How to Turn an Aquarium Into a Reptile Terrarium? [Complete Guide]

Are you thinking of giving your reptile pet a nice, cozy environment with amazing spaces similar to its natural habitat? If you’re caught between buying a new ready-made reptile tank and converting an old aquarium lying around the corner? Here’s what I think, “using the aquarium tank would be a great option.”

But the tricky question is, how to turn an aquarium into a reptile terrarium? Converting an aquarium is possible but would take a series of steps to convert a glass tank into the perfect habitat for a reptile. This starts with choosing the right aquarium, making sure the temperature in the tank is right, the type of soil you use in the tank, and even the decorations.

These steps are very important aspects when turning an aquarium into a reptile terrarium. So in this article, I aim to break it down into bits and explain all the steps you need to create that terrarium that is the best fit for your reptile. Shall we?

Aquarium vs Terrarium- Key Differences

The major difference between an aquarium and a terrarium is the type of animal that lives in them. The former is meant for aquatic animals and the latter is for animals that live on land (terrestrial animals).

However, an aquarium can be converted to a terrarium by following some strict measures. Let’s take a look at a few other differences so you would know the right step to take when turning an aquarium into a terrarium:

Presence of Lid

Aquariums don’t necessarily have lids on them except in cases where you have octopuses or fishes that jump high above the water level in the tank. However, terrariums need lids because reptiles may crawl out of the tank and that’s not safe.

MUST READ: Is Slate Okay For Aquarium? (5 Facts to Know)

So I’d advise you to get an aquarium that has a lid on it but if it doesn’t come with any, you should get one from the nearest pet store.

Strength and Thickness of The Glass

Typically, aquariums are built with stronger and thicker glass than a terrarium. While this doesn’t pose any serious problem, the aquarium glass was tailored to meet the needs of fish and other aquatic pets.

For example, the thickness of the glass may alter the temperature on the inside of the tank. Reptiles are cold-blooded and they need all the heat they can get. So you have to monitor this closely as the thickness of the glass may cause the inside of the tank to be cooler or hotter than they need it to be. If it’s too hot or too cold ensure that you adjust it accordingly.

Airflow

Aquariums are usually built airtight because they are meant to be waterproof. This means it has less airflow than a regular terrarium. But, this depends on the type of reptile you plan to put in the tank. For example, turtles, lizards, and snakes can thrive in an aquarium but this would be a bad idea if it’s a chameleon.

So, because you will be adding a lid to the top, ensure that it allows for smooth airflow. However, the space on the cover lid should not be too wide, to prevent your reptile from escaping.

Requirements

These are the basic requirements for turning an aquarium into a reptile terrarium below:

An aquarium with no drainage holes
Gravel/pebbles
Activated charcoal
Decorative items
Sphagnum peat moss
Soil mix
Light source (natural or artificial)
Screened lid
Natural Plants
Vinegar/baking soda/green glass cleaners (for cleaning the aquarium)
Sponge or brush
Oxygen outlets (for ventilation)

Step-by-step Guide to Turn an Aquarium Into a Terrarium

Building a terrarium starts with getting the right size of tank and everything else follows. You’d want to get it right by following these steps below:

Step 1: Choose The Right Tank

For keeping reptiles, I already advised that you get a tank that has a lid at the top. Be careful so it’s not air-tight or completely sealed. This lid should also be comfortable enough to allow you to feed them from the top since that’s the only opening in an aquarium. Well, except you want to make a total reconstruction for a new opening which you would probably need experts.

Secondly, it should have enough room for movement even after you’ve placed the substrates and decorations in it. Like I always say, the goal is to create a comfortable environment for the reptile as it grows.

For geckos and lizards that are between 4-5 inches in size, a 10-gallon tank would be great. Juvenile bearded dragons around 10 inches should be comfortable in a 20-gallon aquarium tank, and Adult bearded dragons around 15 inches; in a 40-gallon tank. While tortoises and snakes around 48 inches would do great in a 40-gallon tank.

Step 2: Clean The Tank

If it’s an old aquarium, you need to start by cleaning it up. I recommend using vinegar, baking soda, or green glass cleaners, they would work perfectly for this. Just mix a little bit of vinegar with water in a spray bottle and with a sponge, scrub the surface of the glass as you spray vinegar or whatever cleaning agent you use on the surface.

Just in case there is some extra dirt, scrap them off using a razor and then wipe it off with a towel. The next step is the setup.

