Today we’re talking about terrarium bugs. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Love them or hate them, insects and bugs can make a valuable addition to a terrarium ecosystem.
Of course, that’s provided you get the right ones.
Some can help keep your terrarium clean, rich in nutrients, and free of pests. Whereas others simply are the pests…
In this article, we’re going to identify which terrarium insects and bugs are friendly (which are not) and where to find some really cool varieties.
Ready to unearth some gems? Let’s go.
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Bioactive Terrarium Bugs and Insects
First up, we’re starting with the good guys.
Bioactive terrarium bugs are a fantastic addition to any terrarium setup.
After all, being able to decompose organic matter – and process it to become available nutrients for your live plants – is part of being a truly self-sustaining terrarium.
The term for such a thing is a bioactive terrarium.
What makes this possible is the microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and the microfauna (insects and bugs) that are able to help the decomposition process along.
Leaf litter bugs do this naturally in the wild, and they can do it in your terrarium too.
Here are the best bugs for terrariums.
Springtails for Terrariums (Collembola sp)
Springtails are the perfect compromise for someone who wants the mold-fighting, terrarium-cleaning dream team – without giant bugs crawling all over the place.
These tiny critters are only 1/16″ at full size, and they’re really more jumpers than they are crawlers (hence the name). So it’s always best to use them in a closed terrarium. Otherwise, they can and will escape!
Springtails are detritivores, which means they love to feed on dead organic plant matter.
But their favorite food is fungi. So in the absence of any mushrooms in your terrarium, they’re going to feed on the most abundant source – mold.
That’s right, you can say goodbye to those awful mold blooms with a colony of springtails.
👉 In my Essential Guide to Tropical Terrariums, I recommend springtails for terrariums across the board.
Springtail Cultures
Springtails are typically cultured amongst chunks of charcoal. Mostly because the porosity of charcoal lends itself to being a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which the springtails can feed on.
It’s also a nice easy (non-messy) way to keep and/or transfer them.
Or, substrate works well too. Then you can just mix it right in without any extra fuss.
How many springtails do you need?
The amount of springtails you’ll need depends on the size of your terrarium, but even just a small colony can be hugely beneficial.
Grab a Mini Master Culture with thousands of well-established Temperate Springtails from our partners, Rubber Ducky Isopods. Shipped in 8 oz cups with organic clay substrate, along with house blend superfood + mineral water. (Shipping Included).
Different varieties can be found to best match your terrarium conditions (or color preferences). Though people report that temperate springtails tend to adapt to tropical terrarium conditions just fine, too so I don’t think it matters too much which you get.
I discuss the differences (or lack thereof) in my guide to Temperate vs Tropical Springtails.
Isopods for Terrariums
Isopods go by many names, but you may know them as pill bugs, rolly pollies, or just good old-fashioned woodlice here in the UK.
They’re much larger than springtails, so I guess they’re more for the bug enthusiasts out there.
Just like springtails, isopods will readily feed on decaying organic matter and help keep your terrarium clean and fertile
In fact, springtails and isopods make a great team.
One important thing to note with isopods is that they need high humidity to survive. They don’t have lungs per-se, and they instead breathe through gill-like structures beneath their armored carapaces.
So humid terrariums are a perfect fit!
👉 For more
Isopod Cultures
When it comes to isopods, there’s a huge diversity in shape, size, and colors.
So there really is something for everyone! Though, their environmental needs differ quite a lot too, so it’s important to get the right species for your setup.
Tropical species are a good starting point, as you’re going to want an
Dwarf White Isopods make an amazing cleanup crew for small and large terrariums alike.
They’re adaptable, efficient, and they breed like crazy!
Or, the larger varieties (e.g., Zebra Isopods and Dairy Cow Isopods) make great clean-up crews for larger terrariums and vivariums too.
👉 Check out my Isopods for Sale guide for more help, or shoot straight over to Rubber Ducky Isopods to see their range.
Next up, we have the bioactive bugs with very niche use cases.
Worms in Terrariums?
Worms are fantastic at aerating the soil and reaching areas that other bioactive bugs won’t.
So should you put worms in a terrarium? Probably not.
- Despite always being beneath the soil, they can make a real mess on the glass.
- Different worm species require different levels of depth and space, which are difficult to achieve in a terrarium.
- They’re a little too effective at consuming organic material. They’ll often chew through your substrate itself, turning into a thick mush.
For larger projects, there’s potentially some value in adding some terrarium worms, but they’re very rare use cases.
