These tiny creatures are easy to care for, whether you know them as woodlice, roly-polies, potato bugs, slaters, pillbugs, carpenters, tiggy-hogs, or parson-pigs.Put some soil, leaves, and twigs into a container to make a comfortable habitat for them.Add a bit of fresh produce to the habitat for your woodlice to eat.Keep the habitat moist and watch the woodlice for a few days before releasing them back into the wild.
Step 1: The container should be sturdy to hold the woodlice.
To house your woodlice, look for a clean jar or empty shoebox.A small jar is enough to keep just a few woodlice.Purchase a container, such as a plastic terrarium or glass aquarium, from your local pet store.If you pick a small box, you won't be able to keep it for more than a day.The container will break down quickly because of the moist material.
Step 2: Put 2 inches of soil in the container.
The bottom should be completely covered if the soil is spread in the container.The soil should be firm enough to support the woodlice.As you please, add as many woodlice to the container.If you're using a sharp shovel to dig into the soil, make sure you don't hurt woodlice that may be in the ground.
Step 3: The woodlice will find something to explore if they add leaves, sticks, and bark.
The leaves should be Scattered across the soil in the container.They prefer to be under the leaves and soil.You can add twigs and bark.The woodlice will eat the leaves.If the container is moved, leave rocks out since they can fall and crush the wood.
Step 4: Air holes can be poked across the top of the container.
If the container has a lid, close it and make sure the air vents are open.Carefully poke holes in the top of the shoe box to make your own air vent.If you're using a jar, cover it with something.To poke holes, use a sharp skewer.When poking holes in the lid, ask for help.The woodlice can escape if the holes aren't big.
Step 5: The container should be placed in a secure spot in your house.
It's best to put it out of the sun.Since woodlice prefer a cool environment, you don't need to use any special heat lamps, just keep the container inside your house.If you have other pets or small children, put the container out of their reach.
Step 6: The habitat should be sprayed to keep it moist.
The woodlice absorb humid air and eat food.To keep the soil moist, fill a spray bottle with water.Wait until the leaves and soil are moist.You can spray the soil whenever it feels dry.
Step 7: The woodlice should be given fresh produce.
The woodlice will need produce to eat the leaves in their habitat.Put slices of potatoes, carrots, apples, or pears on the leaves and leave them to rot.The food shouldn't start to mold if the produce is replaced every few days.
Step 8: If you keep the woodlice for more than a week, you should clean the container.
You'll need to clean out the habitat if you're going to keep the woodlice for a week.Remove leaves that are mold and replace them with fresh soil.If there is dirt or smudges on the glass, wipe it down.You should let them go into their natural habitat so they can mate.
Step 9: When you want to handle them, hold them gently.
If you want to take a woodlouse out of its container, make sure to pick it up with your thumb and forefinger.Put it in the palm of your hand.You can count how many legs it has and watch how it moves by setting it down on a flat surface.If you accidentally crush them with too much pressure, use light pressure.