How to make a terrarium for a tarantula spider. DIY terrarium

Terrarium for tarantulas

The presence of a terrarium is required both for reasons of your own safety and for the safety of the spiders themselves. A spider that breaks free will not live long due to inappropriate climatic conditions(humidity, temperature), lack of food, in addition, it is a source of danger for children and pets.
By design, terrariums can be of two types: horizontal for ground and burrow spiders and vertical for arboreal spiders. Glass or plexiglass is mainly used to make a terrarium.

Requirements for setting up a terrarium for a tarantula

— the terrarium should provide space for the spiders. Wall surface for tree species and the bottom surface for terrestrial ones should be no shorter than 2 times the span of the spider’s legs in maximum amplitude. At the same time, the excessive space of the terrarium creates difficulties in constantly maintaining optimal temperature and humidity; in such a terrarium it is difficult for spiders to find food.
- the terrarium must be safe - for the owners and for the spider itself. The possibility of escape must be completely eliminated, and the possibility of a spider bite and attack must also be minimized. You may find it helpful to read about the Poecilotheria fasciata bite.
— containers with a high height cannot be used for ground spiders, because the tarantula can fall from a height and get a ruptured abdomen. For arboreal spider species, the height of the terrarium is an important component of success in keeping them. Large stones should not be placed near such spiders to prevent spider strikes and subsequent damage.
— good system Ventilation is necessary for all types of terrariums.
— as a shelter for terrestrial tarantulas, you need to install in the terrarium either a piece of bark, or half of a flower pot, or some kind of artificial shelter. For tree spiders, a shelter in a terrarium can be built from a piece of pine or oak bark.
By and large, tarantula spiders do not necessarily need to be kept in terrariums; any food containers or standard insect boxes are suitable for them. The main thing is that these containers must meet the above conditions. And newborn baby spiders feel great in small plastic boxes, such as those made for photographic film, with small-diameter holes on the lid and sides. As the spider grows, it is transplanted into larger jars.

Where to place a tarantula terrarium

The place for installing the terrarium is chosen by the owner independently, taking into account the characteristics of the home environment and the interior of the apartment.
The terrarium should not be placed in drafts, and it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. It should be noted that. Often special cabinets are allocated for collections in which small jars with spiders are stored, and adult beautiful females are placed separately in a beautiful terrarium.
It is important to understand that no matter how large a terrarium is, it is not worth keeping several individuals under one roof. Tarantulas are prone to cannibalism, so keeping several spiders is very risky.
To decorate or not to decorate a terrarium?
If the terrarium is part of the interior of the apartment, you can decorate it. For the guests of the terrarium themselves, the decor does not matter at all.
For decoration, you can use live moss, artificial plants, various driftwood and tree bark. The decor must be secured securely; under no circumstances should you use glue with toxic components for this; there are special adhesives for aquariums. Decorative elements should not cover food objects. In addition, they should not have sharp edges that could injure spiders.
It is not practical to decorate a terrarium with live plants. Firstly, the plants need lighting that is unacceptable for tarantulas. Secondly, many spiders actively dig, damaging plants in the process. It is still optimal to use artificial plants to decorate the terrarium.
Equipment for terrarium
1. Thermometer – for monitoring the temperature. If the temperature in the terrarium is below 20°C, it is advisable to use additional devices such as a thermal cord or a thermal mat. They differ in power and area (length), are selected in accordance with the size of the terrarium and are installed under half of it. You can also use a thermostat with a sensor and timer to avoid overheating.
2. Hygrometer - to control the humidity in the terrarium, the optimal level is 35-60%.
3. Tweezers – for feeding the spider with insects, for cleaning up leftover food and waste products of tarantulas.
4. Lighting – since tarantulas are nocturnal insects, decorative red lighting in the corner of the terrarium will make it possible to observe spiders both at night and during the day.
5. Drinking bowl - only needed for adults. You can use a small saucer. If the soil layer in the terrarium is thick, the stand will prevent the drinker from falling through.

Small ones can be kept in glass jars or small boxes, and large individuals can be kept in glass and plastic terrariums. The bottom of the container should be covered with peat, moss and wood dust. You can place driftwood, pots or unpretentious plants in the terrarium as shelters for pets.

Cacti, objects with sharp edges and ribbed stones should not be placed in the terrarium.

