This adorable little mason jar aquarium are perfect for the crafty and curious. Kids can make their own fish homes out of mason jars, using aquarium decor found at the pet store. Then, using their favorite little toy fishes, your kids can place them in their personal aquarium as if they are swimming!
When I went out to buy the supplies for this project, it cost me about $15 to get the things I did not already own– such as the aquarium gravel, plants, and toy fishes. After I finished my mason jar aquarium though, I realized that I still had enough supplies to make about four more. So you could end up spending about $3 an aquarium jar if you need a few. That’s a pretty great deal for such a cute project!
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Supplies:
- Mason Jar with Lid
- Aquarium Gravel
- Plastic Plants
- Plastic Toy Fishes
- Fishing Line
- Food Coloring
- Sewing Needle
- Hot Glue Gun
- Scissors
Step 1:
Hot glue down a plastic plant to the bottom of the inside of the mason jar. Then, add a handful or two of aquarium gravel until the bottom of the jar is completely covered (about 1 inch).
Step 2:
This next step is for adults only. Take a sewing needle and hold it over an open flame for just a few seconds– just enough to make it hot. Then, puncture a small hole into the top fin of one of your plastic fish. (He won’t feel a thing, I promise). This is done so that you can thread fishing line through it. Please be careful, as the needle gets very hot. It needs to be hot enough to melt the plastic so that the needle can make its way through the other side if the fish. Remember this part is adults only ; )
Thread the fishing line through the hole in the toy fish. Measure out your fishing line to make sure your fish hangs at the desired height. Place a small dot of hot glue on the bottom of your mason jar lid, and set a loop of the fishing line in the glue. I like to use an old spoon to help me press things like this into hot glue. That way, I don’t burn my fingers! Put another dot of glue on top of the loop to secure it. Once the glue is dried, cut off any excess fishing line. Now the fish hangs from the lid. It’s swimming in air!
Step 3:
Fill your mason jar with colored water. Place the hanging fish inside the jar, and screw on the lid.
Now you have your very own, handheld, personal aquarium!
These are great to use as party favors or presents. I think kids would have a lot of fun making these for their friends. Then they could each have one!
Enjoy your maintenance-free pet fishes!
This is adorable, and I’ll be making these at my daughters Dory themed birthday party with her friends!! What size mason jar did you use?
Hi Esther!
The jars are the 16 oz size. They sure are cute! Since the mason jars are glass make sure the kids are older ; )
Have fun making them!
Hi,
Where did you get the plastic fish?
You can purchase at a pet store that sells fish or purchase on Amazon. These are less than .50 cents each when purchased as a set (aff link) http://amzn.to/2EnSqw0
Do you use regular tap water, how long will it stay ” fresh” or will it eventually turn bad, or should you use distilled water ?
I have a whole house water filter so it takes some of the bad out of the water – but other than that it’s normal water. I haven’t opened it since I made it and it looks fine! I wonder if it had air in the jar if that would create problems.