This article was co-authored by Brandon Runyon. Brandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Entomology, and received a MS in Entomology from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also received an MBA from Western Governors University.
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Pillbugs are small, round bugs that live in many parts of the country. Due to the fact they're easy to handle, many people enjoy keeping pillbugs as pets. You can find pillbugs outdoors, usually under rocks or in other moist areas. If you want to keep pillbugs in your home, make sure you know how to create and maintain the proper environment and feed the pill bugs the correct diet.
Steps
Creating an Environment
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1Use a plastic tub or aquarium for housing. As pillbugs require a damp environment to thrive, you should pick a container that's resistant to water. Go with something made of plastic or glass rather than cardboard.
- You can purchase an aquarium at a pet store if you have a lot of pillbugs.[1] X Research source Go to source
- If you don't want to spend the money on an aquarium, you can use a plastic tupperware container from your kitchen to house your pillbugs.[2] X Research source Go to source
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2Fill the container with grass and dirt. Once you've secured a container, you can begin creating the proper environment for your pillbugs.
- Fill the bottom of the container with one to one and half inches of moist soil or sand. You can purchase sand or soil from a pet store or greenhouse.
- Pillbugs also enjoy wood bark, leaf litter, and other dead vegetation as part of their habitat.[3] X Research source Go to source
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3Make sure the container is well ventilated. Pillbugs need to live in a ventilated container. Make sure you're able to place small holes on the top of the container, but not too big that pillbugs can escape. Many aquariums come with ventilated lids and you can easily poke holes in the top of a tupperware lid.
Feeding and Caring for Pillbugs
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1Feed pillbugs a healthy diet. Pillbugs eat mostly decomposing vegetables in the wild and should have a similar diet in captivity to keep them healthy.
- Pillbugs can safely be fed fish flakes, which you can purchase at a pet store.[4] X Research source Go to source
- In addition to fish flakes, feed your pillbugs leftover bits of apples, lettuce, potatoes, and carrots. You can also bring leaf litter in from the wild and feed them to your pillbug.[5] X Research source Go to source
- While you can feed pillbugs food that has been sitting out for a few days, do not offer them moldy food. This can make them sick.[6] X Research source Go to source
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2Keep the container humid. Pillbugs require a humid environment to survive.
- Invest in a humidity thermometer to make sure your pillbugs environment is adequately moist. Pillbugs should not live in an environment of less than 75% humidity. They will not survive without proper humidity.[7] X Research source Go to source
- Mist the container once a day with a spray bottle. Also, make sure to add water to the soil on a daily basis. You can also place a damp cotton ball or paper towel in the container. Just make sure your pill bugs don't eat them!
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3Replace soil periodically. Waste gases emitted by pillbugs can be strong enough to cause health problems, so soil should be replaced periodically. Make sure you remove all the pillbugs before changing the soil. If your pillbugs have reproduced, babies may be difficult to differentiate from soil. If this is the case, put a piece of wood in the container as babies are likely to congregate there.
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4Handle pillbugs with care. Most pillbugs can be handled easily, but you should do so with care.
- Gently pick pillbugs up with your thumb and forefingers when you want to handle them. You can also scoop them up with a spoon.
- Make sure not to drop your pillbugs while handling them, as this can cause them pain. They walk fairly fast and can sometimes fall by mistake.
- Never handle pillbugs while they're shedding.
Monitoring the Pillbugs
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1Do not mix different species. Pillbugs might not be well being mixed with different species. Make sure any bugs you add to your tank are also pillbugs.
- Pillbugs have flattened, round bodies, sharply rounded antennas, and seven pairs of legs. When frightened, they roll into a tiny ball.
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2Keep mold out of the enclosure. Due to the dampness of a pillbug's environment, you need to make sure their container is mold free. You can do this by periodically switching the soil, as stated, and removing any uneaten food before it becomes moldy.
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3Periodically clean containers. As containers can grow moldy due to soil, periodically switch your pillbugs into a new, temporary container. Clean the container with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. Then, re-add soil, leaves, and water and put the pillbugs back inside.