The storage container must be tightly closed with a lid that has holes for air intake. The temperature inside should be kept between 25-27 degrees. You can control it in the terrarium using a thermostat. A drop in temperature is especially dangerous for well-fed spiders - putrefactive processes can occur in the stomach.

To maintain the required level of humidity in the container, you need to place a saucer with water, a container with moistened moss or litter, which must be sprayed every day with a spray bottle. Lack of humidity can lead to problems with molting, and those originating from the tropics may even die. However, waterlogging of the air should not be allowed - the appearance of mold fungi and bacteria can cause diseases of the animal’s body and respiratory organs.

No additional lighting is required in the terrarium. A fluorescent lamp or biolamp is suitable for heating.

Most spiders in nature behave night look life, so you should not place the terrarium in direct sunlight.

Feeding

Food for spiders can be purchased at a bird market or in pet stores. Young, often moulting individuals are fed juvenile crickets and mealworms twice a week. The diet of adult spiders consists of flies, cockroaches, crickets, frogs, mice and locusts. The food insect or animal should not be more than a third the size of the spider itself. Large spiders can be given a small mouse or several large cockroaches and crickets once every 10 days.

Uneaten insects (even live ones) must be immediately removed from the terrarium so that they do not damage the integument of the spider’s body.

Before molting, spiders may refuse food for a period of three weeks to two months. In this case, it is important to provide your pets with access to fresh water. The drinking bowl, which is a simple lid from a jar, must be filled daily with boiled or settled water. To prevent the animal from turning over the drinking bowl, you can put a smooth pebble in it.

Initially, it all depends on what kind of spider you have. By and large, it is not even particularly important what species your spider belongs to - the lifestyle that it leads is much more important. This situation can be considered using the example of tarantula spiders.

Among tarantulas there are species leading three different lifestyles. The first is spiders that dig holes and hunt on the ground. The second are spiders - which do not dig holes and also hunt on the ground, finding victims among those who move there. And the third are tree spiders, which prefer to live in trees, spin webs and make nests out of them.

They also hunt using trees, grass and bushes. Therefore, before you get the answer to the question “How to make a terrarium for a spider?”, you must answer the following question: “What type of spider do I have?” After all, you must understand that if you make the wrong terrarium for your pet, he will not be very comfortable living in it.

And if you place branches for a ground spider, they will be just decoration - nothing more. And it is much worse if the opposite situation happens - then the spider will experience enormous stress associated with the inability to conduct a proper hunt.

Firstly, the spider definitely needs shelter - without it it will feel extremely uncomfortable. Lack of shelter in a spider's terrarium can lead to loss of appetite and even death of the spider. The next important aspect is the bedding.

If you are making a terrarium for a spider with your own hands, then we recommend bedding that will not rot and can hold moisture well. Also, spiders (especially exotic ones) are very picky about temperature: for many, room temperature is enough, but some require a temperature of 30 degrees. Therefore, take care of your warmth pet. The rest depends on the characteristics of the particular spider.

What not to do

In conclusion, I would like to say that a properly assembled terrarium for a spider, as well as good food and the absence of stress will lead to a threefold increase in the life of your pet. Therefore, his life is in your hands.

Plexiglas is the most suitable material for a terrarium

The most suitable and affordable materials for creating terrariums are silicate and organic glass.

Advantages of plexiglass:

It is more difficult to break than ordinary silicate;
Containers made of plexiglass accumulate heat well and reluctantly release it into the surrounding space;
Its fragments rarely form sharp edges on which you can cut yourself;
Plexiglas is easier to process and fasten.

Plexiglas has fewer disadvantages than advantages, but each of them can become critical for a terrarium.

Plexiglass is easy to scratch. Therefore, you can only wash it with a soft sponge or gauze;
The surface of the plexiglass becomes cloudy over time and begins to turn yellow;
Ultraviolet rays are harmful to plexiglass.

Thus, plexiglass is a good material for terrariums whose inhabitants cannot scratch the walls. These could be spiders, snakes, Achatina. To make terrariums in which animals with sharp claws (lizards or turtles) will live, you should choose a different material.

In addition to the plexiglass itself, you will need plastic corners and a metal mesh for ventilation. To make doors, you need two types of plastic E profiles. The upper profile should be 2 times deeper than the lower one. The size of both profiles corresponds to the thickness of the door material.

