3 Ways To Care For Pillbugs - WikiHow

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• Animal and Insect Safety

How to Care for Pillbugs Download Article Co-authored by Brandon Runyon

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Approved

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• Creating an Environment
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• Feeding and Caring for Pillbugs
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• Monitoring the Pillbugs
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• Video
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• Expert Interview
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• Expert Q&A
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• Tips
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• Warnings

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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. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 34 testimonials and 87% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 159,965 times.

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

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Creating an Environment

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1. 1 Use 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.[1]
   • You can purchase an aquarium at a pet store if you have a lot of pillbugs.
   • 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. 2 Fill 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.
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3. 3 Make 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.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Feeding and Caring for Pillbugs

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1. 1 Feed pillbugs a healthy diet. Pillbugs eat mostly decomposing vegetables in the wild and should have a similar diet in captivity to keep them healthy.[2]
   • Pillbugs can safely be fed fish flakes, which you can purchase at a pet store.
   • 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.
   • 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.
2. 2 Keep the container humid. Pillbugs require a humid environment to survive.[3]
   • 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.
   • Mist the container once a day with a spray bottle.[4] 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!
3. 3 Replace 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.
4. 4 Handle 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.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Monitoring the Pillbugs

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1. 1 Do 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.
2. 2 Keep 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.
3. 3 Periodically 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.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question How long can a pill bug live? Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD Veterinarian Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD Veterinarian Expert Answer Pill bugs, otherwise known as rolly pollies, can live for up to five years. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 13 Helpful 127
• Question What do roly polies eat and drink? Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD Veterinarian Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD Veterinarian Expert Answer Pill bugs, or roly polies, usually eat dead plants and animals, but they can eat some raw fruits and vegetables. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 14 Helpful 111
• Question Can pill bugs live in water? Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD Veterinarian Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD Veterinarian Expert Answer Certain pill bugs can live in water, but most will die. That being said, their gill-like breathing organs require a damp environment. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 103

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Tips

• Pillbugs can reproduce fast, so do not add too many to the container at once. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 0
• Wash your hands after touching them and beforehand. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 0
• Be very careful when handling baby pillbugs as they are not very strong. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• If you place a rock in their habitat, don't press it down into the substrate. This way, if your pillbug wants to hide or burrow under the rock, it can.
• Pillbugs will eat old veggies and leaves. Make sure that you are removing rotten food from their tank so it doesn't mold.
• Pillbugs move quickly so when you change the habitat, keep them in another place where they won't escape.

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

• Pillbugs do produce a smell and may attract other bugs to your home. Thanks Helpful 116 Not Helpful 12

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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

1. ↑ Brandon Runyon. Entomology and Pest Control Expert. Expert Interview
2. ↑ Brandon Runyon. Entomology and Pest Control Expert. Expert Interview
3. ↑ Brandon Runyon. Entomology and Pest Control Expert. Expert Interview
4. ↑ Brandon Runyon. Entomology and Pest Control Expert. Expert Interview

About This Article

Co-authored by: Brandon Runyon Entomologist 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. This article has been viewed 159,965 times. 12 votes - 87% Co-authors: 45 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 159,965 Categories: Animal and Insect Safety Article SummaryX

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! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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  Kathy Holfelder

  Jul 3, 2019

  "I plan on starting my own colony of pillbugs to be used in animal behavior studies in my AP Biology class and to..." more

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Brandon Runyon Entomologist Co-authors: 45 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 159,965 87% of readers found this article helpful. 12 votes - 87% Click a star to add your vote

Kathy Holfelder

Jul 3, 2019

"I plan on starting my own colony of pillbugs to be used in animal behavior studies in my AP Biology class and to..." more

Anonymous

May 21, 2017

"I enjoy catching pill bugs and keeping them as pets. I sold my sister three, which she named Nellie, Polly, and..." more Rated this article:

Anonymous

Aug 31, 2017

"It helped me learn how to build a proper environment for pillbugs and how to identify the difference between..." more

Anonymous

Nov 9, 2023

"I have always loved pillbugs as they were a major part of my childhood. Thank you for making this article because I..." more

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Dec 9, 2016

"It helped me to know what to feed the pill bugs. I have many bug habitats so setting up one wasn't a problem,..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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