Dairy Cow Isopods For Sale

Originally from North Africa, Dairy Cow isopods are increasingly gaining widespread attention as a beginner-friendly pet. The name of these isopods itself generates curiosity among the public. Their black and white combination color and the bioactive potential are the two unique selling points of these great pods.

A Glimpse

• Origin: North Africa
• Scientific Name: Porcellio Laevis
• Difficulty Level: Low
• Size: Up to 2.3 centimeters
• Rarity:  Low
• Temperature: 70F to 85F
• Humidity:    50% to 70%
• Favorite Foods: Anything except cucumbers and butternut squash

Dairy Cow Isopods: An Overview

Dairy cows are also are famously known by their scientific name, Porcellio Laevis. This easy-to-care isopod community is suitable for beginners and experienced pet lovers alike. 

They are widely known for their cleaning capabilities. They are among the best clean-up crews on vivariums and terrariums. They can quickly and effectively break down organic matter and nourish the soil well.

The ability to break down organic matter makes these isopods the perfect companion pets for many other organisms. These isopods can develop a symbiotic relationship between almost all other forms of living things.

Dairy Cow Isopods: Basic Care

Beginners in isopod care can use the following pointers to provide adequate primary care for Dairy Cow isopods.

• Dairy Cows are relatively active isopods. So, they need to have a reasonably spacious enclosure to live.
• They are relatively large. Despite the size, it is straightforward to be taken care of, even by the beginners
• The enclosure of Dairy Cow isopods has to have high humidity. But it is essential not to make the enclosure extremely wet.
• The Dairy Cow isopod enclosure should always have a dry side. This enables the isopods to manage their heat requirement properly.
• Dairy Cow isopods are prolific breeders. So, whenever they hit the breeding phase, sufficient food and other requirements have to be provided by the caregiver.
• If the owner plans to develop the isopod collection into a community, they must introduce male and female Dairy Cow isopods in the enclosure.
• During the breeding phase, protein is essential for Dairy Cows. The larvae can die off quickly if not supplemented with enough protein. So, enough protein supplements should be kept handy always by the owner.

Feeding

Being highly active and aggressive, the feeding habits and diet of these pods have to be given immense attention. They have a high appetite. Due to their high appetite, experts suggest not putting them in enclosures with smaller species. 

The most common foods that Dairy Cows prefer to eat are decaying wood, leaf litter, etc. They also have a particular affinity towards vegetables like sweet potatoes. Some other vegetables that these isopods prefer to eat are as follows.

• Mushrooms
• Green beans
• Peas
• Hemp stalks
• Carrots
• Potatoes 

Protein

Protein is extremely crucial for the overall health and reproductive capabilities of Dairy Cows. The best protein sources for these isopods are as follows.

• Shrimp pellets
• Shrimp shells
• Shrimp meal
• Dried crickets
• Dried minnows, etc.

Calcium

Calcium is another essential element that must be added to the Dairy Cow diet. Calcium helps with the reproductive health, growth rate, and general well-being of the isopods. Some of the suitable calcium sources are as follows.

• Powdered eggshells

• Cuttlebone

• Organic kefir

• Sea coral 

Leaf Litter

Leaf litter should be available in abundance in a daiy cow enclosure. The owner must pay special attention to providing pesticide-free leaves to the isopods. The best leaves for the Dairy Cow isopod diet are as follows.

• Oak leaves

• Magnolia leaves

• Cannabis leaves

• Hemp leaves, etc.

Dairy Cow Isopods: Appearance and Behaviour

An adult Dairy Cow achieves a total body length of 2.3 centimeters. Despite the bigger size, they are highly active and fast. The body of the Dairy Cow isopods features a combination of black and white color. The pattern from black and white reminds the spectators of cows, which is why these isopods got their famous name.

Like any other isopod, these isopods also have a segmented body. As mentioned before, they are fast-moving and, thus, require a good deal of space inside the enclosure to move around.

Regarding behavior, Dairy Cows maintain an active and somewhat aggressive temperament. As they have a relatively bigger size in the isopod world, they physically push away other smaller isopods. 

Experts also report that these isopods tend to push around even their juveniles. The bullying nature is mainly for getting more nutrients from others. Due to this bullying nature, Dairy Cow isopods are not considered great companion pets.

Dairy Cow Isopods: Habitat

• Dairy Cows are much bigger than most other isopods. They are also highly mobile. Due to these reasons, they should have a reasonably big enclosure to inhabit.

• Pet owners can use a reasonable-sized Tupperware container to accommodate the Dairy Cow isopods. Particular attention should be given to punch holes in the sides of the container for proper airflow.

• While punching ventilation holes for the isopod enclosure, it is essential to ensure they are at unreachable heights for the isopods. Being highly active, Dairy Cow isopods can go out through the vent holes at accessible heights.

• A good terrarium setup would be the right choice for culturing Dairy Cow isopods. Such setups have nutritious substrate surfaces, lots of leaf litter for consumption, and ample space to move around.

Dairy Cow Isopods: Substrate Mix

The substrate mix inside a Dairy Cow enclosure should have qualities like high moisture retention capacity, good aeration, and proper drainage.

A substrate mix of orchid bark and sphagnum moss will suit the pods. These elements can keep the humidity inside the enclosure high always. Earthworm castings are a great addition to the substrate mix for growing Dairy Cow isopods.

The critical thing to address while laying the substrate mix is that a part of the enclosure should always be dry. So, after laying the substrate mix, it is advisable to layer the designated dry area with soft bedding like peat moss or regular soil. It is also recommended to add several wood barks in the dry area for the isopods to hide.

The damp area of the enclosure should only need a small layer of leaf litter above the substrate mix. While using leaf litter, boil the leaves to get them adequately sterilized.