Choice of plexiglass

In order to choose the right plexiglass for a terrarium, you need to know that it comes in two types - cast and extruded. Casting is more expensive, but does not have most of the above disadvantages. It is stronger than extrusion and less cloudy. Some brands transmit UV rays well and are not destroyed under their influence. Therefore, it is worth choosing those brands of molded plexiglass that are characterized by strength, preservation of transparency and do not block UV rays. The sheet thickness should not be less than 5 mm.

Glue selection

The glue must meet two characteristics:

Be harmless to living organisms, do not emit chemical substances in contact with litter, water or excrement;
Be durable and waterproof.

In practice, any silicone sealant for gluing terrariums or aquariums meets these conditions.

When working with such sealants, you must be careful, since drops frozen on the material are difficult to clean off.

Required Tools

To create a glass terrarium you will need the most common tools.

Glass cutter;
Fine-grained sharpening stone or sandpaper;
Ruler;
Marker for glass;
Sharp knife;
Heavy rectangular object;
Adhesive tape;
Sharp scissors.

You also need to take at least two rags: one for wiping glass, the other for other surfaces and hands.

Stages of making a terrarium

You should start making a terrarium with a drawing. On a piece of paper or using a computer program, you need to draw each side of the parallelepiped indicating the dimensions, as well as general form assembled, with sides marked. The dimensions can be taken ready-made, recommended for keeping a future pet, or you can calculate them yourself, based on the maintenance standards and conditions of a particular apartment.

Then, using a ruler and marker, draw out the details and cut them out. If there must be a hole in the part, it is drilled before gluing begins. The edges of glass parts are processed with a sharpening stone or sandpaper. To avoid glass dust, this is done under running tap water. After this, the parts are dried and the gluing areas are degreased with acetone.

Making the base

The parts are connected using glue. It is applied to the fat-free edges, after which the parts are pressed against each other and fixed. This is easiest to do with duct tape and a heavy rectangular object.

Connecting terrarium parts

Excess glue is not washed off - it is carefully cut off after the parts have completely dried. It is not recommended to press the surfaces to be glued close to each other; there should be a layer of glue of 1–2 mm between them.

In this way, they assemble a box with a built-in ventilation fence and proceed to the manufacture of doors. To do this, glue a deep profile to the ceiling from below.

Gluing deep profile

A small profile is applied to the upper part of the front corner of the ventilation fence.

Bonding small profiles

Doors are inserted into the grooves of the profiles. The result is a design like this.

Final design

Making a ventilation fence

This design uses flow ventilation. The principle of operation is that air enters one hole and exits into another, thus creating a constant current. It is very simple to set up flow-through ventilation, and in terms of efficiency it is superior to ventilation through an open lid. But there are two points that must be observed.

The air inlet is located at the bottom. The outlet should be 1.5–2 times larger and located at the top. It is optimal to place it near a heating source;
The holes should not be placed so that they are opposite to each other, otherwise the air flow will create a draft that is harmful to most insects and reptiles. The most correct option is to place the inlet hole on the side wall below, at ground level, and the outlet hole on the opposite wall at the very top.

Instead of one large one, you can make several small holes. Aluminum mesh is best suited for sealing them. Plastic and synthetic ones are fragile, iron ones rust when exposed to moisture.

Using flow ventilation you can also regulate humidity. To reduce humidity, it will be enough to increase the number or overall density of ventilation holes; to increase it, reduce it.

To create a ventilation fence, you need to cut out two additional parts - a strip for the doors and a rectangular ventilation panel.

They are glued in at the stage when the structure only has a bottom, back and side walls.

There are already two walls

Then the second wall is glued in. Using corners and glue, attach to upper parts metal mesh ventilation parts.

Installation of metal mesh

After this, they move on to making the roof. Both parts are glued to the resulting frame, between which a mesh for the outlet is attached using corners and glue.

Erection of the roof

The structure is left to dry for a day, then the edges of both holes are reinforced with glass strips.

Reinforcement with glass strips

Making a terrarium lid

Often a terrarium is made without doors, but with a removable lid. The advantages of this design are that sockets for heating lamps and fixtures for appliances, as well as fans for forced ventilation, are built into the lid.

Forced ventilation is used in large structures. Ventilation is carried out using two fans. The first promotes the flow of fresh air from outside, the second mixes it inside the structure. Any brand that combines small size and low noise level is suitable for a terrarium, for example, cooling fans for system units.

