The rubber ducky isopod is a prized, as-yet-undescribed Cubaris species (trade name only) named for its duck-shaped profile, sought after by collectors. It is slower-breeding and more humidity-demanding than common isopods, placing it at intermediate difficulty.
ℹ️
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Small; about 1.2-1.5 cm (0.5 in), with a duck-bill-like profile.
Lifespan
2–3 years
Social needs
group
Native region
Southeast Asia (limestone caves of Thailand/Vietnam)
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, coco + bark
Cubaris sp. 'rubber ducky' is a slow-breeding humidity-loving Cubaris. 5 cm coco/bark substrate, deep leaf litter, multiple cork hides, sphagnum patch, and high humidity (~80%). Stable conditions are critical.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Larger bioactive tub
12 × 12 × 6 in bin, deep leaf litter
A larger bin with deep substrate and leaf litter, varied hides, calcium, and stable humidity. Rubber duckies are notoriously slow to grow and breed.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Bioactive display vivarium
10–20 gal bioactive vivarium
A planted humid bioactive display with mosses, deep leaf litter, and stable parameters. Showcases the distinctive 'rubber duck' silhouette of this premium Cubaris.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
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.
Photo coming soon
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.
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.
Habitat & enclosure
Keep a colony in a ventilated terrarium with deep, consistently moist substrate and ample hides. Maintain stable warmth (21-26 C) and high humidity (70-80%) with a moist substrate and good airflow. Cubaris dislike sudden swings, so aim for stability over a small tub.
Substrate
Deep moist coco fiber/topsoil with crushed limestone, leaf litter, and rotting wood; keep consistently damp to mimic their humid limestone habitat.
Equipment & setup
Ventilated terrarium, deep substrate, limestone/cuttlebone, leaf-litter and bark hides, spray bottle, hygrometer, and a heat mat in cool rooms.
Diet
A detritivore eating leaf litter, rotting hardwood, and a protein source, with a strong calcium requirement (limestone, cuttlebone, eggshell) reflecting their limestone-cave origins. Offer occasional vegetables and remove uneaten food to prevent mold.
Behavior & temperament
Slower-moving and shyer than Porcellio, spending much time hidden in substrate and litter. A 'roller' type that can conglobate (tuck into a ball) when disturbed. Breeds slowly, so colonies grow gradually — patience is required before harvesting offspring.
Health
More sensitive than beginner isopods to drying out and instability; colony stalls come from low humidity, poor calcium, or temperature swings. Provide deep moist substrate, limestone for calcium, and steady conditions. Avoid disturbing the colony frequently.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Buy a starter group of 10+ to establish genetic diversity and a viable colony, and resist disturbing them while they settle. Crushed limestone in the substrate both buffers calcium and recreates their natural cave habitat.
