I really want to get a new pet but the only extra terrarium I have right now is a 16x8x10 with a sliding mesh lid. Can anything live comfortably in this? I already have some death-feigning beetles, so I’m looking for something different.
I was thinking about isopods since they’d have enough room, but I’m also interested in jumping spiders, tarantulas, and mantids. I’m just not sure what species would be small enough. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Mantids and jumping spiders usually need more vertical space, and even if you lay the terrarium on its side, it might be too small for mantids. However, it could definitely work for a jumping spider (just make sure they’re bigger than the ventilation holes). You can also easily keep many species of terrestrial tarantulas that don’t grow too large and don’t need to burrow much. A GBB (Green Bottle Blue) would be a great beginner choice — it’ll web up the whole enclosure and spend most of its time out in the open.
@Teo
I hadn’t thought about putting it on its side! That could work perfectly for a jumping spider. Thanks for the tip!
I wouldn’t go for a jumping spider. It’ll be a real headache in that size tank. Even if you put it on its side, it’ll be tough to spot and feed them in such a big space. I usually keep my jumpers in a 4x4 or 4x8" terrarium. Larger isopods could work, though, like dairy cows, but you’ll need to provide them plenty of food, especially if you want to avoid them fighting over resources. Many of the larger Porcellio isopods can get aggressive if there’s not enough food for everyone.
Honestly, I’d recommend a millipede. They look cool, are easy to care for like isopods, and are more fun to handle. I had a smoky oak millipede for a while, and I really loved it!
@Nico
I did think about getting a millipede, but I can’t handle the legs and the wiggly body 