So, you’ve caught the isopod bug. You started with a few Dairy Cows or maybe a bold Rubber Ducky, and suddenly your shelf is a miniature jungle crawling with life. But there’s one problem—those plastic food tubs you started with aren’t cutting it anymore.
If you’re keeping inverts like isopods, millipedes, beetles or even jumping spiders in the UK, especially here in the East Midlands, Frogfather’s 3D-printed invert enclosures are a game-changer. Let’s talk about why flat-pack, bioactive-ready enclosures are the new gold standard for the micro-zoo crowd.
🔧 The Tub Problem: Why It’s Time to Upgrade
We’ve all used takeaway containers and DIY plastic tubs. They’re cheap, stackable, and easy to poke holes into. But:
- They look terrible on a display shelf
- Ventilation is often uneven (or excessive)
- They’re hard to clean long-term
- You’ll outgrow them fast
Plus, if you’re spending time cultivating a proper bioactive microhabitat with springtails, moss, cork bark and custom soil blends… shouldn’t the enclosure reflect that?
🧲 What Makes Frogfather’s 3D Enclosures Different?
- Designed in the UK by keepers who actually keep inverts
- 3D-printed with plant-based bioplastics (no dodgy chemicals)
- Flat-packable for cheap, reliable UK shipping
- Bioactive-ready with proper substrate depth, cross-ventilation and space for decor
Each unit is precision-made for small invertebrates. Whether it’s moisture-loving isopods or arid beetle species, you can dial in the microclimate your bugs need to thrive.
🚗 Why Flat-Pack Changes Everything
Shipping glass or acrylic tanks across the UK is a gamble—broken corners, scratched panels, massive fees.
Frogfather’s 3D enclosures come flat-packed, so:
- Postage is cheaper across the UK (especially East Midlands and beyond)
- Assembly is quick (no tools, no faff)
- Replacements are easy—just order a part, not a whole tank
It’s sustainable, local, and actually makes sense for the way hobbyists grow.
🌱 Made for Bioactive from the Ground Up
Let’s be honest—your inverts are doing a lot more than hiding under bark. They’re decomposers, detritivores, humidity regulators. Give them a proper biome:
- Custom substrate layers for drainage, fungal growth, or moisture
- Anchor points for cork, bark, moss and microplants
- Ventilation patterns that prevent rot but keep the humidity right
Plus, you can easily observe natural behaviours like burrowing, moulting, and social interaction without tearing the lid off.
🌞 Local Hobby, Local Solutions
Frogfather’s based in Nottinghamshire, and all enclosures are made here in the East Midlands. That means:
- No import delays
- No random customs charges
- Actual support from people who know what they’re printing
We’re part of the UK invert scene, not just drop-shipping from overseas.
🏆 Perfect for:
- Isopods (from Dairy Cows to Zebra to exotic Cubaris)
- Millipedes (moisture lovers love the substrate depth)
- Jumping spiders (with vertical climbing space and venting)
- Darkling beetles & roaches
- Kids’ bug projects (they actually look cool on a shelf)
These aren’t tanks. They’re micro-jungles. Each enclosure is a snapshot of the forest floor—or desert, if you prefer.
📲 Where to Buy & How to Start
You can browse the full range right now: 👉 frogfather.co.uk/3d-printed
Prices start around £20–£40, depending on size and features. Want to add lighting or misting? Easy. Want something specific? Drop us a message—we’re printing weekly.
We also sell substrates, cork, live moss, springtails and more, so you can get the whole ecosystem in one go.
💚 The Frogfather Promise
We print what we keep. If it’s not good enough for our own inverts, it doesn’t go in the shop. Whether you’re just getting into the hobby or expanding your collection, these enclosures will grow with you.
So bin the takeaway tubs. Give your inverts the forest floor they deserve.
Your bugs will thank you—with a fresh moult and maybe a clutch of eggs.
