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White Shark Isopod (Cubaris sp.)
Cubaris sp. 'White Shark'
A prized Cubaris isopod morph featuring a pure white exoskeleton with prominent black eyespots, creating a striking 'white shark' face. Extremely delicate.
Class:Malacostraca
Order:Isopoda
Family:Armadillidae
Genus:Cubaris
Species:Cubaris sp. 'White Shark'
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 85 %
Day temperature
23 - 27 °C
Night temperature
20 - 23 °C
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the highly humid limestone caves and tropical rainforest understory of Thailand. They inhabit microclimates rich in moisture and calcium, often found under leaf litter and near underground water sources.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the Armadillidae family under the genus Cubaris. The "White Shark" is a specific mutation or closely related form of the cave-dwelling species, prized for its distinct lack of pigmentation, leaving only the dark photoreceptors visible.
Behavior and Habits: Extremely shy, slow-moving, and nocturnal. As a cave-adapted isopod, it avoids light and spends most of its time burrowed in the substrate or hiding under stones and bark, feeding on decaying organic matter.
Morphology: Features a highly domed, smooth exoskeleton of a ghostly, chalk-white color. The name refers to the white facial mask and prominent black eyespots. Sexual dimorphism is negligible, though mature females may carry a visible brood pouch (marsupium).
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Provide a bioactive enclosure with a deep, organic substrate (at least 7 cm) mixed with calcium sources like crushed limestone. Offer abundant leaf litter, rotten wood, and cork bark hides to create secure shelters.
Lighting and Heating: Avoid direct light, as they are highly sensitive to illumination. Maintain stable tropical temperatures between 23–28°C. Cold temperatures can slow their metabolism and halt reproduction. A side-mounted heat mat is recommended if necessary.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels between 75–90%. Use reverse osmosis water to mist the enclosure, keeping a distinct moisture gradient with a damp side and a slightly drier side. Good cross-ventilation is essential to prevent mold growth.
Feeding and Supplementation: Detritivorous. Their main diet consists of decaying leaves and rotten wood. Supplement with powdered calcium, cuttlebone, and high-protein foods like fish flakes or yeast in moderation once a week.
Compatibility: Best kept in a species-only culture. Due to their slow reproduction and high value, they should not be housed with other isopod species or used as a cleanup crew in active reptile or amphibian enclosures.
Health and Common Diseases: Prone to desiccation and molting issues if humidity drops too low. Stagnant air and overwatering can lead to bacterial infections. Minimise disturbance of the colony to reduce stress and promote breeding.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the highly humid limestone caves and tropical rainforest understory of Thailand. They inhabit microclimates rich in moisture and calcium, often found under leaf litter and near underground water sources.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsCentral America and CaribbeanSouth and Southeast Asia
Terrestrial invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Venom level
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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