Cubaris spec. “White Tiger”

Cubaris spec. “White Tiger” – elegance in stripes

Cubaris spec. “White Tiger” is a particularly attractive species of isopod from Southeast Asia, which owes its name to its distinctive striped pattern. The carapace has a light base tone, which is crossed by clearly defined, dark transverse bands. This high-contrast pattern is reminiscent of the fur of a tiger, but looks much more elegant in the soft white and cream tones of the species. Depending on the incidence of light, the carapace shimmers slightly and gives the animals an almost noble look.

In its natural habitat, the “White Tiger” lives in moist, well-structured forest floors under leaves, moss or rotten wood. It prefers similar conditions in the terrarium: Temperatures between 22 and 26 °C, a humidity of around 75-85 % and a varied substrate are ideal. A mixture of leaf humus, white rotten wood, moss and a lime additive has proved particularly effective for healthy shell formation. A wet/dry separation should always be maintained to allow the animals to choose between different microclimate zones.

Cubaris spec. “White Tiger” is considered a rather quiet species that likes to withdraw during the day and is particularly active in the evening and at night. After spraying, however, they can often be seen exploring and feeding. As part of a functioning soil police force, they contribute significantly to the decomposition of organic material and thus support the stability of a bioactive terrarium.

Breeding is possible under good husbandry conditions. Females carry their young in a brood pouch until they are independent enough. Young animals are often somewhat paler in color, but develop the typical “tiger stripes” with each moult, which make this species so desirable.

Cubaris spec. “White Tiger” is therefore not only a useful inhabitant, but also a real eye-catcher for any terrarium – perfect for collectors of rare isopod species and lovers of bioactive setups.