Black, banded in yellow, and edged in red. Ardentiella sp. “Tricolor” carries all three colors on one animal, and like the rest of its genus it spends its day on the surface instead of buried.
A note on the name: you will also see these sold as Merulanella sp. “Tricolor”, or spelled Tri-Color and Tri-Colour. 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. How much red and yellow shows also varies between animals. 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.
Tricolor vs the Others
Tricolor sits with Ember Bee, Scarlet 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 Tricolor 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 rather than weeks.
Will I actually see them?
Usually, yes. Once settled, Ardentiella come out in daylight. If an established colony is never on the surface, check ventilation first.
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.
