Homemade Fish & Lizard Terrariums

A terrarium is an enclosure often used for reptiles, like lizards and snakes. These habitats usually have dirt or bark, along with plants and areas of water. Some reptile keepers may wish to go the extra mile and have living aquatic habitats in their terrariums that contain fish, adding a very natural aesthetic to any enclosure. Creating a terrarium capable of holding fish, however, can be a tricky task that requires some careful preparation.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass tank with screen top
  • Gravel
  • Spaghetti strainer
  • Bark
  • In-tank filter
  • Heat lamp
  • Water dechlorinator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the spaghetti strainer with gravel and rinse it out under a faucet. This will alleviate any dust or dirt particles.

    • 2

      Fill the glass tank with the newly rinsed gravel and push most of it to one side, making a slope. One side of the tank should be about halfway-filled with gravel while the other side should have about an inch of gravel. There should be a gradual slope of gravel between the two sides.

    • 3

      Place a thin layer of bark on the upper side of the gravel slope. This will provide a substrate for your lizards.

    • 4

      Fill the tank with freshwater until it reaches about an inch below the upper level of gravel and bark. This will ensure that there is a substantial dry area for lizards.

    • 5

      Place the in-tank filter in the water near the wall of the tank and fill it with water. Plug the filter into a power outlet and it should begin filtering the terrarium water.

    • 6

      Add the appropriate amount of liquid dechlorinator. This product, which can be found at virtually any pet store, neutralizes chlorine and other harmful chemicals in the water. The proper dosage can be found on each individual product's packaging.

    • 7

      Cover the tank with the screen lid and place the heat lamp over the dry side of the terrarium. This will provide a basking area for your lizards. The basic terrarium should be complete and will now only require the addition of optional accessories and fauna.