Lemon Spiky isopods (Laureola sp. "Lemon Spiky") are a rare spiked isopod from Vietnam with bright lemon yellow color and a heavily textured, spiny shell. They share a genus with our Durian Spiky and typically grow a little larger. The biggest difference from most isopods is that Lemon Spikies do not burrow. They live on bark, moss, and leaf cover, so their enclosure is built around surfaces rather than deep substrate.
Lemon Spiky Isopod Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Laureola sp. "Lemon Spiky"
- Origin: Vietnam
- Adult size: Slightly larger than Durian Spiky
- Care level: Intermediate
- Temperature: 72 to 80°F
- Humidity: High, with a clear moisture gradient and a drier zone
- Ventilation: Moderate, never stagnant
- Breeding rate: Slow
- Activity: Surface dweller on bark, moss, and leaf cover. Does not burrow
Enclosure Setup
A 6 quart tub works for a starter group. Use cross ventilation so the bin stays humid but fresh.
Since Lemon Spikies stay on the surface, the layers on top matter more than substrate depth. Use 2 to 3 inches of our ABG style mix as a moisture holding base (recipe here), then build up:
- 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
- Angled pieces of cork bark, which create more covered surfaces and gaps than one flat hide
- A mossy area on the damp side. Keepers often find them hanging around the tips of moss
- Lichen covered sticks, which double as climbing structure and a favorite food
Keep the leaf litter loose and layered so they have room to move between leaves. Compacted, flat litter gives them less cover and less to graze.
Humidity and the Moisture Gradient
Lemon Spikies want high humidity, but stale, wet air is a common reason spiky colonies decline. Keep one side damp with sphagnum and moss, keep the other side drier with leaf litter and thin bark, and make sure air moves through the bin. Do not soak the whole enclosure. The gradient is what lets them choose.
Temperature
Keep them at normal room temperature, roughly 72 to 80°F, and avoid hot spots. Stable temperatures matter more than hitting an exact number.
Feeding
Most of what Lemon Spikies eat comes from the enclosure itself: leaf litter, decaying wood, and lichen. Keep those plentiful. Small, occasional extras like fish flakes or freeze dried shrimp are fine, removed after a day or two. Keep cuttlebone available at all times, since spiky species carry a lot of shell.
Breeding
Lemon Spikies are slow breeders, slower than Durians in most keepers' experience. Give a new group stable conditions and plenty of cover, avoid lifting bark constantly, and expect it to take time before you see young. Mancae often shelter in moss at first.
Common Mistakes
- Setting them up like a burrowing species. Bare floor and deep substrate with little cover pushes the colony into one corner.
- Wet, stale air. Humidity needs airflow.
- Thin leaf litter. It is both their cover and their food.
- Lifting bark all the time. A disturbed colony stays hidden longer and breeds slower.
Common Questions About Lemon Spiky Isopods
Do Lemon Spiky isopods burrow?
No. They live on bark, moss, and leaf cover rather than digging into the substrate.
How are Lemon Spikies different from Durian Spikies?
Both are Laureola from Vietnam. Lemon Spikies are bright yellow, grow slightly larger, and breed more slowly.
What do Lemon Spiky isopods eat?
Mainly leaf litter, decaying wood, and lichen, with small occasional protein and constant calcium.
Are Lemon Spikies good for beginners?
They are intermediate. They are not fussy once settled, but slow breeding and the need for a well built, layered enclosure make them better as a second or third species.
Where to Buy Lemon Spiky Isopods
All Lemon Spiky Isopods at Creature Cache are captive bred and ship FedEx Priority Overnight with a 100% live arrival guarantee. Shop Lemon Spiky Isopods, 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.