A good material for the lid is foamed PVC, other non-toxic plastic will also work..

The height of the lid is selected taking into account the equipment that will be attached from below, the length and width - according to the dimensions of the terrarium with an increase in the thickness of the material. The parts are cut out and glued together in the same way as the glass parts of the terrarium. Holes are made in the finished cover for the wires and a hatch is cut out. After this, the lamps are built in. The wires must be carefully insulated, and a piece of plastic must be glued to the sockets so that there is a gap between the heating elements and the cover.

Features of arrangement of terrariums depending on their purpose

For reptiles

Turtles do better in closed terrariums

Turtles do not tolerate the microclimate of an average Russian apartment. Therefore, open terrariums are not suitable for them - it is difficult to maintain the required temperature and humidity in them. Create for turtle good conditions only possible in a closed terrarium.

The dimensions of the minimum terrarium for a turtle are calculated as follows. The length will be equal to the length of the turtle multiplied by 5, and the width will be equal to the width of the turtle multiplied by the same value. High altitude turtles do not need it, even for large individuals it is not advisable to make terrariums higher than 50 cm.

When choosing material for the walls, it is necessary to take into account that turtles do not always adequately perceive transparent barriers and can bang against them for a long time. Therefore, opaque materials are preferred. To improve inspection, the front wall can be made of glass. Plexiglas is not recommended as it can be scratched by turtles with their claws.

Turtles need very good ventilation, so the top ventilation through the lid is not suitable. Need a flow one.

The temperature in the place where the turtle is kept should not fall below 22 C. Therefore, heating is required. Thermal mats and similar devices for bottom heating are not used, since heat flows emanating from below can cause kidney disease. Heating should be from above. To do this, you can use a regular 60 W incandescent lamp or an ultraviolet lamp. What these reptiles like most is uneven heating, when half for waking and eating is warmer, and half for sleeping is colder, so the lamps are placed near one of the walls.

The choice of terrarium for a lizard depends on its species.

The shape of the terrarium for lizards is chosen depending on their species. Arboreal ones need a vertical terrarium, in which the height will be at least twice the width, and terrestrial ones - vice versa.

For small lizards, especially those who love to climb, one of the side walls can be made of metal mesh. The diameter of the cells should be such that the reptile cannot get out, but can cling freely with its paws. You can make a lid from the same mesh. Such designs are suitable for keeping reptiles, the optimal temperature for which is not too different from room temperature.

However, mesh walls are not suitable for keeping iguanas and chameleons. Apartment air is too dry and cold for them. In order to maintain the microclimate necessary for these reptiles, the walls are made of plywood, organic or silicate glass.

Iguanas are kept in horizontal terrariums. For one adult reptile over one and a half years old, the dimensions should be as follows: 200x200x125 cm. When kept in smaller rooms, iguanas lose their appetite, move little and lose resistance to diseases.

Small terrariums are also not suitable for keeping agamas; the minimum volume for keeping an adult is 200 liters. A built-in ultraviolet lamp is required. Stones with a heating element inside are not suitable for heating; you need to take a terrarium lamp or a regular incandescent lamp. Agamas do not like humidity and cold, so you need to equip the terrarium with a thermometer and hygrometer.

Terrariums for insects

For spiders and snails, horizontal terrariums without doors, but with removable lids, are suitable.

The tarantula does not require much space

Tarantula spiders are capricious when kept; any deviations from the required humidity and temperature in the terrarium can cause them to become ill. They do not tolerate drafts or stagnant air. Therefore, it is best to equip the terrarium with a heater with automatic temperature control and a hygrometer.

Tarantulas do not need large volumes; in nature, they spend their entire lives in shelters. The minimum bottom area is equal to the spider's leg span multiplied by 2.

Achatina needs a home with a large bottom area

Achatina requires rectangular terrariums with a large bottom area. These snails do not need a large influx of oxygen. For ventilation, a flow system is used; the air entry and exit points are rows of holes with a diameter of 3–4 mm.

Features of making a decorative terrarium

Either a teapot or a terrarium

Terrariums are used for more than just keeping reptiles and insects. Decorative terrariums can only contain plants and decorative elements. To make them, any glass container is used; preference is given to non-standard items. The video explains how to make a mini terrarium with lighting from an incandescent lamp.