How About Millipedes?
Much like pill bugs, millipedes are effective decay-munching machines… that unfortunately, also run the risk of feeding on your plants.
Being larger (and a touch more challenging to keep) than isopods, they don’t see nearly as much use in terrariums and vivariums.
I’ve seen them used in larger setups, and you can supplement their diets with apple slices and such. So hopefully, if there’s no lack of food, then they wouldn’t turn to your plants!
Check out my terrarium millipede guide for the full rundown.
Where to Find Bioactive Terrarium Bugs for Sale
Finding appropriate springtail and
That said, we’ve partnered with Rubber Ducky Isopods for their huge range, high-quality products, and (super refreshing) transparency.
Shipping is always included in the price – so you know exactly what you’re paying upfront – and they really go out of their way to ensure your order arrives safe and healthy.
- For springtails, check out their Springtails Master Culture.
- For isopods, check out their complete range here.
Closed Terrarium Bugs and Insects as Pets
Snails, Slugs, and Beetles
The likes of snails, slugs, and beetles will all love being in a terrarium.
Small, easy to keep, and full of diversity, why not go for it?
Well, just bear in mind that all of the above are inclined to eat plants from time to time. Though much like the millipedes, if you’re feeding them with supplementary food then they may leave your plants alone.
Plant choice is critical here too, as there are plants out there that snails tend to avoid. Check out my Snail Terrarium Guide for my top plant picks.
In fact, roaches might be a better choice if you want to be extra careful.
Mantis and Ladybugs
One way to avoid collateral plant damage is to pick carnivorous bugs!
Naturally, this completely changes the game in terms of how you care for them.
Praying mantis are a common (and super cool) choice that can work well in an insect terrarium.
Ladybugs, however, are voracious aphid-eating machines and will quickly run out of available food. I wouldn’t be surprised if a ladybug devoured a springtail population given the chance.
Just note that any carnivorous insects might well eat your beneficial terrarium bugs. So popping them in with your usual cleanup crew is probably a bad idea…
Spiders and Scorpions
Okay, so I know spiders and scorpions aren’t insects or bugs, but they definitely fall into the same line of questioning as the rest of the critters on this list.
These burrowing pets can both thrive in a targeted terrarium environment. But that’s definitely way out of my expertise (and comfort zone).
👉 Check out my Terrarium Pets Guide and Insect and Bug Pets guides for more help.
Terrarium Pests
Finally, we move from pets on to terrarium pests.
Spotted any tiny unidentified flying bugs in your terrarium?
They’re probably one of the bad bugs, I’m afraid. Gnats, mites, and mealybugs are all known plant parasites that can hitch a ride into terrariums via plants and substrate.
These have different negative effects on plants ranging from generally harmless (just unsightly and annoying) to vitality-sapping swarms.
Plus, though completely airtight terrariums are immune to external invaders, ventilated setups are not.
I’d be particularly wary of overfeeding any of your other beneficial bugs (especially with wet foods like fruit) as these can attract pests. Little and often is best!
Unfortunately, getting rid of bugs in terrariums can be a challenging task and often involves significant interventions, from quarantining plants to swapping out substrates.
Sometimes even just starting over.
So, Does a Terrarium Need Bugs?
The answer is no, they’re not a strict necessity, and I’ve happily grown many a terrarium with bugs and without them. That said, these beneficial terrarium insects really can make the whole care process much easier.
I’d absolutely recommend at least a handful of springtails in every setup (or if you want to get really fancy, why not check out the actual Rubber Ducky Isopods?).
Nice read as for pinks being unnatural looking they actually don’t appear pink when they eat most foods truthfully I have them and other than being a little larger than the white springtails they’re pretty much the same. I have at least 5 species of springtails living in one of my terrariums. Also certain soil millipede species don’t care for plants at all but likely do feed on plant roots but I’ve never had an issue with them find them beneficial. Also I have a small species of centipede that live in the soil they seem to keep the springtails in check along with hypoaspis miles aka predator mites I also keep in my substrate. I can’t seem to keep isopods in the water dragons terrarium except dwarfs as louse spiders always make their way in somehow. I have used a few beneficial predators to feed on different pests I’ve had over time as removing soils and stuff is simply not an option. One other pest I have though hasn’t been an issue yet but I fear will be eventually is sugar ants they have made their way in there.
Wow, sounds like you have a real diverse colony in there!
