Ardentiella sp. ‘Scarlet High Red’

Scarlet High Red Isopods for Sale Overview Scarlet High Red is a selectively bred line within the Ardentiella sp. Scarlet lineage. The parent Scarlet line was originally isolated from Ardentiella sp. Tricolor stock for enhanced red pigmentation. High Red pushes that selection further, targeting the deepest, most saturated red expression possible in the group. The genus itself was formally described in 2025 by Kästle and Regalado Fernández. Older sources and packaging may still list this animal under Merulanella, which is the previous classification for the same group of isopods. Care requirements do not change between the two names. Unlike most cleanup crew species, Scarlet High Red is active during both day and night, stays on the surface, and climbs readily. Keepers actually see them, which is the main reason this line commands a premium in the hobby. Why Keep Scarlet High Red? Strongest red expression in the Scarlet line. Selective breeding has pushed dorsal saturation past standard Scarlet stock, giving collectors a more uniformly vivid red across the colony. Surface-active and visible. Additionally, these isopods do not burrow out of sight the way many Cubaris species do. They climb cork bark, mossy branches, and glass, which makes them genuine display animals. Active during the day. Most isopods are nocturnal. Scarlet High Red moves through the enclosure across the full day-night cycle, so keepers see activity at viewing hours. Manageable adult size. Adults reach roughly 18 to 20 mm, which is large enough to spot from across a room without being so large that they overwhelm a small display. Collector-grade lineage. Furthermore, the Scarlet line has been a focal point of selective isopod breeding for several years, and High Red represents one of the more refined endpoints of that work. Honest Note on the “High Red” Designation “High Red” is a hobby trade designation, not a separate species. It refers to selectively bred stock within the Scarlet line that consistently shows deeper red saturation than baseline Scarlet animals. As with any selectively bred isopod line, individual variation still exists across a colony. Most animals will express strong red, but some offspring will fall closer to standard Scarlet expression, and a small percentage may show patterning closer to the Tricolor ancestor. This is normal for a living, breeding population. If you want guaranteed perfect uniformity across every single animal, no selectively bred isopod line on the market can deliver that. If you want a colony where the majority of animals show notably stronger red than standard Scarlet stock, High Red is what that looks like. Honest Note on Ventilation and Climbing Scarlet High Red care is closer to Ardentiella care than to typical Cubaris care, and this is the part most new buyers underestimate. These isopods need strong cross-ventilation, not a sealed humid box. They also climb smooth surfaces, so the enclosure must be genuinely escape-proof. A setup that works well for Powder Blue, Powder Orange, or Dwarf White Isopods will not work here without modification. Specifically, expect to add mesh vents on opposite walls, vertical cork bark and mossy branches, and a humid microzone on one side of the enclosure rather than blanket high humidity throughout. Care and Setup The following framework reflects practical captive husbandry for this line. Keepers coming from beginner isopod species should plan on a different enclosure build, not a simple swap. Temperature Keep the enclosure between 68 and 75 F. These animals prefer the cooler end, around 70 F. Sustained temperatures above 78 F stress the colony and reduce reproduction. Humidity Aim for 60 to 75 percent overall, with a clearly defined humid microzone on one side of the enclosure. The dry side should genuinely dry between misting. Stagnant uniform high humidity is a common cause of colony crashes in this group. Substrate Use a layered tropical substrate. Coco fiber or a coco-based bioactive mix forms the base, topped with sphagnum moss, a thick layer of hardwood leaf litter, and decaying white-rot wood pieces. Pair this with TC INSECTS Assorted Hardwood Leaf Litter for steady leaf cover that the colony will graze on continuously. Food Leaf litter and white-rot wood are the dietary base. Supplement with TC INSECTS Isopod Food for protein and calcium, and offer occasional vegetable scraps such as zucchini, sweet potato, or squash. A dedicated calcium source like TC Calcium Ultra Fine helps support molting and reproduction. Ventilation This is the single most important factor for long-term success with this line. Use cross-ventilation, ideally mesh vents on opposite walls of the enclosure. Lid-only ventilation traps stagnant air and is one of the most common causes of Scarlet line losses. Bioactive Use Scarlet High Red can live in a bioactive display, but they should not be treated as the cleanup crew. For mold, mites, and waste processing, run Springtails alongside them. The High Red colony is the display animal. The springtails do the actual cleanup work. Breeding Notes Reproduction is moderate once the colony is established, but establishment is slower than for common cleanup crew species. Stable cooler temperatures, strong ventilation, and a varied diet with consistent calcium produce the best results. Many keepers do not see meaningful reproduction until two or three