Setup Ideas for a Root Cellar

[catboyeuthanasia]

I have a root cellar that stays consistently around 15C/60F in the summer, and dips to ~10C/50F in the winter. I was wondering if y'all have any suggestions for cold-climate critters who might like it in there. I am definitely thinking about New Zealand / Chile Velvet worms, but any other ideas or images of your cold terrariums would be welcome!

Here's a picture. It's a bit dusty in there right now, but there's plenty of shelves for terraria!

 

[Charliemum]

Some true spiders would be able to deal with those temps I know most of our UK spiders can deal with those temps. Idk where u hail from but your native wildlife would probably do in those temps too you could make a native viv like a bit of forest floor from your area, I have seen ppl make vivs like that n they are amazing tbh if you get it right, the balance is hard to get but I don't see why you couldn't with the right research native sp need love too

 

[The Snark]

An ideal environment for aging cheese.

 

[viper69]

Earthworms maybe

 

[Tentacle Toast]

Yeah, man...those velvet worms if you can get them, but if you're a plant guy, that'd be the perfect place for growing some Masdevallia orchids. Some very interesting species, & they LOVE it cool...

 

[catboyeuthanasia]

Some true spiders would be able to deal with those temps I know most of our UK spiders can deal with those temps. Idk where u hail from but your native wildlife would probably do in those temps too you could make a native viv like a bit of forest floor from your area, I have seen ppl make vivs like that n they are amazing tbh if you get it right, the balance is hard to get but I don't see why you couldn't with the right research native sp need love too

I live in Southern Ontario and we definitely have some cool native fauna! I've seen lots of native millipedes and even a few rare mole salamanders on my property, though those are best left in the wild. Another idea I've been toying with is to use it as a wintering chamber for species who need seasons. I would have to manually move them out of the cellar between seasons though, so that might be a hassle.

An ideal environment for aging cheese.

Not for from its previous use actually! My partner uses the other side to store pickles!

Earthworms maybe

That would be interesting. I usually keep a few night crawlers on hand, but starting a larger culture, or investigating other worm species might be fun

Yeah, man...those velvet worms if you can get them, but if you're a plant guy, that'd be the perfect place for growing some Masdevallia orchids. Some very interesting species, & they LOVE it cool...

Those are gorgeous! I might have to look into being a plant guy. Getting velvet worms has been a bit of a challenge, but I'm planning a trip to Chile in the foreseeable future. The hard part is looking for someone who can confirm they have seen the worms on their unprotected, private property.

 

[Tentacle Toast]

....I live in Southern Ontario...

WNY here brother, I'm TELLING YA...
Jump through whatever hoops you have to to bring back what you legally can, & bring a few grams of gold along just in case...dems BRICS lands now ..