Creating a vivarium, an enclosed ecosystem featuring live plants and animals, can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only are vivariums beautiful to look at, they provide a safe, naturalistic habitat for your chosen species With proper planning and setup, a vivarium can practically care for itself, requiring minimal maintenance for years
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the full process of constructing your own thriving vivarium, from choosing an animal to maintaining the completed habitat. Follow these proven techniques for vivarium success!
Selecting the Featured Species
The very first decision to make is which type of animal you want to showcase. Some top options include:
- Dart frogs
- Chameleons
- Geckos
- Snakes
- Lizards
- Salamanders
- Fish
- Invertebrates
We recommend beginners start with a hardy, easy to care for species like crested geckos gargoyle geckos, or White’s tree frogs. Get advice from experienced vivarium builders when selecting your featured creature.
Only use one species per vivarium, unless it’s a very large professional-grade enclosure. Mixing multiples in a small habitat invites trouble.
Choosing the Right Enclosure
Glass aquariums are the gold standard, allowing great visibility and a controlled environment. Aim for a 10-40 gallon tank for most species. Ensure the dimensions suit the adult size of your chosen animal.
Alternatives like front-opening terrariums and durable plastic enclosures also work well. Avoid wire cages, as they poorly maintain temperature and humidity.
Constructing the Base Layers
A vivarium needs special layers to allow plants and creatures to thrive:
Drainage Layer: Clay pellets, Hydroton, or lightweight gravel media. Creates air space to prevent soggy soil. Depth of 2.5-3 inches.
Screen Separator: Fine mesh screen to block substrate from reaching the wet drainage layer. Must allow springtails to pass through.
Substrate: Mix specific for vivariums, like ABG or coconut fiber-based blends. Never just potting soil. Depth of 2.5-3 inches.
Leaf Litter: Dried oak, magnolia, or tropical plant leaves. Provides cover and food for cleanup critters. Depth of 1-2 inches.
These vital layers prevent soggy substrate and facilitate plant growth.
Creating a Naturalistic Environment
Once the base is set up, add aesthetically pleasing habitat features:
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Background: Painted or foam rock backgrounds provide realistic vistas and climbing areas.
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Plants: Use 8-12 small tropical species suited to the environment. Plant densely at first for a jungle look.
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Wood & Rocks: Add Mopani or ghost wood, river rocks, slate, etc for enrichment.
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Misting System: Automated misters increase humidity and simulate rainfall.
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Lighting: Bright 6500K daylight bulbs on a 12 hour on/off cycle. Add heat lamps if needed.
Introducing Detritus Feeders
To enable self-cleaning, add microfauna like:
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Springtails: Eat mold, fungi, decaying matter. Vital cleaners, add 100-200 per 10 gallons.
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Isopods: Larger bugs eat waste and scraps. 50-100 per 10 gallons reduce waste.
With these microfauna, the vivarium practically cares for itself!
Quarantining New Additions
Quarantine new animals in a separate enclosure for 2-4 weeks before adding them to the vivarium. Watch for signs of illness and only introduce healthy individuals to prevent contamination.
Maintaining Your Thriving Vivarium
Once established, vivariums need minimal care:
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Feed inhabitants appropriate foods daily.
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Mist 1-2 times daily manually or use an automated mister.
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Maintain optimal temperature, humidity, and lighting ranges.
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Prune overgrown plants as needed.
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Spot clean uneaten food daily.
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Replenish leaf litter and microfauna as they deplete.
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Replace substrate completely every 2-3 years as it breaks down.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Building Your Vivarium
Follow these steps to create your own thriving vivarium:
- Select Glass Tank or Plastic Enclosure
Get an appropriately sized tank or enclosure for your chosen animal species. Aim for adult size if getting a juvenile.
- Add Drainage Layer
Pour LECA balls, Hydroton, or clay pellets 2.5-3 inches deep to create the drainage layer. Rinse well first.
- Install Screen Separator
Place fiberglass screen cut to fit over the drainage layer. Must allow springtails through.
- Add Substrate
Pour vivarium-specific substrate blend 2.5-3 inches deep over the screen separator. Never plain potting soil.
- Spread Leaf Litter
Create a 1-2 inch deep natural leaf litter top layer. Oak or magnolia leaves work great.
- Plan Vivarium Layout
Figure out where plants, wood, rocks and other decor will go.
- Install Background (Optional)
Foam backgrounds can be added now with silicone adhesive.
- Add Plants and Hardscape
Position plants, wood, rocks, etc according to your layout plan.
