How to Put Bedding in a Terrarium

When you house reptiles and rodents in terrariums they require a bedding substance to line the bottom of their habitat. Bedding provides the animal a sense of security by mimicking their natural habitat. An absorbent surface makes the terrarium a more sanitary dwelling as well as acting as a way to control odor.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Figure out the appropriate form of bedding for the animal based on their natural habitat and behavior. Consider environmentally friendly, dust free bedding options that are easier to dispose when cleaning terrarium.

2. Gather supplies through a pet supply retailer. Confirm with a sales representative, before purchasing bedding that its best for the special type of animal in your terrarium.

3. Line the bottom of the terrarium with up to 3 to 5 inches of bedding for burrowing or nesting animals depending on the animals size or 1 to 2 inches for non-burrowing small animals.

4. Replace an equal amount of identical bedding after daily spot cleaning. Re-line the entire terrarium with new, clean bedding weekly.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn as much as possible about the reptile or rodent's natural habitat and behavior before owning one as a pet.
• Desert dwelling animals thrive well with a calcium sub straight or sand bedding. Tropical animals do well with a jungle earth bedding because of its ability to retain moisture. Small rodents should have aspen shavings or pellets for easy clean up. Crushed corn husks are a suggested bird terrarium bedding. Turtles prefer more of a soil substance such as Douglas fir bark.

[myhellmonkey]

on 9/26/2008 For our box turtle hatchlings we use a 50-50 mixture of sterile soil and sphagnum moss. It is great to retain moisture and allow the turtles to burrow easily.