Small Cork Bark Tube

A natural hollow cork bark tube — a ready-made tunnel and hide that's an excellent addition to any isopod, millipede, or cockroach enclosure. Cork is the bark of the cork oak, which naturally forms curved, tube-like sections, so each piece is a genuine slice of hollow bark rather than anything manufactured. Where a flat piece of cork makes a hide to shelter under, a tube gives your inverts an enclosed space to crawl through and tuck themselves inside — a more secure, den-like retreat that many species particularly favour.

Why a Cork Tube?

• Enclosed shelter — the hollow centre gives inverts a snug, secure space to gather, moult, and retreat into, which many species prefer over open hides
• Natural tunnel — isopods and millipedes will crawl through and explore it, adding interest and structure to the enclosure
• Climbing surface — the curved, textured bark gives good grip for climbing inside and out
• Holds humidity — the enclosed space traps a little extra moisture, creating a humid microclimate your inverts can retreat to
• Food source — as with all cork, your isopods will gradually nibble on it over time
• Naturalistic look — a tube of real cork bark looks great as a natural centrepiece in a display setup

How to Use

Lay the tube on the substrate surface as a tunnel for your inverts to pass through and shelter inside. Positioning it across the moisture gradient — so one end sits in the damper zone and the other in the drier area — gives your colony a choice of conditions within a single hide. You can also half-bury it for a more naturalistic burrow effect, or prop it against cork bark and other décor to build multi-level structures with chambers and crevices. Millipedes in particular take readily to tube hides, often resting inside them during the day.

We Recommend Baking Before Use

While shop-bought cork bark is generally low risk, baking it before adding it to your enclosure is a simple precaution that kills off any unwanted hitchhikers, mites, pest insects, or their eggs that may be hiding in the bark's crevices. Pop it in the oven at around 200°C for 30 minutes. Cork is a natural insulator, so the heat needs time to penetrate through to the core. Keep the temperature below 300°C to stay safely below cork's ignition point, and keep an eye on it while it bakes. Allow it to cool completely before placing it in your enclosure.

Please Note

As cork bark is a natural product, the size, shape, and curve of each tube will vary, and each piece is picked at random.

Size

Small — ideal for starter tubs, smaller enclosures, or as one of several hides in a larger setup. Browse our full accessories collection for flat cork bark, leaf litter, and the other components of a complete naturalistic setup, and our isopods and millipedes collections for the inverts these tubes are made for.