months after the colony settles in, so plan for patience rather than fast scaling. Because this is a selectively bred line, expect some variation in red intensity across offspring. Keepers who want to maintain the High Red phenotype over generations typically cull breeding stock back to the strongest-expressing animals each generation. Best For Experienced isopod collectors building a high-tier Ardentiella collection. Display enclosures where vivid red color and visible surface activity are the priority. Bioactive setups paired with springtails for actual cleanup work. Keepers who have already kept Cubaris or other Ardentiella morphs successfully. Vertical enclosures with cork bark, mossy branches, and strong cross-ventilation. Not Best For First-time isopod buyers. Start with Dairy Cow, Powder Blue, or Powder Orange instead. Working cleanup crews for reptile or amphibian bioactive enclosures. These are too expensive and too sensitive to be cycled as a working janitor population. Sealed, low-ventilation containers. Stagnant air shortens colony life dramatically. Enclosures without an escape-proof lid. These animals climb smooth glass and acrylic. Keepers expecting uniform color across every single animal in the colony. Origin and Locality Notes The Scarlet line is commonly associated with Vietnam in the hobby trade, but the exact wild locality of the parent Ardentiella sp. Tricolor stock is not formally documented at species level. The genus Ardentiella was only established in 2025, and ongoing taxonomic work in this group is still active. “Scarlet High Red” is a selectively bred hobby line, not a wild-collected locality form. This page focuses on practical captive care rather than claiming a precise wild origin. Receiving and Acclimation Open the shipping container in a quiet, room-temperature space. Acclimate the animals to their prepared enclosure within the same day, ideally within a few hours. Mist the new enclosure lightly before adding the colony, but do not soak the substrate. Avoid heavy disturbance for the first one to two weeks. Resist the urge to dig through the substrate looking for animals. Scarlet High Red surface activity returns as the colony settles, generally within a few days of arrival. Recommended Add-Ons TC INSECTS Isopod Food for steady protein and calcium intake. TC INSECTS Assorted Hardwood Leaf Litter for the dietary base and surface cover. TC Calcium Ultra Fine to support molting and reproduction in this color-selected line. Springtails as the actual cleanup crew in any display setup featuring this species. TC INSECTS Ultra Isopod Habitat Kit as a complete starting substrate and food package. Frequently Asked Questions Is Scarlet High Red a beginner isopod? No. This is an advanced-care species. First-time isopod buyers should start with Dairy Cow, Powder Blue, or Powder Orange and gain experience with simpler care before investing in this line. Can I use Scarlet High Red as a cleanup crew? Functionally yes, but it makes no economic sense. These are premium collector animals priced for their color, not for janitor work. Pair them with Springtails and a working cleanup isopod species in any bioactive build. How is High Red different from standard Scarlet? High Red is a selectively bred line within the Scarlet population, isolated for deeper, more saturated red expression. Most animals show notably stronger red than baseline Scarlet stock, although some individual variation is normal in any breeding colony. Do they need bioactive setups, or can I keep them in a culture box? Both can work, but ventilation matters more than the enclosure style. A culture box with proper cross-ventilation and a humid microzone outperforms a bioactive setup with poor airflow. If you want a display, go bioactive with vertical climbing surfaces. If you want maximum reproduction, a well-ventilated culture box is often easier to manage. Can they escape from standard isopod tubs? Yes. These isopods climb smooth surfaces, including glass and acrylic. Use a lid with a proper seal and avoid containers with gaps around the rim. Vertical mesh vents should be fine-mesh and securely attached. How long until I see meaningful reproduction? Generally two to three months after the colony settles in, sometimes longer. Reproduction in this line is moderate, not explosive. Keepers expecting Powder Orange style population growth will be disappointed, while those treating this as a long-term display colony will find the pace reasonable. Learn More About Ardentiella and Selectively Bred Isopod Lines The following references give keepers reliable background on the taxonomy and biology behind this line, which helps when reading older sources that still use the Merulanella name. World Register of Marine Species: Ardentiella genus record. The authoritative taxonomic entry for the genus, useful for confirming the 2025 reclassification from Merulanella when older sources cause confusion. British Myriapod and Isopod Group: Identification of woodlice. A solid plain-language introduction to isopod anatomy and morphological features, helpful for keepers who want to understand what they are looking at when comparing Scarlet, Tricolor, and other Ardentiella lines. Wikipedia: Ardentiella. A concise summary of the genus including the 2025 description by Kästle and Regalado Fernández, current accepted species, and morphological features that distinguish Ardentiella from related groups.