Isopods aren’t insects but are actually crustaceans for anyone squeamish over the idea of “larger bugs.” 🙂
Great point! 😁
I have a closed plant terrarium jar 10” high and 8” in diameter. I have added springtails. Do I have to open the terrarium ever so often to give the springtails air to breathe? If so, how often? Thank you.
Hi Sandra, that’s a good question! I have no idea how much oxygen they need to breathe vs how much is produced in a typical terrarium. That being said, I tend to only really open my terrariums when I’m watering them and my springtails have been absolutely fine. So, I suspect that any typical terrarium care should be enough and you probably don’t have to worry about opening them specifically for oxygenating it.
My tiny first Vivarium is a 5inch by 3 1/4 inch pickle jar. It has 3 woodlice, a fern, and some liverwort. The lid has been tightly sealed for 8 months. The oxygen producing plants must be in ballance with the carbon dioxide producing woodlice.
That’s interesting to hear that even the larger woodlice can be sustained (vs tiny springtails). Good to know! Thanks Tom.
I’m a plant person not a bug person, so I hadn’t put any insects—beneficial or otherwise—into my terrarium (at least not intentionally). I did see some springtails in the soil of a small plant that I put in, though I seem to have springtails in most of my planters and they’ve never been an issue. However… recently I had a little mushroom pop up, which led to two more, which led to spores everywhere and my entire terrarium being coated in white. As I considered what I should do, the population of springtails EXPLODED. They were crawling everywhere, though they did clean up the spores so I can see my plants again. I can see seven more tiny mushrooms popping up and I know it’s only a matter of time before white dust—and the springtail population—takes over everything. How worried should I be?
Hi Eve, I find the springtail populations tend be self-limiting. Once the colony has boomed and consumed all the mushrooms I imagine it’ll die out somewhat. I wouldn’t worry, neither mushrooms nor springtails should be a threat to your plants.
So there is no need to strictly monitor the springtail population? It will pretty much regulate itself?
Pretty much! The population might cycle a little depending on the availability of food, but it doesn’t need much intervention.
Terrarium newbie here and loving your site – so helpful & informative! My terrarium is about 3 weeks old and I just noticed some mold/fluff growing on my driftwood & one plant. Glad to learn this is pretty normal so now I’m looking into getting some springtails. My only concern is whether they stay in the terrarium or do I have to worry about them venturing out into my house? My terrarium is a 30 gal aquarium. Thanks for any info & keep up the great work!
Hey Debbie, I’m glad you’re enjoying the site! Springtails can escape, and they can jump too (though not that high). I’d still recommend closing your terrarium for the most part.
Hey Dan, my terrarium is about a month old and I was trying to find some springtails in my backyard and I’m worried that I got the wrong bugs and put them in my terrarium. Are there any lookalikes that I should be concerned about?
Not that I’m aware of. Their springy jumps are pretty characteristic though, if they’re hopping around I’m sure you have springtails.
I have a small enclosed terrarium with springtails that came in substrata in a plastic container & feed them on brewers yeast. About 5 weeks after set up now have really small centipedes in the terrarium, they are not in the springtails container & assume the came in the special plants added at set up time. Are they a good or bad thing & do they eat the springtails & or plants.
Centipedes are carnivores I believe, so at the very least they won’t bring any benefits. They won’t eat your plants, but they may eat any other benefitical insects.
Thanks a lot Dan 🙂 for such useful information. Its really awesome to read information on terrariums here which helps all of us over the world!!!
Hi Dan.
Absolutely lovely read.
I came across your article because
only today one of the plants in my mini terrarium has turned to black mush and I’ve noticed some white crawlies on it.
I was panicking ready to throw the entire thing away but I might not now. Instead, ladybugs seem like a thing I could try (I am a scardy cat).
I’m still not sure what’s in there or what these bugs are but will try to remove the old plant tomorrow and have faith.
Thanks 🙂
P
Honestly I am here for the same exact reason. I noticed about a dozen very tiny white nematodes crawling on the glass and I was wondering whether they’re harmful of not. And if they are, what predator could clean them up?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi. I am looking into building a terrarium but am really concerned about escaping springtails and about putting in springtails although I understand the need. I also was thinking of using a jar that doesn’t have a lid and trying to find something to fit it Do you have recommendations for lids that springtails can’t escape? PIexi glass, cork, glass with no seal, serán wrap, other?
Hi Katie! As long as a lid doesn’t have holes in you shouldn’t have any issues with escapees (at least we haven’t). We personally use plexi glass or saran wrap and haven’t had any issues.