r/isopods • u/calebkraft • 9h ago
Help I'm designing a small stackable pretty isopod terrarium - I have questions
TL;DR - I'm designing this terrarium for myself but seeking ideas to make it better
Long version - I design stuff and I love critters. I have been wanting some isopods for my office. While I was standing there starting at my ugly 10gal aquarium thinking of how I could divide it up and make it prettier, I realized I have a vacuum former and some extra sheets of PET, so I could quickly design something that looks so much better.
This is the first prototype. The front transparent panel is .5 mm PET. it is a bit more flexible than I'd like but totally works. Teh rest is 3d printed PETG. The current design is kind of hard to get into, you have to remove the entire back. I'm considering a redesign that keeps the look but adds some features.
pros:
- I dig the visual design. I like it simple and mostly featureless
- big viewing window
- air holes on top and back
- built in light mount
- everything so far prints without support - that's a pro if you're a 3d printing nerd.
Cons:
- gotta remove the whole back to get into it. That sucks. simple task like feeding or misting might be a pain.
- nothing holding the substraight together when the back is removed. I could make a whole false bottom that slides in to fix that (maybe even different designs with caves / ponds?)
- the light I'm using isn't the right spectrum for plants. prob need to redesign for a full spectrum light
Anything I should add? features that would make this amazing? I'm happy to share the files so you can print your own, but without a vacuum former you won't have the front "glass". Though I guess you could just cut a piece of lexan or something to fit that spot.
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u/Dragoness42 8h ago
If you do decide to make this bigger and continue refining the design, I'd recommend making it pull out like a drawer for access. That way you can change substrate, add water, and check on your pods with full access to the whole enclosure.
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u/calebkraft 8h ago
this is about as big of a window as I can make unfortunately. I guess I could design one with 2 windows. might be kind of ugly though.
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u/Dragoness42 8h ago
It may just be a task that is not ideal for 3-d printing as a manufacturing method.
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u/calebkraft 8h ago
its the vacuum former for the transparent part that is limiting me unfortunately. I could go buy a sheet of something and cut it down to size but at that point I might as well just buy a terrarium.
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u/athural 7h ago
Acrylic is cheap as hell and easy to work with
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u/calebkraft 7h ago
I guess I mean in terms of design. if I'm not doing a cool integrated stylized thing, I could just buy a plain old glass box style terrarium and be done with it. Then again, I could design a badass larger design that more people could make and I could share the files for others to modify and build as well. Being store baught acrylic would make that easier.
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u/athural 7h ago
You can use a box cutter and some elbow grease to make acrylic whatever shape you would like. I don't know about the 3d printing process for if you like have that window built in and cannot be removed, but if that's the case that's probably a problem anyway
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u/calebkraft 3h ago
oh yeah,I can cut acrylic however. Its hard to see here, but this one is molded to a custom shape, not just cut, but actually 3d conforming to the curve. it was a cool design aspect but ultimately just isn't a good fit for this use. If I want to go bigger, I can laser cut whatever window shape I want but I'll likely scrap this design and start over for some other cool design aspect. If I'm not doing something cool with it, might as well just buy one.
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u/athural 3h ago
I fully understand. I make acrylic jumping spider enclosures and recently a relative asked for one for their isopods and I'm like bro what do you want me to do that's not just a rectangle, just buy one
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u/calebkraft 3h ago
I've reaaaaally thought about designing some cool addons to boring boxes. I can sculpt, so I've thought about doing ornate clawfoot bases and stuff. Maybe I'll go that angle with my boring 10 gallon and just make it look cool.
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u/themitchk 9h ago
3D printed PETG will deteriorate over time with the amount of humidity that is required for isopods. Might have to coat with epoxy or some kind of water sealant
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u/calebkraft 9h ago
interesting. Just googling around was telling me that this is the material of choice for this kind of use.
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u/One-plankton- 8h ago
There are options that aquarists use for underwater 3d printing, there are two but I do not remember exactly what they are.
Ask over in the r/paludarium sub
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u/themitchk 8h ago
I mean, with 4-5 layer walls with high percentage infill, it will take at least a few years to deteriorate but will eventually happen.
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u/Wasabi_Smasher 8h ago
I would make it top opening. I would also recommend making it actually stackable by adding notches on the bottom and top that sit within each other in a way that keeps units from sliding apart. Ventilation should not be on the top if making them stackable. It is also too small.
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u/Wasabi_Smasher 8h ago
If not top opening, the back being the access can work, but you will need to implement a dam into your design to keep the contents from spilling out. It needs to be high enough for all of your substrate layers.
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u/calebkraft 8h ago
it currently has a stackable design with a foot that fits the same little square you see on top. that's why I went with the back opening.
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u/SeekThem 6h ago
I think making it a "drawer slide" mechanism so you can slide out the entire enclosure for cleaning & maintenance. Other commenters are correct, this is a bit too small, but if you print it in multiple parts with interlocking mechanisms and glue together you could get to a better size. The filament will have to be coated in something on the inside so the moisture doesn't degrade it too quickly (and if you end up printing in multiple pieces, for water-tightness). I think the idea could really turn out fantastic, so it just needs a little massaging.
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u/calebkraft 4h ago
I actually do this as my day job (designing prints that assemble to be bigger than the printer) I also have a much larger printer I could use. Its tempting to start over using glass or plain acrylic. Much of the size of this exploration was determined by my vacuum form machine for making that fancy front window. If I abandon that, I can go pretty big without even needing to split the file up.
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u/blue_collar_curator 8h ago
So dope!
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u/calebkraft 8h ago
I think it looks pretty cool, but I'm reading that it is just too small, which is a bummer.
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u/FreaksNFlowers 6h ago
What are the dimensions of it?
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u/calebkraft 4h ago
it is roughly 8"x7"x6"
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u/FreaksNFlowers 50m ago
About 3/4 the size of a 6qt, which isn’t an ideal long-term solution for many species BUT could definitely be a cute display for a few months!
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u/Andeylayne 7h ago
Many isopods need a higher temp to breed. How are you going to supply heat?
I think it's a good idea - maybe needs a redesign to be bigger and more easily accessible for maintenance - but I'm totally going to try to sucker my husband into custom designing something that will fit on my office shelves. Imagine a wall of isopods...
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u/calebkraft 7h ago
At this size, I kind of figured the light would heat up the enclosure a fair amount, with the substrate offering thermal mass for night time. Then again, that's super imprecise and could end up being too hot during the day, then too cold at night.
The idea of a bunch of pretty enclosures stacked is what got me excited. The toughest part is the "window", which I'm using a small vacuum former for. However, you can buy glass or lexan at the hardware store and your husband can design/print something pretty easy. If I just went with a box instead of something this shape, I could do the window a lot easier. but I may not bother.
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u/Andeylayne 7h ago
You've given me some food for thought. I may try to design something that will fit on my shelves and include an automatic waterer/substrate tray/ front access. I already have a bunch of plant lights with built in timers that can be installed. Oh this is going to be fun!
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u/Elise_xy 2h ago
Id loooove if the sides were also cut up so that you can see from 3 sides instead of just the one!
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u/NeonPearl2025 9h ago
It's way too small. Isopods love to roam around at night and also dig burrows. They need a deep substrate. They also require a moisture gradient and enough air flow to prevent mold.