J has been asking for isopods for months. Yes — those tiny, armored, pill-bug-like creatures that scuttle around in soil. At first, I was admittedly squeamish. Bugs? As pets? But the more I read about them, the more I realised how low-maintenance they actually are. No fur, no smell, no loud noises — just quiet little decomposers doing their thing. Perhaps, they’re better than a bunny?
So one afternoon, I surprised J with a trip to Green Chapter, a cozy little green haven tucked in a quiet corner of Singapore. Green Chapter turned out to be such a calming space — far from the usual bustle of pet stores.
Tucked away in an unassuming spot, it opens up into a cool, tranquil shop filled with aquariums, aquascapes and all sorts of miniature ecosystems. We even saw a “chubby” cuttlefish up close — it changed colours right before our eyes! J was mesmerised. There were rows of tanks filled with beautiful fish, and even after we were done with our terrarium, we lingered for ages just watching them. The shop also runs other workshops, like ant farms and tiny shrimp habitats — perfect for curious little minds who love small worlds.
The terrarium-building itself was very hands-on. The staff gave us free rein and led us into a cosy backroom where shelves were lined with all sorts of glass enclosures. J took her time choosing one — a medium-sized container with a wide opening, perfect for peeking into the tiny world she was about to create.
Then came the decorating. Against one wall was a whole shelf of miniatures and natural elements. J’s eyes lit up when she spotted a small green dragon figurine, which quickly became the centrepiece of her terrarium. The best part? There were no strict rules — she could add as many or as few decorations as she liked.
Next, the staff handed her all the materials she’d need: layers of soil, moss, bark, leaf litter and a small piece of cuttlebone. She carefully added each layer to her enclosure, asking questions and learning along the way — how the moss holds moisture, how the bark and leaves provide hiding spots, and how the cuttlebone helps provide calcium for the isopods. It was like building a tiny forest from the ground up.
Then came the highlight: choosing her isopods. From a shelf of plastic cups, she picked one filled with small reddish isopods — about twenty of them, gently clustered together. We didn’t catch the exact species name, but they were lively and quick. A staff member helped her tip them gently into their new home, where they immediately began to explore.
Back home, J checks on them daily, peering into the terrarium like a scientist. She also mists the moss every other day. As they all looked the same, we gave them just one collective name, Rollies. And me? I still don’t love bugs—but I do love watching her take care of something all on her own.
Little Notes
Isopods are naturally shy. We were advised to pick the ones that looked active and scuttled around a lot—but even so, after a week or two, ours buried themselves deep into the soil. So it’s not exactly a pet you’ll see every day! Something to manage expectations if your little one hopes to watch them all the time.
Start small. We picked a larger glass enclosure so the isopods would have lots of space— but now we realise that means lots of places to hide! A smaller enclosure might actually be better (and more affordable) to begin with. You’ll be able to observe them more easily, and upgrade later if they start to reproduce.
It can get a bit pricey. Depending on the type of isopods and decor you choose, it can all add up. But the experience is rich—hands-on, mindful, and honestly, quite calming for both parent and child.
No booking needed. One thing we loved: there’s no fixed schedule or slot. The setup is relaxed—you can drop in anytime during opening hours and see what catches your eye.
Getting in touch might take a bit of digging. Oddly enough, I had a hard time finding a contact number on their site. In the end, I just dropped them a DM on Instagram and they replied there. So if you have questions, reaching out via @greenchapter_sg might be your best bet!
Green Chapter
📍 Address:
565 MacPherson Road, #01-00
Singapore 368234
🕒 Opening Hours:
Mon–Fri: 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Sat / Sun / PH: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
🔗 Website:
www.gcshop-sg.com
This Little Season 