Dairy Cow Isopods (Porcellio laevis) 10 Count
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Porcellio laevis are the bioactive workhorse of the terrarium hobby and a fan favorite for reptile enclosures. These large black-and-white isopods can do some serious waste cleaning, meaning less dirty work for you! Their easy care and prolific nature mean you’ll have a whole herd of Dairy Cow Isopods to go around – a self-replicating reptile snack and cleanup crew all in one.
- Effective bioactive cleaners - With their voracious, protein-hungry appetites, Dairy Cow Isopods make light work of any waste from your pets and plants.
- Highly prolific - These things spread like wildfire, so you’ll have a healthy colony in no time.
- Great feeder insect - Their large, calcium-rich exoskeletons make them nutritious feeders for larger reptiles. Plus, their rapid breeding helps them keep up with predation pressures.
- Highly adaptable - Porcellio laevis is a relatively hardy species that can thrive in a range of terrarium environments.
- Substrate aerators - Their burrowing nature helps to aerate your substrate, keeping your plants’ roots healthy and happy.
Dairy Cow Isopods aren’t suitable for cohabiting with every terrarium pet. Smaller, soft-bodied animals may be susceptible to harm - always check compatibility with your pet species first.
Isopod Shipping & FAQ's
- Isopod shipping questions? See our page on Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG) Policies.
- Questions about Dairy Cow Isopods or their care? See our in-depth answers to frequently asked questions below.
Dairy Cow Isopods
Care Specs & Uses
Tropical | Temperate | Semi-Arid
Cleanup Crew | Pet | Feeder
70-85º Fahrenheit
Medium
2cm
Very Easy
How your culture arrives 📦
FAQ
Dairy Cow Isopod questions? We've got you.
Check out the most common questions our customers ask. Have questions about something else? See our dedicated FAQ page!
How do I care for Dairy Cow Isopods?
See the care specifications above and check out our full guide to Dairy Cow Isopods for more nuanced care advice.
Do I need to feed my isopods? How much/how often?
A staple diet of leaf litter is essential, so you’ll need to provide a regular supply. While a balanced bioactive terrarium/vivarium can be somewhat self-supporting, in the absence of appropriate foods, all isopods can potentially snack on live plants.
Dairy Cow Isopods have large appetites and a hunger for protein-rich foods, so initial supplementation with a pinch of Superfood powder every 4-7 days is advised.
As the ecosystem and colony are established, you can reduce the frequency accordingly. When kept in culture boxes, there won’t be any decomposing terrarium matter, and you’ll need to continue frequent supplementation (a pinch every 4 days). See our full guide to isopod food for more information.
How much space do isopods need?
A standard 10 count will need at least a 3 gallon terrarium container or a shoebox-size isopod enclosure.
Do isopods need ventilation?
For isopods in closed terrariums we recommend looser fitting lids and regularly opening for feeding. Porcellio are a species that are fairly tolerant of low ventilation, but they will still need some level of regular air exchange.
When kept in culture boxes, our isopod partners, RDI, suggest that regularly opening for watering/feeding alone may provide enough ventilation. Alternatively, drilling holes in the plastic culture container is a popular method in the hobby (though it does bring an increased risk of pests).
Do these isopods need water/moisture?
Isopods in tropical terrariums should have no need for extra moisture top-ups beyond your typical watering schedule (as long as you’re maintaining tropical conditions). However, isopods in culture boxes will need regular watering.
How frequently you need to spray your isopod enclosure will depend on the species, the setup, and the ambient humidity in your home. RDI recommends every 3-4 days as a loose rule of thumb (checking daily for the first week after receiving them). These Porcellio isopods prefer a high-humidity setup, so they will lean towards more regular watering.
What should I do when my isopods arrive?
We recommend opening your order immediately after it arrives and checking them over. For best results, put your isopods into their new home right away; we recommend gently tipping them in along with the contents of the tub.
If that’s not possible, isopods can stay in the tub they’re in for up to a week, provided they have a leaf litter supply and you open the tub up at least every 2 days minimum for air exchange.
Can isopods climb glass?
Generally speaking, isopods cannot climb glass. That said, some isopods are better climbers than others and may be able to climb cracks and/or dirty glass to some extent. So keep your glass enclosure clean and clear.
How many isopods do I need for a terrarium?
For most standard planted terrariums, a 10 count is ideal. As they breed, they’ll naturally find a good population balance. For larger installations and vivariums with predatory pressures, you may need to start with more isopods.
What’s the difference between a pet isopod and a clean-up-crew isopod?
Clean up crew isopods are species selected for their large appetites and high activity, making them particularly good at breaking down and recycling organic matter in a terrarium. Pet isopods are those that are especially interesting to look at, but waste management skills and terrarium suitability vary from species to species.
Do I still need springtails if I have isopods in a terrarium?
Springtails and isopods serve different functions in a terrarium, with springtails primarily tackling mold and isopods breaking down larger decomposing organic materials (see our tried and tested Folsomia candida springtails).
While neither are strictly necessary, they individually bring a number of benefits and offer even more as a bioactive combo working synergistically together.