A photograph of a single Cubaris murina (Papaya Isopod)
A photograph of a single Cubaris murina (Papaya Isopod)

Papaya Isopods

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Papaya Isopods get their name from their striking soft orange-peach base coloration with mottled patterning that really does call to mind the fruit itself. As part of the Cubaris murina species, they've got the classic conglobating look with a smooth, rounded shell, and they tend to be a bit more deliberate movers compared to faster species like Porcellionides pruinosus. They do best with a bit more humidity and cover than some of the hardier temperate species, favoring cork bark and leaf litter to hide under during the day. Breeding is steady rather than explosive, so colonies build up at a manageable pace, and their calm demeanor combined with that eye-catching color makes them a favorite for collectors who want something a little more visually striking in their bioactive setup.

Papaya Isopods get their name from their striking soft orange-peach base coloration with mottled patterning that really does call to mind the fruit itself. As part of the Cubaris murina species, they've got the classic conglobating look with a smooth, rounded shell, and they tend to be a bit more deliberate movers compared to faster species like Porcellionides pruinosus. They do best with a bit more humidity and cover than some of the hardier temperate species, favoring cork bark and leaf litter to hide under during the day. Breeding is steady rather than explosive, so colonies build up at a manageable pace, and their calm demeanor combined with that eye-catching color makes them a favorite for collectors who want something a little more visually striking in their bioactive setup.

What's the ideal diet for your Papaya Isopods?

We highly recommend feeding this species a balanced diet of vegetables & proteins. Additionally, we suggest adding cuttlebone or crushed eggshells to the enclosure to boost calcium intake. For vegetables, we recommend bok choy, mustard greens, and collard greens, as well as organic butternut squash or any other squash that is readily available. Cucumbers can be given for water only as they are very quick to rot, and mold. One item to note is that isopods themselves do not eat mold, and mold/fungus are naturally occurring in the air, so springtails are a must for all kinds of isopods to keep mold spores to a minimum.

What is the best way to keep and breed your Papaya Isopods?

We highly recommend keeping isopods on Royal Soil, with Cork Round or Cork Flats for cover, along with additional springtails such as Folsomia candida to help keep mold from building up in the enclosure. Maintaining a damp side and a drier side allows your isopods to move between microclimates and hydrate as needed. We do not recommend a water dish, as isopods can easily drown in them. Instead we highly recommend you offer them water crystals or vegetables with high moisture content such as squash to keep them hydrated.

What is the best type of habitat to use Papaya Isopods for bioactive?

Tropical setups favor denser cover and richer substrate layering. Use a deeper substrate base (3-4 inches) with Royal Soil, topped with sphagnum moss on the damp side and leaf litter for grazing material and cover. Add Cork Bark Flats and driftwood pieces for climbing, plus live tropical plants (pothos, moss, or ferns) if the enclosure allows for it.