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Isopods for sale.
Captive-bred colonies.

Bred in Las Vegas. Most are beginner-friendly, and every colony ships with a care card.

Isopod care guide
A Rubber Ducky isopod (Cubaris sp. "Rubber Ducky"), a macro of its yellow-and-orange "duck bill" face against a dark, glossy body. Rubber Ducky IsopodsCubaris sp. "Rubber Ducky"from $75
NEXT SHIP DAY MON, NOV 2 OVERNIGHT $60 · 2-DAY $30 LIVE ARRIVAL ON OVERNIGHT COLONIES 10, 25 OR 50 SHIPPING DETAILS →
Genus
A Rubber Ducky isopod (Cubaris sp. "Rubber Ducky"), a macro of its yellow-and-orange "duck bill" face against a dark, glossy body.
BEGINNER
Cubaris sp. "Rubber Ducky"
Rubber Ducky Isopods
from $75 10 ct
The isopod that made the hobby mainstream. A slow-breeding tropical Cubaris with a yellow-and-grey face pattern that reads like a rubber duck, a display colony, not a cleanup crew.
A Panda King isopod (Cubaris sp. "Panda King"), a macro of its high-contrast black-and-white body.
BEGINNER
Cubaris sp. "Panda King"
Panda King Isopods
from $40 10 ct
High-contrast black-and-white tropical Cubaris. A slow-breeding display colony for keepers who want the boldest-looking isopod in the room, not a working cleanup crew.
Three Cherry Blossom isopods (Cubaris sp. "Cherry Blossom") on cork bark, translucent pink with pale edges.
BEGINNER
Cubaris sp. "Cherry Blossom"
Cherry Blossom Isopods
from $225 10 ct
A soft pink-and-cream tropical Cubaris, one of the prettier display isopods in the hobby. A slow-breeding colony for looks, not a working cleanup crew.
Two Ember Bee isopods (Ardentiella sp. "Ember Bee") on pale sphagnum moss, black bodies banded in red-orange and yellow.
INTERMEDIATE
Ardentiella sp. "Ember Bee"
Ember Bee Isopods
from $250 10 ct
A black isopod banded in fire orange that is out and about in daylight. The most forgiving animal in the Ardentiella genus, kept as a display colony you actually get to watch.
● 2 LEFT
A Scarlet isopod (Ardentiella sp. "Scarlet") on pitted cork bark, its body deep red with yellow bands and a dark head.
INTERMEDIATE
Ardentiella sp. "Scarlet"
Scarlet Isopods
from $900 10 ct
Deep scarlet red with yellow bands, and active in daylight. A display Ardentiella for keepers who want the brightest jar on the shelf.
● 1 LEFT
A Durian isopod (Laureola sp. "Durian") head-on on rotting wood, its long black-tipped spines fanned out around an amber shell.
INTERMEDIATE
Laureola sp. "Durian"
Durian Isopods
from $350 10 ct
A small amber isopod covered in long black-tipped spines, named for the spiky fruit. It climbs rather than digs, so it stays where you can see it.
● 2 LEFT
PHOTO COMING
BEGINNER
Cristarmadillidium muricatum
Spiky Pineapple Isopods
from $75 10 ct
A spiny, sculptural roller from the limestone hills of the Mediterranean. Kept drier than a tropical Cubaris, a display colony with real texture.
PHOTO COMING
BEGINNER
Cubaris sp. "Bumblebee"
Bumble Bee Isopods
from $100 10 ct
A black-and-yellow banded tropical Cubaris, kept purely for looks. A slow, humidity-loving display colony for keepers who want a standout jar.
PHOTO COMING
BEGINNER
Cubaris sp. "White Ducky"
White Ducky Isopods
from $95 10 ct
The pale cousin of the Rubber Ducky, same duck-billed profile, ghost-white coloring. A slow-breeding tropical Cubaris kept as a premium display colony.
A Wing Wing isopod (Ardentiella sp. "Wing Wing") seen from above on dark bark, slate grey with cream-orange edges and a pale yellow tail.
INTERMEDIATE
Ardentiella sp. "Wing Wing"
Wing Wing Isopods
from $650 10 ct
Slate grey with wide cream-orange edges and a pale yellow tail. A rare, day-active Ardentiella kept as a display colony.
● SOLD OUT
A Tricolor isopod (Ardentiella sp. "Tricolor") on green moss, its black body banded in yellow and edged in red.
INTERMEDIATE
Ardentiella sp. "Tricolor"
Tricolor Isopods
from Price soon
Black, yellow and red on one animal, and out in daylight. A display Ardentiella for keepers who want all three colors in one jar.
● COMING SOON
PHOTO COMING
INTERMEDIATE
Reductoniscus tuberculatus
Frosty Gator Isopods
from Price soon
A small tropical isopod with a heavily ridged, tuberculate shell: the texture is the whole appeal. Compact, slow, and better suited to a display bin than a working cleanup crew.
● COMING SOON
PHOTO COMING
BEGINNER
Armadillidium maculatum
Zebra Isopods
from Price soon
A hardy black-and-white pill isopod kept for its bold striping. The easiest isopod we carry, a forgiving display colony that rolls into a ball when disturbed.
● COMING SOON
Care guide Isopod care guide Setup, substrate, feeding, and how many to start with. Read the guide

