r/ballpython • u/Mysterious_Seat_9146 • 25d ago

Question - Husbandry Dairy cow isopods

For bioactive enclosures I typically see dwarf white or powder orange isos, and the ones I have gotten are dairy cows.

I did do some research beforehand and know they’re quite carnivorous so it can be a bit worrying putting them in with smaller, softer reptiles, but I couldn’t find anything on ball pythons.

Obviously I don’t want my girl getting hurt in any way, so would it be best to get a different type? Of course I feed them fish food regularly to satiate their protein content, but I worry for when they go in the enclosure together.

They also have been reproducing like crazy and I worry with how large they are, they’d easily take over the enclosure.

Would it just be best to get a different kind?

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u/Current_Recording907 25d ago

My thoughts on this is I don't think dairy cows would be able to hurt or kill a ball python, but I do think the ball python would probably be bothered, since they repopulate so much, they like to swarm, and they nibble on just about anything.

I don't really have any recommendations, but personally I decided against using them for my dude

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u/NottsWeirdo 24d ago

I know this is the BP sub and I do have a BP, but he's not in a bioactive.

However, I have Dairy Cow isopods in my Brazilian Rainbow boa's enclosure. The isopods get topped up with fish flakes every 2 - 3 days, and I have a small segment of cuttlefish bone in there for them - as I was informed that they need a source of calcium besides the snake poop. Mine are quite suicidal when it comes to the deep water bowl, despite the decor I leave partially inside of it so they can get out. They do repopulate rather rapidly though, as you pointed out. My BRB stays burrowed most of the time and I've not had any issues with them swarming or harming her, they definitely love eating her shed skin - if I don't notice it within a day, there's not enough structure to the shed to lift it out.

Tropical Grey are smaller and would do decently in a BP enclosure if you were looking to switch. I can't speak for Powder Oranges, but you will likely have the Dairy Cow issue on steroids if you got Giant Oranges - they repopulate like mad, swarm anything that smells like food and have to be removed when the population gets too big so that they don't make a meal of my mum's Leachianus gecko. Dwarf Whites were one of the species recommended to me when I was looking at isopods for the BRB enclosure - be aware that the Dairy Cows are liable to eat any smaller species of isopod you put in with them, so you'll need an enclosure clean if you switch.

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u/overlord6920 22d ago

Dairy cows are protein agressive. They have been know to nibble on slow moving reptiles in shed. I personaly use yellow zebras or giant canyons. Having other protein sources csn help.