Rubber Bee Isopods (Cubaris sp.)

Half the people who ask about the Rubber Bee want to know the same thing first: is it just another name for the Rubber Ducky? It is not. They are separate species that happen to share a yellow-and-dark front, and the giveaway is the back end. Where the Rubber Ducky stops at yellow and dark, the Rubber Bee finishes on a clean white rear, giving it a full three-part colour run down the body. That tricolour is the whole appeal, and it is why this Thai Cubaris sits in the premium tier. Every one we send is captive-bred here in the UK.

Introduction

This is Cubaris sp. 'Rubber Bee', a flashy tricolour species from Thailand: a bright yellow face and front segment, a deep navy-to-black midsection, and that clean white rear. It is worth knowing it looks almost identical to the Venezillo 'Daxin Tricolor', the main tell being that the Daxin runs a deeper orange front and a colourless rather than white tail. Alongside the Bumblebee and the Rubber Ducky, it is one of the more sought-after Thai cave species in the genus.

Appearance

A medium Cubaris at up to around 15 mm, carrying the three-part colour sequence that defines it. The white rear is the feature to look for; it is what separates a Rubber Bee from the otherwise-similar Rubber Ducky on sight. The full pattern firms up as juveniles mature through their moults. Like the rest of the genus they conglobate into a tight ball when disturbed.

Care

The one thing that makes or breaks a Rubber Bee is consistency. It is a warm, tropical species wanting 21 to 27°C and humidity around 70 to 80%, but the trap is moisture: it wants damp air, not a wet tub, and waterlogging brings moult failures and sudden losses. Keep one side more humid with damp sphagnum and light misting, the other drier with leaf litter and airflow, and aim for substrate like a wrung-out sponge. Build it deep, 5 to 8 cm, on organic topsoil, flake soil and white-rotted wood rather than coco coir, with crushed limestone or oyster shell worked through for constant calcium. When in doubt, err slightly drier and lift the ventilation. Our calcium guide covers the mineral side.

Diet

Rubber Bees are detritivores, so hardwood leaf litter and decaying wood are the constant base. Add small amounts of vegetable once or twice a week, the occasional soft fruit, regular protein such as fish flake or dried shrimp, and a permanent calcium source for clean moults. Clear uneaten fresh food within a day or two, as it spoils fast in the humidity and can feed the mould these want no part of. A springtail culture alongside earns its keep.

Breeding

Breeding is slow to moderate and rewards patience. A new group establishes gradually, then, once it has momentum and conditions are held steady, reproduces readily and close to year-round. Females brood their eggs and release fully-formed live young, and the tricolour comes in as the juveniles mature. Start with a group rather than a pair, keep the calcium constant and the conditions stable, and let them settle without interference.

Who is this for?

The Rubber Bee suits the keeper who loves the Rubber Ducky look but wants more colour and more to watch, since it is noticeably more day-active than most premium Cubaris, and the collector building a tricolour Thai shelf. It is a medium-difficulty species that punishes fluctuating conditions, so it is not a first isopod; if you are new to the genus, learn on the hardy Cubaris murina first and step up once you can hold conditions steady.

All stock is captive-bred here in the UK and travels under our live arrival guarantee, in a ventilated deli tub with damp sphagnum inside a double-walled box. We post Monday to Thursday by Royal Mail next day before 1pm, with a 20% overcount in every order. Setup components are in our accessories range.