The Lemon Blue (Cubaris sp. "Lemon Blue") is a Thai Cubaris with a dark, shimmering blue center framed by a bright lemon yellow skirt. It is one of the larger Cubaris in the hobby and one of the most striking. Like most Cubaris, it comes from limestone karst habitat, which tells you what it wants: humidity, calcium, and a stable, well ventilated home. This guide covers how we recommend keeping them.
Lemon Blue Isopod Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Cubaris sp. "Lemon Blue"
- Origin: Thailand (limestone karst habitat)
- Adult size: Up to about 2 cm
- Care level: Intermediate
- Temperature: 72 to 80°F
- Humidity: Moist side kept damp, with a drier side
- Ventilation: Moderate, cross ventilated
- Breeding rate: Moderate, small broods
- Activity: Nocturnal, calm and cryptic
- Lifespan: Commonly reported at 2 to 3 years
Enclosure Setup
A 6 quart tub is a good start for a small colony. Add cross ventilation on two opposite sides so air moves through without drying everything out.
Use 3 to 4 inches of substrate. We use our own ABG style mix in every bin: 12 parts sphagnum moss, 6 parts coco fiber, 4 parts orchid bark, 2 parts charcoal, and 2 parts worm castings. The full recipe is in our ABG substrate guide.
On top of the substrate, add:
- A thick layer of hardwood leaf litter, topped up as it gets eaten
- Decaying hardwood
- Cuttlebone for calcium, available at all times
- A culture of Tropical Pink springtails to keep mold and leftovers in check
Cork bark flats and leaf piles give them places to hide. Lemon Blues are calm and cryptic, and more cover means a more settled colony.
Humidity and the Moisture Gradient
Keep about half of the enclosure damp and the rest drier. A clump of damp sphagnum on the wet side helps. Mist the damp side when the surface starts to dry. Never let the whole bin dry out, and never let it turn swampy with no airflow.
Published humidity ranges for Lemon Blues are inconsistent, so let the animals guide you. Crowding the wettest spot means too dry. Crowding the driest corner means too wet or too stagnant.
Temperature
Aim for 72 to 80°F. Lemon Blues come from a warm climate, and colonies kept consistently cool tend to breed slower. Keep them away from direct sun and heat sources.
Feeding
Leaf litter and decaying hardwood are the base of the diet and should always be available. We rotate small amounts of fish flakes, freeze dried shrimp, and occasional soft vegetables, and we remove leftovers within a day or two.
Calcium matters for every Cubaris. Keep cuttlebone in the bin at all times.
Breeding
Lemon Blues breed at a moderate pace with small broods. Most sources say a new colony takes roughly three to four months to really establish. Stable conditions, steady calcium, deep leaf litter, and minimal disturbance are what move that along.
Young Lemon Blues often look duller than adults. Color fills in as they grow and molt.
Common Mistakes
- Stagnant, soaking bins. Humidity needs airflow alongside it.
- A bin that dries out completely. Keep the damp side damp.
- No calcium. Keep cuttlebone available.
- Too much disturbance. Let a new colony settle.
Common Questions About Lemon Blue Isopods
Where do Lemon Blue isopods come from?
Thailand, from limestone karst habitat like most Cubaris in the hobby.
How big do Lemon Blue isopods get?
Adults reach up to about 2 cm, which puts them among the larger Cubaris.
Are Lemon Blues the same as Powder Blues?
No. Powder Blues are Porcellionides pruinosus, a completely different and much more common species. Lemon Blues are a Cubaris.
How long until my Lemon Blues breed?
Expect a few months for a new colony to settle and start producing steadily.
Why are my juvenile Lemon Blues not very colorful?
Color develops as they mature and molt. Give them time, stable care, and a varied diet.
Where to Buy Lemon Blue Isopods
All Lemon Blue Isopods at Creature Cache are captive bred and ship FedEx Priority Overnight with a 100% live arrival guarantee. Shop Lemon Blue Isopods and pair them with a Tropical Pink springtail culture, or join the Creature Club for restock alerts and 10% off your first order.
More reading: How to Set Up Your First Isopod Enclosure, our ABG substrate recipe, and our springtail care guide.
Questions about your animals? Email us anytime at info@creaturecache.com.