Scarlet red, banded in yellow, and out in daylight. Ardentiella sp. “Scarlet” is one of the brightest isopods in the hobby, and like the rest of its genus it spends its day on the surface instead of buried.
A note on the name: you will still see these sold as Merulanella sp. “Scarlet”. The genus was split in 2025 and the Southeast Asian animals moved to Ardentiella. Same animal, newer name. The Ardentiella care guide explains the change.
What You’re Buying
A starter colony, not a single animal. The colony is what establishes and breeds.
Ardentiella are slow breeders: months to the first brood and a year or more to a colony you can split. Color also varies between animals, so not every Scarlet is the same shade. The care guide has the full timeline.
Keeping Them
- Cool room temperature, 66–79 °F. The cool end is the safe end. No heat mat.
- Humidity about 60–80% as a gradient: one end damp, the other just moist.
- Cross-ventilation: mesh on two opposite sides, so the damp side stays fresh.
- A secure lid. They climb.
- Leaf litter, rotting hardwood and a calcium source as the base of the diet.
Full detail is in the Ardentiella care guide.
Scarlet vs the Others
Scarlet sits with Ember Bee, Tricolor and Wing Wing, our other Ardentiella: same care, different color. Ember Bee is the more forgiving start. For vivarium cleanup, run springtails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Scarlet isopods hard to keep?
Not day to day. The care is specific, a humidity gradient with real cross-ventilation, and breeding is slow, so mistakes cost months. A keeper who has run a hardy isopod colony first will be fine.
Do they need a heat mat?
No. Heat stresses this genus faster than cool ever will. An air-conditioned room is ideal.
Can I keep them with other isopods?
Keep them on their own. One species per enclosure.
How many do I get?
Pick a pack size on this page. Each is a group of mixed sizes, enough to establish.
