Cubaris Mur i n a
(Brandt, 1833)
Branch: Arthropoda
Sub-branch: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Under order: Oniscidea
Family: Armadillidae
Gender: Cubaris
Species: Cubaris murina
They are gray and have two orange spots on the end of the abdomen.
Tropical and subtropical areas of all continents
Ideal species to start with Cubaris
Development
Fairly fast - Prolific species
Lifetime
➡️ 1 to 2 years
Diurnal species, active and visible during the day.
What you need:
To protect themselves from attackers, Cubaris murina use two techniques. The first and most used is flight! They are very fast. The second is volvation, that is to say, rolling into a ball to protect themselves! Many animals such as snakes, hedgehogs or even iules use this technique.
The reproduction of Cubaris murina is very simple.
The incubation of the eggs takes place directly in the abdomen of the female in a pouch called a marsupial pouch or marsupium and lasts about 2 weeks. The young at birth are white and measure about 1mm.
Laying occurs shortly after mating (2 to 3 weeks). At each laying, around twenty young can be born.
Temperature
Possible breeding between 22 and 28°C .
Hygrometry
70-80% . This species appreciates a humid atmosphere. As with most isopods, it is advisable to separate the terrarium into 2 zones, a humid zone and a dry zone.
If the terrarium is very airy and the substrate dries out too quickly, you can spray a little water.
Terrarium
Many possibilities to raise them. We can use braplast boxes or other plastic boxes with ventilation but also aquariums or terrariums. The size will depend on the number of individuals and will therefore have to be adapted to the growth of the colony. For example, in a 5L box we can keep about 20 individuals. Then in a 10L about 30/40 individuals.
It is possible to create bioactive environments by raising Cubaris murina with other animals.
Substrate
The substrate is a mixture of decomposed oak, beech or chestnut leaves and decomposed wood. This is the litter layer of deciduous forests. The whole will be crushed as finely as possible and then placed at the bottom of the terrarium. An area with whole or coarsely crushed leaves can also be placed.
Decorations and additional elements
Bark will be placed on the substrate to create hiding places. The isopods will gather at this level. We can also add some stones, moss, branches and even natural plants .
Food
They are detritivores and they feed on decomposing organic matter. The basic food will therefore be the substrate . Then we can add pieces of vegetables and fruit . Preferably vegetables and fruits that keep over time and do not go moldy too quickly: zucchini, cucumber, squash, apple, banana, ... It will therefore be necessary to adapt the quantity of food according to the size of your colony.
Supplements
A protein source : dehydrated shrimp are very popular, as is our special isopod mix.
A calcium intake : Cuttlefish bone or calcium powder.
