Vivarium

A vivarium is very similar to the more common "terrarium," except that a vivarium houses live animals as well as plants. As a consequence of the addition of animals into what is essentially an enclosed, simulated environment, the vivarium naturally requires more upkeep.

Why a vivarium?

Although there’s no doubt that a tastefully and/or dramatically arranged collection of plants in a regular terrarium can be attractive and interesting, the inclusion of a small toad or swift (lizard) is sure to ease the boredom of rainy days and even raise a few eyebrows among your guests.

Enclosure

You can build your vivarium in virtually any waterproof container, but it’s easiest and probably cheapest in the long run to create your vivarium in an ordinary fish tank. Fish tanks come in standard sizes with covers that fit snugly; which is an important consideration when it comes to keeping your vivarium pets inside and other pets out.

Equipment

Once you’ve got a container that you can use as your vivarium, you’ll need a secure cover, a heat and light source, a small, shallow bowl, gravel, soil, small flowerpots (optional), a small fishnet, tongs, an old tablespoon, a small thermometer, and a pet book.

Getting Started

Wash the container thoroughly with a weak vinegar/water solution. Do not use any harsh detergents as this may prove harmful to the creature(s) you will introduce into this container. Make sure the cover fits snugly, yet allows for the circulation of air. A screen cover is perfect for this. There are various options available for heat and light. You could use a light source that also doubles as a source of heat by virtue of it’s incandescence or, if your container is a fish tank, you can opt to purchase a light fixture at your local petshop that was manufactured specifically to fit that size and shape container. You can, of course, place your vivarium near a window and let the sun do the lighting and heating for you. This is perfectly acceptable provided you keep a close eye on the container’s temperature (hence the need for a thermometer). Yet another choice would be the addition of a "Hot" rock. This is an artificial, yet realistic looking, stone (also available at your local petshop) that has a heating element inside. Once plugged in, whatever animal you have in your vivarium setup will invariably position itself as close to or as far from the "rock" as comfort dictates. A small, shallow bowl can hold water that your vivarium’s tenant may drink from. This is not always true however since some animals prefer to lap up droplets of water from leaves or the sides of the container, such as after a misting, and some will actually absorb needed moisture through their skin. The gravel and soil will form the substrate or ground of your vivarium and will be where you will deposit your plants. One option, which I prefer because it’s so much easier to maintain, is to line the bottom of your container with an artificial turf which can then be easily and periodically removed, cleeaned, or replaced. The plants you intend to use can instead be planted in the flowerpots and placed in whatever arrangement you prefer, this also aids in your vivarium housekeeping. I personally have found that an old tablespoon comes in handy when planting or repotting plants, and the fishnet and tongs allow you to reach into the vivarium with a minimum if disturbance.

Ecosystems

This wonderful planet of ours is covered with a diverse variety of ecosystems that you can imitate in your vivarium; everything from harsh desert to the lush tropics. It all depends on temperature, along with which plants and animals you wish to include in your vivarium. A desert environment will have high daytime temperatures between 85 degrees farenheit and 95 degrees fahrenheit with very little to no humidity. A tropical environment will have daytime temperatures almost as high, 75 degrees farenheit to 95 degrees farenheit, but with plenty of humidity and plants. In between you have the woodland vivarium that imitates the forested, mid-temperature regions of the world. Here temperatures range from 65 degrees farenheit and 75 degrees farenheit. These areas normally experience a change of seasons, including winter, but that won’t be necessary or even advisable for your vivarium.

Plants

Plants for the desert vivarium include cactuses and succulents that come in many surprising and unusual shapes and texures. The one thing they have in common is an adversity to humidity. Some of the best desert vivarium plants are the Chalk Cactus, the Paddle or Purple Hedgehog Cactus, the Golden Barrel Cactus, the Peanut Cactus, the Old Man Cactus, Jade Necklace, the Pearly Dots plant, plus any variety of Aloe or Sedum. There’s a much wider variety of plants to choose from for a tropical vivarium. These love light, warmth and humidity, so much so that you may find that some will quickly outgrow their enclosures. These plants include many of the tropical ferns. Also Caladium, Calathea, Sansevieria, Philodendron, Zebrina, Oxalis, Ficus and Spathiphyllum. Don’t let the scientific names intimidate you, many of these plants can be found in local nurseries or in the garden section of majr hardware chains under their more common names like, "Purple Perfection" or "Orange Prince." If you live, as most people do, in a temperate climate where the seasons change, then you may already be familiar with the plants for your woodlawn vivarium. Plants like violets, Bluebells, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and Forget-me-nots. Pine and fir seedlings, and even the moss and lichens can add depth and interest to a woodlawn vivarium.

Animals

Remember the petbook I mentioned back in "Equipment"? Well here’s where that comes in. Before buying any animal for your vivarium, it would be best if you read up on that particualr creature first. Few things are as disheratening or yucky having to remove a dead lizard from your vivarium. Some of theese animals eat bugs, some eat vegetation, some will drink from a small bowl while others will absorb what they need through their skin. It’s up to you to learn which.

The following are some of the animals that do best in a vivarium:

• Green Anole (Tropical)
• House Gecko (Tropical)
• Fence Lizard (Woodland)
• Swift Lizard (Woodland)
• Skink (Woodland)
• Poison Arrow Frog (Tropical)
• Newts (Woodland)
• Salamanders (Woodland)
• Toads (Woodland)
• Baby Box Turtle (Woodland)
• Small Iguana (Tropical)
• Garter Snake (Woodland)
• Ribbon Snake (Woodland)
• Brown Dekay’s Snake (Woodland)

Summary

With a lot of imagination and diligence, plus a little effort and luck, you can create a miniature world that would become a center of interest and a subject of conversation for years to come.