Dairy Cow Isopods

Dairy Cow Woodlice (Porcellio laevis) are a versatile isopod species widely used in bioactive terrariums and as a live feeder for reptiles and amphibians. This pre-pack is suited to keepers setting up a clean-up crew or looking for a nutritious, calcium-rich feeder insect.

Size & Appearance

Adults reach up to 20mm in length, making them a substantial isopod species. Their mottled black and white patterning — which gives them the 'dairy cow' name — makes them easy to spot during maintenance, though they will naturally retreat beneath substrate, wood, and rocks in a well-established vivarium.

Bioactive Clean-Up Crew

Dairy Cow Woodlice will live and breed readily in bioactive set-ups, breaking down organic waste and helping maintain a balanced terrarium environment. They need consistently damp, humid conditions to thrive — a microclimate that suits the moisture-loving reptile and amphibian species they typically co-habit with. Provide hides, cork bark, or deep substrate for them to shelter within.

Live Feeder Use

As a livefood, Porcellio laevis offers a genuine nutritional advantage: their calcareous exoskeleton means they carry a naturally high calcium content. For feeding purposes, offer them in a smooth-sided dish to prevent escape — the same approach used for mealworms or calci-worms.

Packaging & Ventilation

Your Dairy Cow Woodlice Pre-pack arrives in a perforated plastic container designed to maximise airflow while keeping escapees to a minimum during transit and storage.

Keeping Them Healthy

To maintain colony condition, feed your isopods on a varied diet of fruit, vegetables, and insect food. Good nutrition keeps them active and ensures they remain a quality feeder or effective clean-up crew for as long as you need them.

Whether you are building a bioactive vivarium or supplementing your feeder rotation, Dairy Cow Woodlice are a practical, high-performance isopod that earns their place in any reptile keeper's setup.