Which isopod should I get?

IsopodLookCare levelKeep itBreedsBest for
Zebra Isopods Black and white stripesBeginnerRoom temperature, 65–80°FModeratelyA first colony that grows quickly
Rubber Ducky Isopods Duck bill face markingsBeginnerHumid, 70–80°FSlowlyThe recognizable classic
Panda King Isopods Black and white, high contrastBeginnerHumid, 70–80°FSlowlyBold looks on pale substrate
Cherry Blossom Isopods Soft pink and creamBeginnerHumid, 70–80°FSlowlyA pastel display colony
Bumble Bee Isopods Black and yellow bandsBeginnerHumid, 72–80°FSlowlyA standout display jar
White Ducky Isopods Ghost white DuckyBeginnerVery humid, 72–78°FSlowlyA ghost-white display jar
Frosty Gator Isopods Small, with a ridged shellIntermediateHumid, 70–80°FSlowlyTexture you see up close
Spiky Pineapple Isopods Spiny, sculpted rollerBeginnerDrier, 65–77°FSlowlyA drier, low-humidity setup
Ember Bee Isopods Black with fire orange bandsIntermediateCool, airy, 66–79°FSlowlyAn isopod you see in daylight
Scarlet Isopods Scarlet red with yellow bandsIntermediateCool, airy, 66–79°FSlowlyThe brightest jar on the shelf
Wing Wing Isopods Slate grey, cream-orange edgesIntermediateCool, airy, 66–79°FSlowlyA rare display line
Tricolor Isopods Black with yellow and red bandsIntermediateCool, airy, 66–79°FSlowlyThree colors on one animal
Durian Isopods Amber, with long black spinesIntermediateHumid, airy, 72–80°FModeratelyA spiny climber you can watch

What you get

A starter colony, not a single animal. The colony is the unit that survives and breeds, so isopods are sold as a group of 10, 25 or 50.

Plan on waiting. Cubaris take 3 to 6 months to show their first babies (mancae) and 12 to 18 months to become a colony you can split. Zebra is quicker, with a visible colony in a few months.

Want a cleanup crew?

Our isopods are display colonies, kept for their looks rather than as working cleaners. For mold control in a bioactive tank, add springtails, which establish in weeks and share an enclosure with isopods without competing. Keep one isopod species per enclosure.

How isopods ship

The cutoff is 8 AM Pacific on each ship day, and orders placed after it roll to the next ship day. Overnight usually takes one business day. Added to a mantis order, isopods ship free, and Las Vegas valley addresses can choose free local pickup at checkout instead of shipping.

The Live Arrival Guarantee is included on every Priority Overnight order. If your isopods arrive dead, file your claim within 24 hours of unboxing at lobomantis.com/claim with a continuous unboxing video and we will send a replacement, or refund their price if we can't restock soon. 2-Day is never covered, and neither is a death after arrival. Checkout confirms whether your address can receive them.

Frequently asked questions

Are isopods hard to take care of?

Not hard: most species we carry are beginner-friendly. They need steady moisture, a calcium source and patience. Zebra breeds the fastest, tropical Cubaris want humid, stable conditions, and the three Ardentiella are the step up: cooler, airier bins.

Are 10 isopods enough to start a colony?

Yes. A 10 count is sized to establish and breed. For a bioactive tank, the care guide suggests 10 to 15 isopods up to 10 gallons, 15 to 25 for 20 gallons and 25 to 50 for 40 gallons. A bigger start gets there a few weeks sooner, not to a different place.

How do I keep my isopods alive?

Keep the damp side damp, check moisture at the bottom of the substrate, give them leaf litter and a calcium source, and keep the container ventilated. Isopods die from drying out and from stale, fouled substrate more than anything else.

How much do isopods cost?

It depends on the species and the count, with rarer isopods costing more. Each listing above shows its current price.

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