Expert Q&A
Tips
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Be very careful when handling baby pillbugs as they are not very strong.
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Pillbugs can reproduce fast, so do not add too many to the container at once.
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Wash your hands after touching them and beforehand.
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Warnings
- Pillbugs do produce a smell and may attract other bugs to your home.
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about entomology, check out our in-depth interview with Brandon Runyon.
References
- ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-pet-pill-bugs-8103.html
- ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-pet-pill-bugs-8103.html
- ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-pet-pill-bugs-8103.html
- ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-pet-pill-bugs-8103.html
- ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-pet-pill-bugs-8103.html
- ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-pet-pill-bugs-8103.html
- ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-pet-pill-bugs-8103.html
About This Article
Pillbugs are relatively easy to care for if you set up the right environment and feed them a healthy diet. You’ll need a water-resistant plastic tub or aquarium with ventilation holes. Fill the bottom of the container with grass and dirt to simulate their natural habitat. Feed your pillbugs leftover fruit and vegetables, like bits of apple, lettuce, potatoes, and carrots. You can also feed them fish flakes from a pet store. Pillbugs survive best in a humid environment, so mist their container once a day with a spray bottle of clean water. Due to the dampness, mold can grow in their container so make sure you clean it regularly. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to safely handle your pillbugs, read on!
Reader Success Stories
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"I was planning to take care of some pillbugs but didn't know how to go about it, so this was very helpful for me."
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"This article helped me know what to feed rolly-pollies and it helped me know how to properly take care of them. I think I might bookmark this for future reference."
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"I plan on starting my own colony of pillbugs to be used in animal behavior studies in my AP Biology class and to keep year round. This is just the type of information that I needed to treat the pillbugs with care and thoughtfulness. Thank you!"
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"I enjoy catching pill bugs and keeping them as pets. I sold my sister three, which she named Nellie, Polly, and Bertha, and she liked them. When Bertha died, I gave her four more. I love helping her care for them!!"
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"It helped me learn how to build a proper environment for pillbugs and how to identify the difference between females, males, and baby pillbugs. It would be better if it explained how to breed pillbugs."
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"I have always loved pillbugs as they were a major part of my childhood. Thank you for making this article because I plan to care for them now, and I have all the information I need thanks to you!"
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"It helped me to know what to feed the pill bugs. I have many bug habitats so setting up one wasn't a problem, but pill bugs are quite new to me and I had no idea how to feed them. Thank you."
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"A few tips really stood out here, like when it told me pregnant pillbugs had a yellow belly. I was so happy because I can know when my pillbug is pregnant! "
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"I really enjoyed it because I love pill bugs so much, so I have them as a pet. But I don't have enough for the first step."
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"I have two pill bugs and I was a bit worried because I wasn't sure how to take care of them. This helped a lot!"
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"I have three pill bugs at home. I wasn't sure how to care for them but this really helps. Thanks a lot."
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"This is the best! I really needed to know it and you have it. Thank you so much!!"
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"I have some sowbugs and roly polies. This was very helpful for caring for them!"
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"I wanted to learn more about pill bugs and wikiHow always helps. Thank you. "
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"I read this to my sisters, and they made a pill bug farm. They like insects."
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"This was extremely helpful for my science experiment! Thanks!"
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"I have about 215 pill bugs, and this article helped me a lot."
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"I have pet pillbugs and now I know how to make them happy."
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"This article helped me because my bugs were not happy."
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"I liked the article Feeding and Caring for Pill bugs."
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"Knowing how to take care of pill bugs is helpful. "
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"This worked great! I had 3 pillbugs that thrived."
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"Very nice article! I love how much detail it has."
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"I was worried what to feed them, and now I know."
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"So happy to have pet pill bugs at 10 years old!"
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"This helps kids like me help their pillbugs."
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"I can now finally keep a tank of pillbugs!"
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"It helped me because I have slaters."
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"Replacing the soil and the Q and A."
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"How to make a home for my pillbug."