Buzz
You don’t need to venture to the store for a fish just to enjoy a fuss-free pet. There's a whole world of bugs waiting to inhabit your custom terrarium. Construct your miniature ecosystem by layering sand and soil within a compact container. Capture the bugs of your choice to populate your new habitat. Keeping your terrarium thriving is simple: provide sustenance, moisture, and the occasional tidy-up. With minimal effort, you'll have a lively abode teeming with fascinating critters.
Guidelines
Building the Terrarium
Choose a glass or plastic enclosure. Plastic containers designed for bugs are readily available at pet supply outlets, equipped with ventilated lids and handles for easy transport. Alternatively, repurpose glass receptacles like mason jars, aquariums, or fishbowls. Opt for lids featuring cheesecloth or mesh netting to eliminate the need for drilling or hammering air holes.
- Avoid using cardboard containers, as they'll deteriorate over time due to moisture.
- For larger insects such as walking sticks and praying mantises, ensure the enclosure is at least twice their body width and three times their height.
- Standard-sized containers can accommodate multiple small insects, while larger insects require double the space per individual. Provided your insects have sufficient room to roam and hide, they'll thrive in their new environment.
Layer sand or gravel at the base of the container. This thin layer facilitates drainage, preventing soil saturation and potential plant decay. Look for sand or pebbles in the reptile and fish aisles of pet stores.
- Consider topping this layer with half an inch (1.3 cm) of activated charcoal, available at pet supply stores. Charcoal helps mitigate odors in terrariums hosting growing plants.
Add soil to the terrarium. Ensure the soil depth allows for bug exploration by providing hiding spaces. Aim for two to four inches (five to ten cm) of soil. Utilize outdoor soil for authenticity, but seek permission before excavating your parent's garden!
- Although potting soil is an option, bugs are more accustomed to outdoor soil. Potting soil may contain chemicals harmful to certain critters.
Introducing Bugs and Flora
Introduce weeds into the soil. Easily acquire plants by uprooting unwanted weeds outdoors. Weeds are ideal, pleasing both your terrarium and your parents. Gently remove roots and leaves, then place the plant in a prepared hole within the terrarium.
- Opt for a small plant or a few weeds to maintain ample space for observing bugs' activities.
- Optimal food sources are green and healthy plants; some bugs, like walking sticks, feed exclusively on fresh leaves.
- Select plants from the insect's natural habitat to recreate its living environment.
Enhance with branches and hiding spots. Bugs thrive in secluded areas. Scout around your home for bug-friendly hiding spots such as small branches, rocks, or bark pieces. These natural elements provide cozy bug abodes within the terrarium.
- Exercise moderation in decoration to maintain open space within the terrarium. Offer a few climbing and hiding spots for the bugs.
Gather some creatures for your terrarium. Enjoy exploring your yard to uncover a plethora of bugs. Search beneath branches, rocks, and flower pots, or dig a little to find buried treasures. Any critters you catch can be housed in your terrarium, just ensure ample space for their movement.
- Start with common bugs like mealworms and crickets, but keep an eye out for other varieties such as roly polys (pill bugs), ladybugs, beetles, and even snails.
- Avoid potentially harmful insects like spiders, centipedes, fire ants, and carpenter ants.
- If you prefer active critters, consider crickets and snails.
Provide nourishment for your new inhabitants with fruits and vegetables. Keep your terrarium stocked with a variety of foods. Offer small slices of fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, which are favorites among many bugs and snails. Ensuring a well-fed population contributes to their overall well-being.
- Plants and worms utilize soil for sustenance. Decomposing organic matter like banana peels, eggshells, or compost enriches the soil with essential nutrients.
- Bugs will also enjoy fish flakes from the pet store.
Preserving Your Terrarium
Keep the terrarium securely covered. Prevent potential escapes by ensuring a tight seal on the terrarium lid. For containers lacking lids, secure cheesecloth or mesh netting with a sturdy rubber band. If using a lid, drill or punch small holes to facilitate airflow.
- Ensure adequate ventilation by creating several small holes in the lid, spaced evenly.
- Remember to provide ventilation holes near the top of the container to ensure sufficient airflow for the bugs.
Maintain appropriate soil moisture. While you needn't submerge the terrarium, maintaining a damp environment is appreciated by its inhabitants. Regularly check for moisture levels and mist inside the terrarium as needed. Aim for soil dampness that allows for digging without being overly saturated.
- Enhance humidity by placing a dampened paper towel or cotton ball atop the soil.
- Consider investing in a hygrometer from the pet store to monitor humidity levels, aiming for readings above 75%.
Place the terrarium in a secure spot. Your bugs don't require additional heat or direct sunlight. However, keep it out of reach of curious siblings or pets to prevent accidental spills. Opt for an elevated, flat surface away from direct sunlight.
Dispose of uneaten food promptly. Prevent the buildup of rotting fruits and vegetables within the terrarium. Discard any spoiled items to avoid unpleasant odors and mold growth. Replace them with fresh portions of food as needed.
Refresh the soil weekly. Ensure the well-being of your bugs by replacing the soil on a weekly basis. Watch for signs of droppings or mold, indicating the need for a terrarium refresh. Replace any discolored plants or moldy hiding spots as well.
- Prior to cleaning, relocate the bugs to a secondary terrarium or a container with adequate ventilation.
- Terrariums housing larger bugs require weekly cleaning, while those with fewer and smaller bugs may be left untouched for longer periods without issues of odor or mold.
Pointers
-
If using a paper towel or cotton ball for moisture, replace it daily.
-
Handle millipedes with caution as they can emit cyanide and other toxins when alarmed.
-
Exercise care when handling your pets, especially small and swift insects that are prone to escape.
Cautionary Notes
- In certain regions, it may be unlawful to keep specific bugs as pets. For instance, capturing and housing praying mantises is often prohibited. Ensure your bug selection complies with local regulations.
- Avoid housing bugs together if they pose a threat to each other. For example, daddy long legs prey on other insects. If you intend to keep them, provide them with smaller bugs as food and maintain separate terrariums for different bug species.
- Avoid introducing orange or citrus peels into a worm-inhabited terrarium.
Essential Supplies
- Container made of glass or plastic
- Sand or gravel
- Soil
- Small plants
- Hygrometer
- Misting bottle
- Water
- Rocks and twigs
