Red Edge Blonde Isopods (Cubaris sp.)

Red Edge Blonde Isopods are one of the rarest morphs of Red Edge Isopods, these species are selectively bred and cultured for their color mutation.  They may look similar to albino except that they have white with a light peach highlight on their exoskeleton and black eyes. This variant is quite hardy, and they are beginner-friendly, too.

Summary

●    Origin: Japan

●  Scientific Name: Cubaris sp. "Red Edge Blonde" or "Red Skirt Blonde"

●      Maintenance required: Medium

●      Temperature: 70℉-80℉

●      Average Size: 1.3 cm

●      Rarity: high

●      Humidity: 70%-80%

●      Favorite food: Rotting wood, leaf litter

●      Supplements: Bat guano, bee pollen, Cuttlefish bone

Red Edge "Blonde" Isopods: Abstract

One of the lesser known Cubaris species, this isopod is easy to maintain and take care of in captivity. They are prolific in nature and thrive in easier conditions unlike other Cubaris sp. isopods. Being native to Japan, these species can tolerate extreme temperature and humidity. Their striking colors and features make them a great addition for display in your vivarium and terrarium. 

Physical Features and Characteristics

●      The Red edge "Blonde" isopods are one of the rarest morphs of red-edge isopods, which have been cultured by isolating these morphs in a different enclosure.

●      They are hardy and prolific in nature. These species breed quickly and are active throughout the day.

●      They survive well in tropical and subtropical climates and are a great beginner-friendly isopod species.

●      The average size of an adult is around 1.3 cm in length.

●      Have a beautiful white shell with peach shade on the skirts, thus giving the "blond" appearance.

●      When they feel threatened or disturbed, they scurry away into their hiding place.

●      These critters can be paired up with springtails to keep the enclosure clean.

●      Detritus in nature, i.e., they feed on decaying animals, plants, and fungi.

●      Their appetites are larger than their appearance, and they are not picky eaters.

Red Edge "Blonde" Isopods: Diet

The decomposing leaf litter or wood is a favorite food source for Red Edge "Blonde" isopods. They can feast on vegetables, dry shrimp, and pieces of fungus. Due to their increased reliance on decomposing matter, they participate significantly in the environment's decomposition process.

Providing balanced and nutritional food could help preserve these creatures' health. It also significantly impacts their ability to reproduce and the well-being of the offspring they raise. Calcium-rich foods like Cuttlebone may be included in the supplements. They love protein, so adding fish pellets and meat scraps can help them achieve the necessary nutrition. You can also include superfoods for the isopods as they contain all the necessary nutrients. Feed these superfoods twice a month to get that balanced nutrition.

Basic Care for Red Edge "Blonde" Isopods

These species require very less maintenance and care, yet still there are certain key points one must keep in mind when culturing these beauties.

●      When creating an artificial habitat, make sure to mimic its natural environment as closely as possible.

●      Though these critters are very forgiving and withstand extreme temperatures, maintaining the ideal temperature is best to promote breeding.

●      These species love humid environments and high temperatures. Make sure to mist 50% of the enclosure with water and leave the rest dry.

●      Make sure to mist the same area that was done before, and don't change the moisture gradient of the enclosure.

●      Though they have a large appetite, make sure not to overfeed them. Overfeeding foods can attract unwanted insects and pests.

●      Maintain the hygiene inside the enclosure and clean any excess food and molt that is found in the enclosure.

●      Observe their activities and monitor them to understand if they are well established in the artificial environment.

●      Add enough hiding spaces like barks and egg crates for the isopods to form their own colonies.

●      When the enclosure seems to have a large population, some of the colonies are rehomed in a different enclosure.

Red Edge "Blonde" Isopods: How to Build an Enclosure?

To house these rare and unique isopods, it is important to build a perfect artificial setup for the isopods to grow and thrive. Here are some of the tips to rear these species and produce healthy brood inside the enclosure:

●      It is highly recommended that you use a plastic container to make an enclosure for your pets. The enclosure should have a proper lid with a lock to ensure safety. The container should be approximately eleven liters in size.

●      Holes should be provided in the container covering all sides of the enclosure. These holes should be covered with the mesh to avoid the escape of your pets. These species have the tendency to climb on the walls of the container. These meshes will help in preventing their escape outside the container.

●      It is to be ensured that the container is clean and the substrate mix is added to it. It should contain hardwood leaves and pieces of charcoal. Supplements of calcium may be provided to ensure a good growth of the isopods. Perlite can also be added to provide them with additional nutrition.

●      The substrate may be restricted between one inch and three inches. Moss can be added to the container with a suitable thickness of 5-7 cm. These species are more interested in hiding than in burrows.

●      Enough number of hide out places should be provided in the container. In addition, the areas which are wet and dry should be equally divided. By providing this option, your pets can choose their desired environment.

●      The area selected as the wet area should be sprayed with water in the form of a mist. It is to be ensured that you do not get confused with the area which is divided as wet and dry area. The dry area should be kept perfectly dry.

●      Based on the population inside the enclosure, you can maintain a separate enclosure so that the population is evenly divided between the enclosures.