chong Isopods: An Overview

Pak Chong isopods are rare isopods. They are found in the caves of the Pak Chong province in Northeast Thailand. They would easily complement any vivarium or terrarium setup any day.

These South Eastern natives are famous for their delightful color schemes. They will remind the onlookers of the Bernese mountain dog. They are bluish-black in color. They have white frill faces and orange butts. These isopods enjoy living in warm temperatures and damp environments. 

Despite their natural habitat, PakChong isopods thrive in a range of conditions. They can tolerate a lot more humidity than the white tigers and rubber duckies. Although they do not breed as fast as the Murina, however, they are among the faster-breeding Cubaris.

They possess complex social behavior. They can often be seen nudging each other, followed by intense, strong flickering of the antennae. 

The main source of the diet of the these guys is decaying wood, leaf litter, and calcium supply. You can supplement their diet with protein and organic fresh vegetables to ensure they get all the important nutrients they need to foster.

A semi-arid environment with proper ventilation is necessary. You can prefer a substrate depth of 2 to 3 inches and top it off with leaf litter.

Taking good care of the Pak Chong isopods is your responsibility as an owner. You can use the below-mentioned tips to take good care of these isopods.

• You can use a living soil terrarium or vivarium for housing the Pak Chong isopods.

• You must maintain the container's temperature within 70 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme heat or cold temperatures can be lethal.

• Add some substrate to regulate the humidity level within the enclosure. The substrate should be rich in nutritional value to boost the isopod habitat.

• Avoid keeping the isopod enclosure where there is direct sunlight.

• Choose an arid set up to keep the Pak Chong isopods.

• Keep moss on the moist side of the enclosure to maintain humidity. Don't let the moss try out completely. In order to avoid mold growth, maintain adequate ventilation.

• You can feed Pak Chong isopods forest materials like decaying matter, wood, dried leaves, and more. You can add protein-rich supplements and organic fresh vegetables to ensure good health.

Pak Chong isopods are detritivores. They feed on potatoes, carrots, squash, leaf powder, cuttlebone, protein-rich foods, decaying matter, dried leaves, shrimp meal, bat guano, rotten wood, etc. 

You can also feed fresh moss to Pak Chong isopods. Use supplements such as egg shells, oyster shells, limestone, cuttlebone, and moss. You can prepare a balanced recipe of plant matter, beans, mushrooms, pulverized grains, freeze-dried vegetables, complex proteins, and calcium supplements.

Pak Chong isopod's main source of diet should be lots of leaf litter. However, you can always feed them with protein and organic fresh vegetables.

Appearance and Behaviour

• Pak Chong isopods do not have any unique needs. It can grow up to 0.71 inches in length.

• These isopods are easily a favorite because of their outstanding color pattern. They have white edges and a blue-to-gray tint with orange-to-red tail ends and faces.

• These isopods are slow breeders. Once established, they reproduce very frequently. They would make a wonderful color addition to any isopod collection.

• These isopods exhibit unique traits. They can supply moisture to one another. They often roll up into a protective stance and squeeze in tight.

• These isopods slow down movement when the temperature in the enclosure rises. They do so in order to store energy that they can later use for traveling to a secure location.

• In the case of colder climates, Pak Chong isopods can be seen moving around very quickly across longer distances. They are in search of food and refuge. 

• Pak Chong isopods are climbers. If you keep them in exposed closures, they might find a way to escape.

Pak Chong Isopods thrive in well-humid and warm environments. They can breed in many kinds of vivarium and terrarium settings. 

These isopods must have adequate ventilation as they are cave species. You should keep around 2 inches of space that will allow air to circulate through the enclosure. This will help them thrive.

Pak Chong isopods can be stored in vivarium and terrariums alike. They must be stored in closed enclosures to save them from escaping.

Pak Chong isopods love leaf litter. They prefer ample amounts of moss to hide and explore in.

These isopods will need a sufficient amount of calcium supply in order to thrive. You can add limestone, cuttlebone, or eggshells in the substrate mix in order to ensure they get a good calcium supply. A great mix of natural calcium sources for isopods will make a tasty and nutritious treat for them.

The substrate mix for these isopods should be at least 3 inches. You must provide a nourishing substrate mix in order to maintain their health. You can add extras like bat droppings, shrimp meal, and rotting wood. You can also add potty soil to their substrate.

You can also add coconut coir, peat moss, and a slightly moist layer of leaf litter.