Low Maintenance Insect Terrarium Idea Sharing

Building videos:

This terrarium is designed to habitat insects, like mantis, spiders.

This is a two-part terrarium, wood base and glass cloche. There is side door. I have a totally same cloche but two glass panels replaced with mesh. I wanted to take a group of photos with that glass cloche but I did not because the clear acrylic container bent and I cannot put it inside again.

Here is what I am want before I create this project:

1. I need to put in rocks and plants easily and this is why this two-part terrarium comes out.

2. I do not want to remove the cloche when I water it and doing other daily maintenance. That is why there is a side door.

3. I want to raise small insect in a beautiful scenery. All my insect terrariums use real plants.  I do not like artificial bowls or plastic water feeders.

4. I need it low maintenance. If I forget to feed my insect pet or forget to water the plants it will be ok.

 The water-land terrarium immediately comes out.  But the wood base cannot contain water so I chose a 12x12cm acrylic container and it fits perfectly (and it bent after I fill in water and cannot fit in anymore. I should choose a smaller one). 

Then I chose a piece of natural limestone rock (the key point is it is porous, lava rock will work too) to divide the container in two parts, half land half water.

The material list from bottom to top:

1. sand, Leca Balls (small lava will work but those balls are cheaper), some dry moss, natural limestone rock, natural diatomaceous rocks (any soil will be ok).

The plants: moss, Leucobryum glaucum (I changed to Hypnum moss for the latter is suitable for open container) , maiden hair fern, fittonia and Acorus calamus

How this work: the insect can drink from the water pond directly and there is no need to put in a water feeder.  It in climb on the tall fern and hide itself in the moss and lower plants. 

How to water: You do not need to water it daily. The water will supply the plants on the land part thru porous rock and dry moss.  Recommended watering method: fill in the water pond to the highest level (under the moss) and as long as there is water left, it will be ok.

The material:

sand, Limestone Rock, ceramsite, dry moss, leucobryum moss, maiden hair fern, fittonia, Acorus calamus