Building Reptile Terrariums for Kids

So you’ve finally convinced your mom, dad, or teacher to buy you a pet for your home or classroom, and you’re thinking of something a little different. How about a reptile? They don’t take up much space, they’re fun to look at, and you’ll also have fun building them a fascinating terrarium environment.

If you want to put together your own reptile terrarium, there are a few things to think about…

• Most reptiles need a place to bask.. Many reptiles are active during the day and love to sit under a light, so you’ll need to provide one of these for your Reptile Terrarium. Being cold-blooded, reptiles need some heat to get their blood moving and help them digest. A reptile basking lamp of the appropriate wattage should be placed in the center or to the side of the terrarium so that you can more easily see your reptile pet (not hidden in the background). An interesting place for your reptile to sit and bask under the lamp would perhaps be an unusual piece of driftwood, a bamboo root, a jungle vine, or even a twisted tambora wood root.
• Reptiles need a place to hide. Like you, your pet will probably want some time alone and should be provided with a couple of hiding places in your home. Consider having some pieces of wood or vines in your house with holes or spaces behind them for your pet to sleep on. Pet reptiles love to explore all the nooks and crannies you’ve put in their cages, so have fun designing a really cute terrarium.
• Reptiles need a place from which to observe the world. Your reptile will love having a place to run and look down on the rest of your home. Consider placing something within the area that is quite tall but can be easily climbed. A real jungle vine placed in the terrarium at an angle will also give your pet reptile a chance to get a little closer to the light and warm up on cold days.
• Create a terrarium that looks natural.. Reptiles are not your traditional domesticated pets, and many of them come from the wild. So it makes sense to provide them with a home that resembles one they would have lived in if they were living in the wild. Decorating your reptile terrarium with natural products is not only fun, but it helps your reptile pet feel more secure and enjoy their new home. Try mixing a variety of stones, jungle vines and root hides and more to create an unusual and realistic environment for your reptile pet.

DIY Guide on How to Create a Great Reptile Terrarium

• Place a good base of bedding at the bottom of your new reptile tank. Calcium sand, aspen bedding, and reptile bark are good bedding options for reptile terrariums. But talk to your local pet store, or read more about the reptile pet species you plan to house, to find out for sure which you’ll like best. It’s sensible to use bedding that is easy to replace when it’s time for cleaning. Tropical moss, bark bits or leaves make an interesting addition to base bedding, provided they are thoroughly cleaned before placing in the reptile terrarium.

• Place your basking lamp on top of the shade to provide plenty of light and heat for your reptile to warm up. Again, it’s best to talk to your local pet store or read up on the species you plan to keep to make sure you choose the right type of lighting/heating so your pet reptile will stay happy and healthy for many years to come.

• Choose from a selection of natural terrarium decorations for your pet to play, hide, run and bask in. Rocks, slate chips, bamboo roots, jungle vines, and hollow logs are ideal additions to any reptile terrarium. Be sure to place them in the reptile tank carefully so that they are stable and do not wobble or fall over and injure your pet.

• Keep clean. Don’t forget to promptly remove food and waste from the cage. Rotten slices of fruit or vegetables or dead bugs just aren’t pretty to look at (and your mom or teacher will complain, too). Just like taking care of other pets, a clean environment is also very important for reptiles. Think about where you will place the feeders or where you will place the water in the cage.

• Ventilation is important, so choose a reptile cage or aquarium that has plenty of ventilation.

• Choose your reptiles wisely and make sure they are easy-to-care-for species that will live for many years in the type of reptile terrarium you plan to build. Also keep in mind that many reptiles are sold as babies that will grow quickly and soon need a larger enclosure. When that time comes, you may want to expand or buy a new cage for your reptiles and add some new terrarium decorations to their environment.

• Keep it looking fresh. Replace decorations that have worn or look worn. Your reptiles will love a new and exciting change from time to time.

More important!!! Enjoy your new pet reptile and make sure their home is as much fun to live in as it is for you to see!