You can purchase an aquarium at a pet store if you have a lot of pillbugs. [1] X Research 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
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
Pillbugs can safely be fed fish flakes, which you can purchase at a pet store. [4] X Research 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 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
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 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!
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.
Pillbugs have flattened, round bodies, sharply rounded antennas, and seven pairs of legs. When frightened, they roll into a tiny ball. [8] X Research source
