Cubaris murina "Mandarin"

Cubaris murina "Mandarin" is an incredibly bright, eye-catching, and highly popular designer morph of the classic little sea isopod. True to its name, this variety completely strips away the dark grey tones found on wild-type individuals, replacing the entire carapace with a solid, glowing wash of bright tangerine-orange or rich peach. They feature a smooth, neat, and highly domed body structure typical of the genus. As a true rolling species, they excel at defensive conglobation, curving themselves into a tight, perfect little orange bead when they feel startled or handled. They look absolutely incredible moving across dark soil, green live moss, and natural cork bark, making them highly addictive to collect.

This morph is an absolute benchmark choice for total beginners looking for a colorful, zero-stress entry into the Cubaris genus, as well as reptile and amphibian keepers who need an exceptional cleanup crew. Because they are highly adaptive and carry robust genetics, they are far more forgiving than finicky exotic cave species like Rubber Duckies. They are a perfect fit for humid tropical bioactive terrariums housing dart frogs, geckos, and small lizards, as they efficiently break down waste, mold, and decaying leaves while providing a stunning pop of high-contrast color to the floor.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cubaris murina "Mandarin"

ORIGIN: The broader species is native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, particularly Southeast Asia and the Americas, with this specific solid orange mutation perfected in captivity.

DIFFICULTY: Very Easy / Beginner (Excellent starter Cubaris)

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 18-26°C. They do perfectly at standard room temperatures, but maintaining them around 22-25°C keeps them highly active and breeding consistently.

HUMIDITY & MOISTURE: 75-85% humidity. They require a moist, humid environment to thrive but still need a clean moisture gradient. Keep roughly half of the enclosure damp with a deep patch of wet sphagnum moss on one side for hydration, leaving the opposite side damp-dry under bark cover. They are highly resilient to minor moisture fluctuations, making them very user-friendly.

DIETARY NEEDS: Their everyday diet relies on a permanent supply of organic leaf litter and crumbling white-rotted wood. They have an excellent appetite for supplemental nutrition and should be fed protein sources like high-quality fish flakes, dried shrimp, or minnows once or twice a week. A continuous source of calcium, such as cuttlefish bone or limestone chunks, must be kept in the setup at all times for safe molting.

ACTIVITY LEVELS: High. They have a confident and non-cryptic disposition, regularly seen out roaming, gathering under bark hides, and exploring the mossy patches of their habitat during both day and night.

REPRODUCTION RATE: Prolific. Unlike many slower exotic cave woodlice, the Mandarin line reproduces reliably and establishes dense colony numbers at a very satisfying, steady pace.

SIZES: You will receive a healthy mix of sizes ranging from small growing juveniles to young adults, providing an optimal demographic mix to jumpstart your culture. As a smaller species, fully grown adults reach a maximum length of only about 1.0cm to 1.2cm. Fragile newborn mancae are never intentionally counted or shipped, though some may emerge naturally during transit.

PACKAGING: The isopods travel in ventilated tubs filled with damp sphagnum moss to maintain proper transit moisture. These containers are securely nested inside a sturdy shipping box padded with paper or cardboard to protect them from temperature drops and movement.

100% LIVE ARRIVAL: At TerraPods, we offer a 100% live arrival guarantee

20% OVERCOUNT: All isopod packages will come with a 20% overcount