- Install Environmental Systems
Add lighting, heating, misting systems needed to create the proper habitat.
- Introduce Microfauna
Add springtails, isopods to establish before adding animals.
- Quarantine Animals
Keep new animals separate for 2-4 weeks to ensure they are healthy.
- Add Animals to the Vivarium!
After quarantine, slowly acclimate animals to the new enclosure.
Tips for Vivarium Success
Follow these best practices:
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Disinfect new plants before adding them.
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Accurately recreate the animal’s natural habitat.
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Only house one species unless it’s a huge professional setup.
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Use appropriate vivarium substrates and materials.
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Always quarantine new animals before introducing them.
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Let the vivarium cycle for 4-6 weeks before adding animals.
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Maintain optimal temperature, humidity, and lighting ranges.
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Add microfauna springtails and isopods to minimize cleaning.
With proper planning and setup, you can have a thriving slice of nature right in your home. Vivariums allow close observation of fascinating creatures in realistic habitats. Just be sure to research and prepare properly before getting started. Follow this guide and you’ll be on your way to vivarium success!
How to build a Natural Vivarium (From Scratch)!
FAQ
What is the difference between a vivarium and a paludarium?
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YouTube · Animals at Home Podcasthttps://www.youtube.comPaludarium vs. Vivarium – what’s the difference?Jul 7, 2024 — when you think of a paladarium. well everything technically is a favarium. so a terrarium is a favarium an aquarium is a favarium. so on and so forth…
How do you make a self sustaining vivarium?
- 2”-3” layer of pea gravel or clay pebbles.
- Add water half way up gravel layer.
- 3”-5” layer of soil mix (combine equal parts sphagnum moss, sand and potting soil)
- Add 3-5 plants.
- Mist plants with spray bottle.
- Close terrarium.
- Set in a bright location.
What is the difference between a vivarium and a terrarium?
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Terrarium:
- Originally designed for plants, especially in sealed glass containers like Wardian cases.
- Can be used for various plants, including tropical, desert, or even small reptiles and amphibians in a humid environment.
- Originally designed for plants, especially in sealed glass containers like Wardian cases.
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Vivarium:
- Primarily used for animals, particularly reptiles, amphibians, and terrestrial invertebrates.
- Can also be used for plants, especially in combination with animals, to create a more natural ecosystem.
- Examples include enclosures for snakes, lizards, frogs, and other similar creatures.
- Vivariums are often built to mimic natural habitats and can be quite complex, incorporating various elements like water features, climbing structures, and different temperature gradients.
- Primarily used for animals, particularly reptiles, amphibians, and terrestrial invertebrates.
Are vivariums high maintenance?
If you have chosen to take a wonderful exotic pet into your home then the vivarium in which you keep it is going to need regular cleaning and maintenance to keep it in tiptop condition.
How do you build a vivarium?
Vivariums need special floor layers to create a healthy habitat. Build up the following from bottom to top: Drainage Layer: Clay pellets, Hydroton, or LECA balls. Retains moisture while allowing excess water to drain away. Depth of 2.5-3 inches. Screen Separator: Fine mesh screen that keeps substrate from reaching the wet drainage layer.
How do you make a vivarium drainage layer?
Put down a drainage layer of store-bought material (option 1). Shop at pet retailers or online and choose a vivarium drainage layer material—it’s often made up of small, lightweight plastic pellets or balls. Pour a 2.5–3 in (6.4–7.6 cm) layer in the bottom of the enclosure.
What is a vivarium?
A vivarium is an enclosed, live ecosystem, containing flora and fauna that are typically tropical in nature. Done right, it can provide a burst of living beauty to your living room! Before building your vivarium, decide which single animal species you want to feature, then go about creating the appropriate environment for it.
How do I choose a vivarium?
Glass aquariums are the gold standard, allowing excellent visibility and providing a controlled environment. Look for ones in the 10-40 gallon range for most vivarium species. Make sure the dimensions work for your chosen inhabitant. Alternatives like front-opening terrariums and durable plastic enclosures also work well.
How do I set up a bioactive vivarium?
The first thing you’ll need to decide before setting up a bioactive vivarium is the species that’ll live in it. This will influence a number of your later decisions and establish the basic parameters of the habitat.
How do you convert a standard vivarium into a bioactive vivarium?
With the end in sight, it is now time to add invertebrates and decomposers to convert this standard vivarium into a bioactive vivarium. There’s not much to this step (assuming you’ve already collected the decomposers you intend to use) – just add the worms, pillbugs, springtails, and other invertebrates to the enclosure.