Video: DIY light bulb terrarium

As you can see from the article, making a terrarium with your own hands is easy, and even a person who does not have such experience can handle it.

Find out how to properly organize a terrarium for animals, what plants to decorate with, and how to make a terrarium for plants.

How to make and decorate a terrarium for a red-eared turtle: drawings, description, photo

Exotic animals are quite suitable for keeping at home. However, for their full existence it is necessary to create suitable conditions. For this purpose, terrariums are equipped.

Important: To keep pets in a terrarium, it is necessary to recreate an ecosystem similar to the living conditions of animals in natural conditions.

We will tell you what requirements a terrarium must meet to keep various animals. Let's start with the turtle. At home, you can keep land turtles, as well as freshwater turtles (including red-eared turtles).

The most important mistake is keeping these animals on the floor of an apartment or house. You can organize a ground terrarium; it must have suitable characteristics. However, it is unacceptable to allow a turtle to roam around the apartment; this is harmful for the pet.

Land turtles there are many types. For home care in most cases, medium-sized turtles of about 20 cm are chosen. You can make a terrarium for a turtle yourself, what you need for this:

Purchase and glue glass;
Organize ventilation;
Carry out UV lamps;
Select soil.

For a small turtle of about 12 cm, a terrarium with a minimum size of 60x40x40 cm is required. But it is important to make sure that there is enough space if the turtle grows. If there are several turtles, the sizes should accordingly be twice as large.

Terrarium land turtles You should not clutter up with various kinds of obstacles that will interfere with movement. The following soil should be placed on the bottom:

A mixture of sand and clay;
Hay;
Wood chips;
Large pebbles.

Terrarium for a land turtle

For red eared turtles, the size of which is within 18-30 cm, a terrarium of 150-200 liters is required. Water should occupy 3⁄4, and land - 1⁄4.

Important: For red-eared turtles, it is necessary to organize a sloping bank with no scratchy texture. The water must be at least 20°C.

Terrariums for turtles should be well ventilated. For this, two holes are made:

The first is large, located on top of the terrarium;
The second is small, on the front wall of the terrarium at the base of the soil.

Air temperature is a very important factor that should be properly organized in the terrarium. The turtle terrarium is equipped with a 60 W incandescent lamp, which is installed on top. Bottom heating is not recommended, as it is harmful to the animal’s kidneys. The lamp should heat one corner more strongly, here the turtle will bask and eat food (temperature about 28°C). The house is installed in a cooler corner (about 24°C).

Aquaterrarium for red-eared turtle

Scheme of organizing a terrarium for a turtle

Video: DIY aquaterrarium for turtles

How to make and decorate a plexiglass terrarium for a lizard, gecko, agama, iguana, chameleon, snake, snake?

The lizard suborder includes all squamates except snakes. This includes:

Iguanas;
Chameleons;
Geckos;
Agamas.

Snakes are descendants of lizards and are classified as a separate suborder. Many people keep various lizards as pets. Many people also keep snakes at home. To keep these pets, it is necessary to have a terrarium suitable for the conditions. There are a lot of varieties of lizards and snakes. Some of them live in trees, others live in the ground. Therefore, before getting a certain type of pet, it is imperative to familiarize yourself with the conditions suitable for a particular pet.

Terrariums for scaly animals come in the following configurations:

Horizontal- for reptiles leading an amphibious lifestyle (snakes, snakes).
Vertical- for arboreal lizards and reptiles living in mountainous areas (chameleon, iguana).
Cubic- for those living in the thickness of the earth, in burrows (gecko, typical lizards).

To make terrariums with your own hands, ordinary or organic glass is used. Ordinary glass is inferior in its characteristics to organic glass, since it is more fragile. For large animals, it is recommended to make terrariums with a frame made of wood or metal. The plexiglass sheets are glued together with silicone glue.

A terrarium for reptiles must be equipped with UV lamps, ventilation, and must be closed with a lid so that the animal does not escape. Thermal mats are used as heating; they are placed under the ground.

For chameleons and iguanas, it is necessary to organize a tropical terrarium. There is little space for water here. But you need branches for climbing. The presence of rough surfaces is welcome, as this provides additional climbing opportunities.

Terrarium for chameleon

For typical lizards, it is also necessary to have branches for climbing. If the lizard likes to burrow into the soil, the thickness of the sand should be at least 10 cm.

