Vivarium

A vivarium (Latin for 'place of life'; pl. vivaria or vivariums) is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research. Water-based vivaria may have open tops providing they are not connected to other water bodies. An animal enclosure is considered a vivarium only if it provides quality of life through naturalistic components such as ample living space and natural decor that allow and encourage natural behaviours. Often, a portion of the ecosystem for a particular species is simulated on a smaller scale, with controls for environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and light.

A vivarium may be small enough to sit on a desk or table, such as a terrarium or an aquarium, or may be a very large structure, possibly outdoors. Large vivaria, particularly those holding organisms capable of flight, typically include some sort of a dual-door mechanism such as a sally port for entry and exit, so that the outer door can be closed to prevent escape before the inner door is opened.

Types

Vivaria can be different types based on what they hold. Some hold water, some hold land animals and plants, and others hold a mix of both.

Aquarium

An aquarium is a tank full of water that holds plants and animals like fish. Some aquariums also have tiny animals and plants that help keep the water clean. You can see inside an aquarium through at least one glass side, making it look like you're underwater.

Terrarium

A terrarium is a closed space for land animals, plants, fungi, or a mix of these. It keeps the temperature and humidity just right for what’s inside. Terrariums can be made for different kinds of land areas, like rainforests or deserts. Some special terrariums are used to show how plants or small animals grow in sealed spaces.

Semi-aquatic vivarium

A semi-aquatic vivarium holds animals and plants that live both in water and on land. Examples include:

A paludarium has both water and air space, perfect for plants and animals that need both. A riparium has land next to water, good for animals that spend time in both places. An oceanarium is a big space for sea animals and some land animals like seals.

Pond

A pond can be a vivarium if it’s sealed off from other water and taken care of, like with cleaning or adding plants and animals.

A water garden is a pretty pond with plants and maybe some animals like goldfish. A fish pond is a pond where fish are kept. A koi pond is special for keeping koi fish.

Aviary

An aviary is a large space for birds and other animals that can fly, like bats or butterflies. It gives birds enough room to fly around in circles, not just straight ahead.

Other

A nocturnal house is a special space for animals that are active at night or plants that open at night. A greenhouse is a space for plants with a roof and walls that let in sunlight. A conservatory is like a greenhouse but also a place for people to sit. An arboretum is a place to grow many kinds of trees and shrubs.

A desertarium is for plants and animals that live in dry, hot places. Some vivaria are for specific groups of animals, like herpetariums for reptiles, insectariums for insects, and formicariums for ants.

Size and materials

A vivarium is usually made from clear materials like plastic or glass. It doesn’t need to hold water pressure unless it’s an aquarium, so it can also be made from wood or metal with at least one clear side. Simple vivariums can even be made from a bottle, like a bottle garden. Some are built from special coated wood and have sliding glass doors. These coated wood vivariums keep heat better and handle high humidity well. They can be many different shapes, and the choice of materials depends on how big you want it, how heavy it should be, how well it holds up to moisture, the cost, and the quality you want.

The floor of a vivarium needs enough space for the plants or animals inside. The height matters for taller plants or animals that like to climb. The width should be large enough so both you and the plants or animals feel like there’s depth.

Common materials used for the floor include soil, small pebbles, sand, peat, wood chips, wood mulch, coconut fibers, or a mix of these. The choice depends on what the plants or animals need, how much moisture is needed, safety risks, and how it looks. For very clean vivariums, sometimes simple materials like paper or newspaper are used. Usually, a layer that doesn’t hold too much water is placed on top of a special layer that keeps things moist but not wet.

Environmental controls

Lighting

A lighting system is needed, and it must match what the animals and plants need. For example, some reptiles need sunlight to stay warm, so special bulbs can help mimic this in a vivarium.

Some plants and daytime animals need UV light to help create Vitamin D and absorb calcium. This can be done with special lights that look more like natural sunlight than regular fluorescent lights.

A timer might be needed to copy the pattern of day and night. How long the day and night are depends on where the animals and plants live in nature and what season it is.

Temperature

Temperature is very important for animals that can only live in certain conditions, like those in their natural homes.

Heat can be added in different ways, all controlled by a thermostat: heating lamps, hot plates, heat mats, or more advanced tools that blow warm air into the vivarium.

Just like with light, the temperature might need to drop at night to keep the animals healthy. These changes should match what happens in their natural homes. Special systems can control both light and temperature, plus humidity, sometimes with built-in misting or rain features. Sensors and timers help manage the lighting and heating as needed.

Humidity

Many plants and animals can only handle small changes in moisture levels.

Humidity can be controlled in several ways: by spraying water regularly, letting water evaporate from a bowl, or using automatic sprayers and humidifiers.

Ventilation and openings

It's important to be able to get inside the vivarium to care for the plants and animals or to add food. For some animals, opening the front is better because opening from the top can make them feel stressed, like there might be danger.

Good air flow is essential not just for fresh air but also to stop mold and harmful bacteria from growing, especially in warm, damp vivariums. One common way to do this is to use a fan at the bottom to pull air in and another fan higher up to push air out, keeping the air moving constantly.