A sought-after black-and-white 'panda'-patterned cave isopod from Southeast Asia, popular as a display rolling species. More demanding than Porcellio/Armadillidium, needing stable warmth, high humidity, and patience as it breeds slowly.
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Southeast Asia (cave and limestone habitats, e.g. Vietnam/Thailand region)
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Armadillidae
Genus
Cubaris
Part of the Isopods
Terrestrial isopods (woodlice, pillbugs, sowbugs) are land crustaceans kept as bioactive clean-up crews and colorful display colonies. They are low-cost, low-maintenance detritivores ideal for beginners.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Humid bioactive tub
6 × 9 × 6 in bin, leaf litter
Cubaris sp. 'panda king' is a high-value, humidity-loving Cubaris. 5 cm coco/orchid bark substrate with deep leaf litter, multiple cork hides, sphagnum patch, and high humidity (~80%). Slow breeders.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Larger bioactive tub
12 × 12 × 6 in bin, deep leaf litter
A larger bin with deep substrate and leaf litter, multiple hides, calcium, and stable humidity. Panda kings are sensitive to fluctuations — stable conditions matter more than space.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Bioactive display vivarium
10–20 gal bioactive vivarium
A planted humid bioactive vivarium with leaf litter, mosses, and gentle airflow. Generous setup supports their slow breeding and showcases the striking black/white pattern.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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Egg
These invertebrates lay eggs — often in a guarded clutch, a silk sac (spiders), or a brood (carried by female isopods). The eggs are small and soft and develop without a true larval or pupal transformation.
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Juvenile
Juveniles hatch as miniature versions of the adult and grow by molting their exoskeleton (or, in snails, by enlarging the shell). They gain size, segments, or leg pairs and gradually take on adult coloration with each molt.
Photo coming soon
Adult
Adults reach full size and reproductive maturity with the species' mature form and coloration. Many arachnids and myriapods continue to molt as adults, and sexes can differ in size or in specialized appendages.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Natural
Panda King
UncommonIntermediate
The standard black-and-white panda-patterned Cubaris cave isopod from Southeast Asia; a sought-after rolling display species that breeds slowly.
Tip: Stability is everything — keep one side of the substrate consistently moist with a stable 72-82 F and feed extra protein to spur the slow breeding; do not over-ventilate or let the burrowing layer dry out.
Red Panda King
RareIntermediate
A reddish-toned line of the Panda King in which the dark markings carry a warm red cast; scarcer and pricier than the standard form.
Tip: Red tones intensify with good calcium and stable warmth — keep limestone available and temperatures steady, and start with a group of 10+ since slow reproduction makes small starter cultures fragile.
White Panda King
RareIntermediate
A paler, predominantly white-patterned line of the Panda King with reduced dark pigment, prized for its high-contrast clean appearance.
Tip: Pale lines are slow to bulk up a colony — be patient, avoid mixing with darker Panda King lines if you want to keep the white line pure, and hold humidity steady to prevent stalled molts.
Pink Panda King
Ultra-rareIntermediate
A scarce pink-hued color line of the Panda King and one of the most coveted Cubaris morphs; commands premium prices in the trade.
Tip: Given the cost and slow growth, dedicate a sealed, gasket-lid tub with a heat mat on a thermostat to hold stable warmth and humidity — a single humidity crash can wipe out an expensive starter group.
Habitat & enclosure
A 6 qt (5.7 L) gasket-sealed tub or small glass enclosure suits a starter culture. Keep roughly half the substrate moist with forest moss, decaying white wood, and leaf litter, leaving a slightly drier zone. Target a stable 72-82 F (22-28 C) and 55-75% humidity. High humidity with gentle ventilation and stable temperatures are key; avoid swings and drying out. A naming note: this and most pet 'Cubaris' are undescribed species placed in family Armadillidae.
Substrate
1-3 in (2.5-7.5 cm) of moisture-retentive coco coir or ABG mix amended with crushed limestone for calcium, plenty of leaf litter, and chunks of decaying white wood. Add sphagnum/forest moss to hold humidity and cork bark/cork rounds for hides. Keep the burrowing layer consistently moist on one side.
Equipment & setup
Usually room temperature is sufficient, but in cool homes a low-wattage heat mat on a thermostat helps hold 72-82 F. Needs a humidity-retentive sealed tub with modest ventilation, spray bottle, moss, leaf litter, cork hides, and a calcium supplement.
Diet
Detritivore with a notable protein appetite. Base the diet on leaf litter and rotting white hardwood, with a constant calcium source (cuttlebone, eggshell, limestone). Offer protein regularly (freeze-dried minnows/shrimp, fish pellets, dried insects) and vegetables such as radish, carrot, and zucchini, plus a commercial isopod food. Remove wet food before it molds.
Behavior & temperament
Shy burrower that spends most of the day hidden, emerging at night to forage. Rolls into a ball when disturbed and is completely non-defensive. Tolerates brief gentle handling but is best treated as a display species. No risk to keepers, pets, or plants. Patience is needed since they are secretive.
Health
More sensitive than common isopods. Main risks are humidity crashes, temperature swings, and letting the moist zone dry out, any of which stall or collapse the colony. Maintain steady warmth and moisture and ample calcium for clean molts. Slow to reproduce, so colonies build gradually. Use pesticide-free materials and a sealed, ventilated tub.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Stability is everything: keep temperature and humidity steady and provide a deep moist burrowing layer. Do not over-ventilate or let it dry out. Feed extra protein to encourage breeding, but watch for mites. Buy a starter group of 10+ and be patient; mature colonies become self-sustaining.