A desert terrarium should be organized for the agama. Calcium sand is used as soil. The temperature should be maintained within 30°C. A thermometer is installed for adjustment. In a desert terrarium, be sure to place a small container of water.

Desert terrarium for agama, lizards

An aquaterrarium for snakes and snakes must be equipped with water and dry land. On land, it is necessary to have a house for shelter. These animals are demanding of water; its temperature must always be within 20°C.

The presence of plants in the terrarium is mandatory. This is not only decor, but also a source of food and oxygen. The following plants are suitable for exotic animals:

Fern
Ficus tiny

Terrariums for snakes and lizards should have high humidity.

Video: DIY terrarium for lizards

How to make and decorate a terrarium for Achatina snails?

Achatina snails are large sized mollusks. It’s easy to keep them, because these snails are undemanding to conditions. Even in the temporary absence of the owner, they can feel good if taken care of in advance.

A terrarium for Achatina snails can be made of regular or plexiglass, or you can use a plastic container. The “house” for snails should have small holes for ventilation. It must be of such a size that the snail does not escape.

Important: Achatina snails need space for a comfortable existence. A 3 liter container is suitable for one snail; for two snails - 5 l.

Container equipment requirements:

Cover the bottom with flower substrate without fertilizers; snails love to burrow into the soil. Suitable substrates include sand and shells. walnut, coconut The bad layer is clay and tree bark.
The soil should always be moist, but not waterlogged. The soil is sprayed with a spray bottle daily.
There is no need to install lighting lamps for snails. Soft, diffused daylight suits them. During the day, snails hide in the substrate and are awake at night.
The air temperature in the container should be about 24°C.

To cover Achatina snails, fragments of flower pots, coconut shells, and stones are placed inside the container. Also, living plants are planted in the substrate: moss, ivy, fern, lettuce, cereals, etc.

Terrarium for Achatina snails: top view

How to make and decorate a terrarium for a tarantula spider, ants, Madagascar cockroaches, and a praying mantis?

Insect terrariums must also have a number of certain characteristics. If everything is done correctly, the life of insects will be comfortable and safe.

Let's look at how to set up terrariums for various insects.

Terrarium for a tarantula spider:

Keeping a tarantula spider at home requires a spacious terrarium. There should be no objects with great height inside to prevent the tarantula from falling.
Provide shelter. Pieces of bark are suitable for this, flower pots and other similar devices.
It is not recommended to place stones in the tarantula spider's terrarium, as the insect may be injured.
The size of the terrarium is calculated as follows: the length of the spider’s legs is multiplied by two. For example, the length of the legs of an adult spider is 14 cm.
In this case, the size of the “house” should be 30x30x20 cm. Moreover, 20 cm is a safe height for a tarantula spider.
Be sure to make holes on the sides and top for ventilation.
The bottom is covered with soil, and branches are placed for tree spiders.

Terrarium for a tarantula spider

Terrarium for the praying mantis:

A vertical terrarium is suitable for the praying mantis.
Pour soil into the bottom and place a layer of foliage on top. If the foliage is large, additional cover is not required.
Humidity should not be too high; spraying is not recommended frequently.
The temperature in the terrarium is 25°C.
The terrarium should not be placed in direct sunlight.
Ventilation is required.

Keeping a praying mantis

Terrarium for ants:

For content unusual pets A narrow flat container is required.
Sometimes 2 jars are used to maintain an ant farm, so that one fits into the other. Both jars are closed with lids. An ant family is located in the space between the banks.
A terrarium for ants is called a formicarium. Sand or a special gel containing additives for ants is poured inside.
Some people collect ants in the forest and collect soil there.

Formicarium

Terrarium for Madagascar cockroaches:

If the terrarium for Madagascar cockroaches is not equipped with a lid, then lubricate its walls with Vaseline so that the insects do not escape. It is better to cover the home of Madagascar cockroaches with a lid with holes.
There must be a lot of hiding places inside. To do this, they use egg trays; cockroaches love them for the presence of cells, toilet paper rolls, pot fragments, and wood.
The flooring should be made of fragrant wood with sand. The wood is preferably coniferous, it is changed periodically.

Keeping Madagascar cockroaches

How to make and decorate a terrarium for rodents and hamsters?

