Isopod Terrarium | Ultimate Isopod Terrarium Building Guide

An isopod terrarium is an enclosed space used to house isopods. It is mostly made with plastic containers or wood. You can design your isopod terrarium yourself or buy the terrarium alongside the isopods.

The isopod terrarium helps you to see and observe the isopods. You can choose a bigger or smaller terrarium depending on the number of your isopods. The isopod terrarium should have a lid so the animals cannot climb out of the enclosure.

In this article, you will learn how to make your isopod terrarium and how to care for your isopods.

What is a terrarium?

A terrarium is a beautiful glass piece used to keep plants and animals. It got its name from the Latin words “terra,” which means earth, and “arium,” which means a place.

A terrarium is also known as a glass garden or vivarium. It is made of glass, and some designs have a glass top. A terrarium is used for keeping plants or terrestrial animals in the home.

A terrarium can also be owned for decoration purposes. Some people also keep terrariums to scientifically observe plants and animals. A terrarium is also best used by people who love nature but live in a place with little or no space for a garden.

Are isopods good pets?

Isopods are good pets. This is because they are easy to care for and not expensive to get. After dogs, isopods can be said to be man’s best friend.

They are great pets for children and come in different colors and species. They take up little home space, and they just need to have the occasional food refill. They are also forgiving for being neglected, and you can go on vacation without worrying about them. They will be fine.

You can also experiment with them. Isopods are good pet projects for your kids and will help them take genetics training seriously. In addition, they can experiment with different colors and species of the isopods to see what new variations of isopods they can create.

How to make a terrarium for isopods

Making a terrarium for isopods can be very tricky. First, you would want to make a terrarium with the right size and material for your isopods. This is because you want your isopods to live in a perfect replica of their natural habitat.

To make a terrarium suitable for isopods, you must gather all the necessary materials. Plastic containers, leaf litter, bark, rotten trees, and moss are used. They make the terrarium seem like the isopod’s natural habitat.

The things to consider when building a terrarium for your isopods are:

1. The size of the isopod terrarium

A terrarium with a larger space is better for keeping isopods. A larger space makes it easier for you to observe the behavior of the isopod. It will also help you maintain the necessary dry, and moist parameters isopods need.

The isopod also reproduces quickly, so it will need a large space. Using larger containers to keep your pets

2. The material the isopod terrarium is made of

Isopods are good climbers, and they can crawl out of any material. Therefore, you should make sure the material you will use for the terrarium has a tight lid. The lid keeps the isopods in the terrarium and also increases its humidity.

Glass terrariums can also be used to house isopods. However, it is advised not to use sliding doors as the young pets can crawl out unhindered. Some isopod owners also use wooden terrariums. But, the wood is treated with resin before the animals are kept in it. This is to prevent the soil’s humidity from damaging the wood.

3. Ventilation

Ventilation is essential for the isopods in the terrarium. Without proper ventilation, the glass or wooden terrarium will become moldy. It is necessary to have the occasional exchange of oxygen. But, the terrarium should not be exposed to too much ventilation as it can lower humidity and cause dehydration of the animals.

The ventilation area is different between the species of isopods. Some isopods thrive better with more ventilation than others. You can attach a 6 cm ventilation area to your 5-liter isopod terrarium. You should also make sure to add a meshed ventilation grid. The mesh protects the isopods from crawling out of the terrarium and keeps the pest away.

If you have multiple terrarium boxes, it is advised that you drill the ventilation holes on the sides. Most people stack their ventilation boxes on top of each other. Proper ventilation will be disrupted if the ventilation hole is on top.

4. Substrate

To make a substrate for your terrarium, you will need to get rotten wood, leaf litter, and some forest soil. A great addition to mix with your soil is calcium powder. You will also need some ice cuts to occupy the new enclosure.

The substrate setup is suitable for nearly all species of isopod. It is also advised to sterilize your substrate mixture in the oven. This is to get rid of unwanted isopod predators and invertebrates.

5. Furnishing the terrarium

Furnishing the terrarium with bark will provide the perfect natural habitat for the isopods. The bark pieces should be altered to the terrarium size so that you can observe the isopods. It also provides a hiding place for the isopod mimicking their natural habitat.

You should provide the appropriate furnishings while leaving enough space for food and moss. You can then fill the uncovered areas with leaves. You can use the oak leaves because they don’t get moldy, and it prevents the soil from becoming dry. The leaves will also serve as a source of food for the isopods.

Isopods care in the terrarium

Isopods are easy animals to care for. When their habitat is set up correctly, they require little to no ongoing effort. How to care for isopods in the terrarium is listed and explained below.

1. Housing

Your isopods need to be housed in a bioactive enclosure. The bioactive terrarium should consist of a moist substrate layer and leaf litter to prevent the moisture from drying out.

You can put your isopods in a larger terrarium box if there are many of them. But, if there are a few of them, you should put them in a little box so they can be in close contact with each other. This is to enable them to breed faster.

2. Feeding

Isopods eat about anything. You can add a few shredded skins from snakes to the substrate, and isopods will eat them. They also eat green leaves, moss, and rotten trees. All of these should be added to your isopod terrarium.

You can avoid giving isopods dog food because it has been found to slow their growth rate. In addition, too much food in the terrarium can lead to the development of pests. It is best to feed them for a couple of days at intervals so they can finish all their food.

3. Ventilation of the terrarium

Like other living things, isopods need air to survive. Therefore, they need to be able to breathe well. When the isopod terrarium is well ventilated, it will not be moldy and musty.

Isopods should also be kept in a dimly lit environment. Too much light causes dehydration and can lead to death. Isopods also like to hide under trees and bark, so you should ensure it is available in the terrarium.

4. Substrate sterilization

The substrate needs to be sterilized to kill pests harmful to the isopods. You can sterilize your substrate in the oven.

5. Labeling the isopod container

Labeling your isopod terrarium will help you distinguish the species in each terrarium. The terrariums are labeled with the scientific names of the animals. Labeling terrariums helps with feeding and determining the temperature of the isopods.

6. Room temperature

Isopods should be kept at room temperature. You can also keep them in a closet, as they love living in the dark. If it is cold where you stay, you can get a heater to put on the side of the terrarium.

FAQs

How many isopods should I put in my terrarium?

You can keep about 10 to 15 isopods in a 5-liter terrarium. The number of isopods to keep depends on how big your terrarium is.

Isopods should not be too many in a terrarium. You can start with a few and then let their numbers grow as they multiply. You can remove a few when there are already too many and keep them in another terrarium.

Do isopods need a heat lamp?

Isopods do not need heat to survive. However, you can heat your terrarium if you live in very cold regions. It is recommended to put a tank heater beside the terrarium to increase its temperature.

The degree of temperature needed by an isopod is between 70 and 85 degrees. This temperature degree will also help them have faster breeding.

Are isopods low maintenance?

Isopods are low maintenance compared to other plants and animals in a terrarium. However, you should keep them in a moist environment so they can breathe properly.

You can also water the terrarium daily to give it the necessary level of humidity. Isopods eat about anything, and they can be left on their own if you go on holiday.

Can you culture isopods in a terrarium?

Isopods can be cultured in a terrarium. The first thing to do when you want to culture isopods is to keep the terrarium in the dark closet. This is because they are more active in the dark and reproduce faster.

Conclusion

Isopods are great pets to have and can be kept as a hobby or business. They are not time-consuming, and they can survive in the dark.

It is important to change some parts of the substrate every 6 months. You should also provide the isopods with leaf litter and any other nutrient-rich food you want to add. Isopods are your go-to pets if you need a pet project for your kids.