Step 3: Add Layers of Substrates

Adding substrates is a new trend when building a terrarium. These substrates give the bed of your terrarium a great look and add to its beauty. Also, adding substrates to the bottom of the aquarium in different strata imitates the natural habitat which makes it more comfortable for reptiles. I recommend coconut fibers as substrates for tortoises, small pieces of carpets for lizards, and aspen chips for snakes.

However, if you want a simple terrarium where you can easily view your reptile, use a textured mat or aspen chips for the bottom layer instead. If you like to keep it natural just like me, I have highlighted the order in which you could add your substrates below:

A layer of Gravel/ Pebbles

So, make a layer of gravel at the bottom of your tank and make sure it is evened out in the tank. I like the effect that gravels and pebbles give to the tank. Aside from the natural feel, pebbles or gravel also help to absorb excess water that could lead to the growth of fungi or algae in the terrarium.

There’s no strict measurement for this, just add enough to cover every corner of the tank.

Add Layer of Dried Sphagnum Peat Moss

The next step would be to add a layer of dried sphagnum peat moss right on top of the gravel. This acts as a buffer between the gravel/pebbles and sand. You are going to add some sand next, so peat moss prevents it from going to the bottom of the aquarium through the gravel. Also, it creates a surface where plants can have their roots fixed while they grow.

Plus, peat moss also helps to retain just enough moisture for miniature plants to grow with and is excellent at preventing root rot. If you want to create an atmosphere with healthy plants in the terrarium, I’d advise you to use peat moss for the second layering.

To top it all, sphagnum peat moss won’t compete with your desired plants for nutrients and they also grow well on rocks like graphite. This makes them perfect to add to your terrarium. So try using at least ½ a bag of sphagnum moss and ensure it is uniformly laid on the graphite.

Bring In Activated Charcoal

Now to create a balance between moistures in the terrarium, you should put in some activated. What this does is filter water and also prevent the growth of fungi. Now if you notice there’s a lot of moisture balancing because, without the right amount of water or when it’s in excess, your plants might end up dying. Killing the plants would result in making the terrarium less of a great habitat for your reptile.

Add Soil Mix and Natural Plants

You may decide to skip all these steps and just go with artificial plants, but I like to have natural plants in reptile terrariums, so here’s the part where you add your soil mix to the layers of substrates. Use your palms to spread that out in the tank to let it sit well.

Asides from creating a space where natural plants can grow, reptiles can also burrow through the soil while they’re in it. Some amazing plants you could use are radiator plants, sword ferns, bromeliads, and orchids.

Also, ensure that there are no wires or electric cords at the bottom of the tank that could harm them.

Step 4: Bring in The Decorations

This is the fun part. You can go wild with your imagination or keep it cool. Whichever you want to, ensure that it’s comfortable for your reptile and they have enough hiding spaces, especially for geckos. Also, you don’t want to have these decorations all over the place so there can be enough room for your reptile pet to move around. A few decorative items you could use are:

Rocks
Artificial plants (your choice)
Stones
Driftwood
Crystals
Vines
Ledges
Branches
Lounges

Using these would add to the beauty of the terrarium. Those branches would be great for snakes, geckos, and lizards as they are crawlers.

Step 5: Install Light Source (Heat)

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. Since they would be living outside of their natural habitat, you need to regulate the temperature in the tank. So there’s a need for you to use an artificial light source to provide that heat.

For a light source, I prefer natural sunlight because it has just the right radiation for an even emission of heat for the reptile. However, if there’s no way you can place the tank directly under a light source, metal halide lamps work great too. These lamps release a full spectrum that simulates UV-A and B radiations very similar to that of natural sunlight.

Step 6: Monitor, Maintain and Enjoy!

Finally, monitor and maintain your new terrarium tank. Clean up the glass when necessary and also ensure to trim the leaves and flowers if you’re using natural plants. Take out unfinished food and clean out waste to ensure a neat environment for your reptiles.

Now you can enjoy the new terrarium home for your pet. Always ensure that the environment is conducive and change substrates frequently as they get dirty.

Finally

To add some finishing touches to your new terrarium, don’t forget to regulate the temperature always. I know I’ve mentioned this before but for more emphasis, if you don’t groom your pet reptile under conditions favorable for them, they may get sick and this is harmful to them.

Aquariums are built with openings only at the top. So put that into consideration when you want to feed your pets. And by following these steps and taking proper measures, you’ll be able to turn an aquarium into the perfect reptile terrarium for your pet with no hassle.

References

https://www.cooltools.us/Texture-Mats-Sheets-And-Tiles-s/88.htm

https://m.made-in-china.com/hot-china-products/1000w_Metal_Halide_Lamp.html