In most cases, rodents, including hamsters, are kept in cages. Rodents can also be kept in terrariums, providing air access.

Terrariums for hamsters can be made of plastic. They have a number of advantages over the cage:

Firstly, sawdust does not fall out of the terrariums;
Secondly, at night you can’t hear the hamster gnawing on the bars of the cage.

A hamster can be kept in terrariums of varying sizes; the size of the pet should be taken into account. If there is a well-equipped “home”, the pet will feel quite comfortable.

How to design a terrarium for a hamster:

Cover the bottom with sawdust or hay;
Place a drum or wheel, a feeder, a drinking bowl;
It is also necessary to have dry twigs and sticks; the hamster will sharpen its teeth.

Comfortable house for a hamster

What helps maintain humidity in a terrarium?

Contents of many exotic pets requires a certain level of humidity in the terrarium. For some animals, high humidity is indicated, for others, humidity is contraindicated. For example, hamsters will feel great in dry sawdust, Achatina snails vitally need a wet extract, mantises will not be able to survive if there are drops of condensation in the terrarium.

Important: The easiest way to maintain humidity in a terrarium is to spray the soil with water from a spray bottle.

The required soil moisture for pets is different:

Humidity for Achatina snails is checked in this way - squeeze a handful of soil in your hand, if water drips, then the soil is waterlogged. Achatina snails react negatively to high humidity: they hibernate, become lethargic, and lose their appetite.
Moisture is also important for ants. You can determine the level of sufficient moisture in the formicarium as follows: if perspiration appears on the walls, stop spraying.
The soil in the praying mantis terrarium should be sprayed rarely. It should be slightly damp. How often this needs to be done is difficult to say for sure, it depends on the air circulation in the terrarium.
The optimal humidity level for the tarantula spider is 35-60%.

You can determine the exact air humidity using hygrometer.

A hygrometer determines the humidity level in the terrarium

How to make the temperature 33 degrees in the terrarium?

Important: Temperature is one of the most important requirements for maintaining the microclimate in the terrarium.

Terrarium animals are very sensitive to temperature changes. All animals have their own biological needs for thermoregulation.

Various devices are used to maintain temperature:

Heating lamps;
Heated mats;
Ceramic heaters;
Infrared lamps.
Heating thermal cords.

Warm areas are made for scaly ones. In these “sunny areas” the pets periodically bask. Then they crawl to places with lower temperatures. Heating lamps are suitable for this. They should be placed in such a way that the pet does not get burned from touching.

For snakes, heating mats are used under the ground; turtles are heated from above. To heat the snails, use a heating pad or rugs.

A budget-friendly heating method is to place the terrarium near heating radiators or heaters. But this method has a number of disadvantages that may affect normal life cycle animals. Still, it is better to use special devices for heating terrariums.

Important: You can and should monitor the temperature in the terrarium using a thermometer.

How to make and decorate a large terrarium from an aquarium for plants and flowers?

A terrarium is not only a “house” for your beloved pets. You can grow plants in a terrarium. Terrariums with plants have many advantages:

They are easy to care for.
This is a luxurious element of the interior.
Suitable for people with a minimum of free time and a desire to have indoor plants at home.
A good alternative to flower pots.

Aquariums are suitable bases for terrariums. But before you fill it with soil and plants, you need to understand which plants are suitable for terrariums:

Plants that prefer or tolerate shade easily.
Dwarf plants. It is important that the plant does not outgrow the walls of the terrarium, otherwise its appearance will suffer over time.
Plants that love humidity.

Plants that are most often grown in a terrarium are moss, cacti, and succulents.

If you decide to turn an aquarium into a terrarium with plants, keep in mind that the aquarium with soil will become very heavy. Therefore, do not place it on fragile tables. Also, such terrariums should not be placed under air conditioning or in close proximity to heating appliances.

Think in advance about how the lighting will be maintained. Direct Sun rays are contraindicated in a terrarium, but darkness is also unacceptable. Optimal lighting is indirect diffused light. You can use special garden lamps.

Large terrarium for plants

Important: If you decide to use an old aquarium, wash it thoroughly with antibacterial agents or soap. Residues of dirt and bacteria can subsequently harm the plants.

To arrange a terrarium, in addition to plants, buy a soil mixture with drainage. It is desirable that the soil contains the addition of bog moss or sphagnum. You will also need pebbles (gravel), moss, all kinds of decorations, and gloves.

