How to Make You Own Terrarium Misting System

A terrarium is an all-glass container with a screen top for ventilation. Amphibians or reptiles are typically housed in a terrarium, which normally also contains plants of various types. The humidity in a terrarium is created and maintained by using a misting system. According to Alan Jardine, former Chief Conservation Officer at the National Zoological gardens of South Africa, a number of commercial misting systems are available but you can make your own with very little equipment.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon plastic bucket
  • Chlorine neutralizer
  • 50-watt aquarium heater
  • Mini aquarium submersible pump
  • Small tube of 100 percent non-toxic silicone sealer
  • 3 feet of 1/4-inch diameter irrigation tubing
  • Scissors
  • Plastic in-line T-piece
  • Plastic in-line tap
  • Irrigation mist nozzle
  • Electrical timer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a 5-gallon plastic bucket with tap water and add a chlorine neutralizer. Stir vigorously with a plastic rod for a few minutes. Place the bucket behind the terrarium.

    • 2

      Place a 50-watt aquarium heater into the bucket and set the thermostat for 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Plug the heater into a wall power source and turn it on.

    • 3

      Place the reducer tube that comes with the mini submersible pump into the exhaust nozzle of the pump and smear a teaspoon full of 100 percent non-toxic silicone sealer around the join to secure the reducer tube.

    • 4

      Cut a 3-inch long piece of 1/4-inch irrigation tubing and push one end into the reducer tube. Smear a pea-sized amount of 100 percent non-toxic silicone sealer around the join to secure the tube. Allow the silicone to dry for 24 hours.

    • 5

      Push the free end of the 3-inch long piece of 1/4-inch irrigation tubing into a plastic in-line T-piece.

    • 6

      Push a second 3-inch long piece of 0.25-inch diameter irrigation tubing into one of the remaining two outlets of the T-piece and place a plastic in-line tap onto this piece.

    • 7

      Push a 2-foot long piece of 1/4-inch diameter irrigation tubing onto the remaining outlet of the T-piece.

    • 8

      Push a mist spray nozzle into the free end of the 2-foot long piece of tubing and place the nozzle into the terrarium.

    • 9

      Plug the mini submersible pump into an electrical timer. Set the timer to run for two to three minutes every three to four hours.

    • 10

      Plug the timer into a wall power source and turn it on.

    • 11

      Adjust the amount of water being pumped to the mist nozzle by opening the plastic in-line tap to allow more or less water to return to the bucket.