Mary Allen
Many people are currently very worried about their health, their jobs, their livelihoods, and their future. An example of a useful distraction: crafting for your pet. Here we introduce you to a DIY plastic terrarium. You can easily make this out of materials that you are sure to have at home or that you can order online.
Why a DIY Terrarium?
Plastic terrariums offer the opportunity to briefly observe or transport various living things. If you have to do cleaning work on your “real” terrarium, then you will have to “park” your carer for a short time. The DIY terrarium is a great way to do this. Even if you have to go to the vet with your darling, a self-made terrarium is a good aid. Short-term transport in a plastic terrarium is usually not a problem.
Another possible use for your DIY terrarium is to observe local arthropods, i.e. arthropods for a while. This even goes so far that one can passively accompany native butterflies in their metamorphosis.
What Do I Need for a DIY Terrarium?
In addition to time and a little manual skill, you will need the following materials:
- Plastic box with removable lid. These are also offered on the Internet under the name Pastikbox or Plastikkiste. It is important that the plastic is not too thick. The so-called “Euroboxes” are unsuitable for a self-made plastic terrarium.
- Flyscreens or gauze. It is important here that it is sold by the meter that can be cut to size.
scissors. - Knife or cutter.
- Lighter.
- Duct tape (also called duct tape, gaff tape, or stone tape).
How Do I Proceed?
The closed plastic box lies there with the lid facing up. Use the lighter to heat the knife until it is warm enough to cut the plastic lid. You need to cut a rectangular opening in the middle of the lid. However, you have to leave enough space at the edge of the lid so that you can attach the fly screen later. Once the knife cools down, the plastic won’t cut as well. You have to be very careful with this step so as not to injure yourself. I also recommend going out into the fresh air, because when heated, harmful vapors are released that should not be inhaled.
When the rectangle is cut free, you need to cut the mosquito net or gauze to size. The blank has to be a little bigger than the rectangle that you cut out so that you can attach it later so that it holds well.
Now you need great sensitivity because you have to glue the fly screen to the lid. To do this, place the lid upside down and the fly screen over the free opening. In this way, you can be sure that a smaller patient will not get caught between the lid and the grille later on. For the first fixation, you glue the grid with short strips. Then you glue several large strips neatly and neatly so that it fits well. It is particularly important at this point that you do not leave any adhesive surface free, as insects, for example, can get caught on it. If you also start an adhesive row from the other side, then the terrarium is very solid. Should something break, it can be easily repaired.
Conclusion
Certainly, this DIY terrarium is not suitable for all types of animals, but mainly for smaller species that cannot “eat their way”. Nevertheless, it is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, relatively stable, and offers the possibility of briefly observing living things. Since it is not difficult, the animals can also be transported safely over short distances. And maybe you get to know one or the other creature in the house and garden better and maybe see them later with completely different eyes. By the way: a DIY terrarium can also be created together with children.