The following layers are placed in the aquarium:

Pebbles or gravel. You can add a handful of activated carbon, this will serve as additional drainage.
Moss. A layer of moss will prevent soil subsidence and retain moisture.
Priming. The soil layer should be thick enough to accommodate the plant roots. Also, the thickness of the soil depends on the height of the aquarium.
Plants. Plant the plants in the holes. Water the plants.

At the end, you can add decorative elements that will not be damaged by excess moisture. These can be any objects: shells, figurines, coins. At this point, the organization of a terrarium for plants is ready.

Video: The idea of creating a large terrarium

How to make and decorate a terrarium with your own hands from a can, bottle, plastic

The plant terrarium is called florarium. You can grow plants in a bottle or jar. This flower arrangement takes up very little space, but looks impressive.

Growing plants in a jar or bottle is similar to growing plants in a greenhouse. The presence of container walls allows you to maintain the necessary microclimate of the florarium. Jars with plants are covered with lids or a small hole is left.

The disadvantage of growing plants in a jar is the difficulty of care. Cleaning a florarium and getting rid of dead plants can be quite troublesome. But, nevertheless, this does not stop connoisseurs of florariums.

For florarium can be used as glass bottles, and plastic. Plastic containers are inferior to glass ones in their characteristics and appearance. The container does not have to be in the form of a jar. These can be vases, serving caps, large glasses, etc.

Important: You cannot grow plants that are incompatible with each other. For example, succulents and ferns. These plants have opposite watering requirements, so there is a risk that the florarium will deteriorate.

In addition to evergreen exotic plants, you can grow a single flowering plant in a jar. IN Lately It is fashionable to give such flower arrangements. The advantage of such a gift is its durability. You can, of course, give a flower in a pot, but a florarium looks more impressive and stylish.

Florariums are used to decorate home and office interiors. A row or series of florariums looks original.
The process of planting plants in a jar or bottle is essentially no different from planting plants in an aquarium. However, planting plants in a container with a narrow neck is painstaking work.

How to plant plants in a bottle or jar:

First, layers are poured in the same order as in the aquarium: pebbles, moss, soil.
Use a long narrow stick to make indentations.
Carefully remove the plants, along with their roots, from the pots in which they were sold.
Using two long sticks, place the plants into the holes.

Caring for the terrarium is not difficult: just water the plants as the soil dries out, and also wipe off the dust from the jar inside and out. If there are no problems with wiping dust from the outside, then many may be puzzled - how to wipe the dust inside the terrarium? This is not difficult: you can wrap a piece of soft sponge on a flexible wire, which will simply cope with dirt. A soft-bristled toothbrush will also work if it is the right size for your terrarium.

Florarium

How to make and decorate an eternal mini-terrarium from a light bulb?

Terrariums made from light bulbs look original and stylish. The most common light bulbs of different sizes are suitable for making such a terrarium. To begin with, we recommend trying to work with the largest light bulb.

You will need:

Large light bulb;
Screwdriver;
Round nose pliers;
Scissors;
Long tweezers.

Be sure to protect your eyes with goggles, as pieces of glass may fly off during operation.

Step-by-step production:

Remove the metal seal on the light bulb base.
Then use a screwdriver to very carefully break the internal parts of the light bulb.
Using long tweezers, remove the “entrails”.
Finish the hole well with a screwdriver so that there are no sharp edges.
To stabilize the light bulb, make legs by adding 2-4 drops of silicone glue.
Now pour sand and dry moss through the funnel and place the plants using long tweezers.
You can use small pebbles and plastic figures as decoration.
A mini-terrarium made from a light bulb can be placed on a stand. This will make it even more impressive.

Mini terrarium in a light bulb

Ideas for hanging and tabletop terrariums: photos

Below you will find ideas for plant terrariums of various configurations and with different plants. Get inspired to create beautiful and unusual home decorations with your own hands.

A small terrarium in a glass cup is perfect for decorating your desktop.

Tabletop terrarium

Hanging terrariums of different sizes are convenient.

Hanging terrariums

Even teapots can be used, the main thing is to use your imagination.

Terrarium idea

Making a terrarium for plants or animals is not difficult if you approach this issue with inspiration and the desire to create a useful and beautiful thing.

Video: How to make a terrarium for plants?

$mob_info$