If you want a low-maintenance pet, you don't have to go to the store and get a fish.You can keep bugs in your terrarium.A small container with sand and soil is all you need to build a terrarium.If you want to keep bugs, catch them.Provide food, water, and cleaning to maintain your terrarium.Without much work, you will have a home with a lot of unique animals.
Step 1: Get a container.
Pet supply stores sell plastic bug containers.They have a handle and air holes for easy transportation.You can use glass objects such as an aquarium or a fish bowl.You don't need to drill or hammer air holes into solid lids if you swap them out for mesh nets.cardboard boxes should be avoided.They will fall apart over time.The container should be at least twice as big as the insect's body width and three times as large as its height.There are many small insects that will fit into a container.The space per insect should be doubled for larger insects.Your insects will be happy if they have room to run and hide.
Step 2: The container needs to be covered with sand or gravel.
A thin layer of either substance helps remove water from the soil.The soil won't rot or get too damp if you include plants in your terrarium.There are bags of sand or pebbles near the reptile and fish sections.You can cover this layer with activated charcoal.There is charcoal at pet supply stores.Growing plants reduces the smell.
Step 3: The terrarium should be filled with dirt.
It will be fun to watch your bugs explore, so make the dirt deep enough to hide.Add between two and four inches of soil.Use soil from outside to clean your hands.Before digging up a garden bed, ask your parent's permission.The outdoor soil is familiar to bugs.Potting soil may harm some animals.
Step 4: Weeds can be planted in the soil.
An easy way to get plants is to dig up weeds.Parents will be happy to see weeds gone.Take them out of the soil.Remove the leaves and roots.Make a hole and put the plant in it.A couple of weeds or a small plant is usually enough greenery.Most of the space should be left open so you can see the bugs.The healthiest plants serve as the best food.Some bugs, such as walking sticks, only eat fresh leaves.
Step 5: You can decorate with sticks and hiding spots.
The bugs like hiding.There are places where bugs like to hide.Small branches, rocks, or pieces of bark are perfect bug homes.When the terrarium is filled with decorations, you have too much.Most of the space should be left open so that bugs can hide and climb.
Step 6: It's a good idea to catch some animals for your garden.
Have fun looking for bugs in your yard.Under branches, rocks, and flower pots are some of the places they will be in.You can find bugs buried in a hole.You can keep anything you catch in your terrarium.Make sure you have enough room for your bugs to move around.Common starter bugs are mealworms and crickets.You will also find other bugs, such as roly polys.Sometimes you will find animals like snails.It's a good idea to be aware of poisonous or biting insects.It's best to avoid spiders, centipedes, fire ants, and carpenter ants.Crickets and snails are animals that move a lot.
Step 7: New residents should be fed with fruit and vegetables.
You should keep your terrarium stocked with food.You can add slices of fruits and vegetables to the house.A vegetable that many bugs and snails enjoy is carrots.The food is good for them.Plants and worms eat soil.Compost, like banana peels and eggshells, keeps the soil full of vitamins and minerals.Fish from the pet store will be popular with bugs.
Step 8: The terrarium needs to be covered.
bugs can escape from an uncovered terrarium.snails can push their way out of loose covering.Make sure the container is tight.If that's the case, cover the opening with a mesh net.Attach it to the container with a rubber band.You can put a lid on a jar.To make small holes, use a drill or hammer.The holes should be scattered around.Make a few of them.There are air holes at the top of the container.The bugs need to breathe as well.
Step 9: The soil should be damp.
The bugs will appreciate a damp environment, so you don't need a bowl of water.The terrarium should be checked every day.You can mist it with a spray bottle.The bugs should be able to dig in the soil if it is kept moist.You can put a cotton ball on top of the soil for extra humidity.You can get a hygrometer from the pet store.The humidity will be indicated by it.The humidity needs to be above 75%.
Step 10: The terrarium can be kept in a safe location.
The bugs will not need extra heat or sunlight.Your bug's home can be damaged by a younger sibling or paws of a pet.It's best to keep it up high on a flat surface.
Step 11: Remove food that isn't eaten.
There are decaying fruits and vegetables around the terrarium.If you see that they are going bad, throw them away.They can be replaced with small portions of fresh food.
Step 12: The soil needs to be replaced every week.
The best way to keep your bugs safe is to replace the soil once a week.Look for droppings or signs of mold.It's time to refresh the terrarium.There are yellowed plants and hiding spots that should be swapped out.You should catch the bugs before you start cleaning.Move them to a sealed container with air holes.Large bugs and arthropods will need to be cleaned weekly.If you only have a few small bugs, you may be able to leave the terrarium alone for a longer period of time.