Vivarium vs terrarium vs paludarium: differences and what to know before adding animals
TUREFF• •0
Once you have built a jar or two, the next step people look at is a larger glass enclosure with water, a background, and perhaps a frog or a gecko. The words get used loosely, so it helps to start with what they mean, then think hard about whether an animal belongs in the plan.
The terms
- Terrarium: usually a planted enclosure of land only, built mainly for plants. Most of the other guides in this room are about terrariums in this sense.
- Vivarium: a broader word for an enclosure built to house living things, and in everyday use usually one designed around animals: reptiles, amphibians or invertebrates. Lighting, heating, ventilation and space are set by the animal's needs, with plants chosen to fit.
- Paludarium: a type of vivarium with both land and water. The name comes from the Latin for marsh. There is usually a substantial water section, sometimes with fish or aquatic plants, and a land section with plants growing above the water line.
- Riparium: a set-up modelled on a riverbank, with plants growing out of the water's edge and little dry land.
So every paludarium is a vivarium, but not every vivarium has water, and a terrarium need not house any animal at all.
A paludarium without animals
A paludarium can be kept for plants alone, and many are. It combines an aquarium's needs (filtration, water changes, cycling) with a terrarium's (humidity, ventilation, light for land plants). Things to plan for:
- A strong, watertight tank and a stand that can bear the weight of water and rock.
- A way to separate land from water, such as a built-up bank or a false bottom.
- Filtration and some water movement.
- Ventilation, as large sealed humid tanks fog up and grow mould.
- Light suited to both the plants under water and those above it.
Before you keep any animal
Animals are not decoration, and many species kept in vivariums live for years, some for decades. Before buying an animal or designing a tank around one:
- Research the exact species, not the group. Two frogs or two geckos can need entirely different temperatures, humidity, light, space and food. Read up on the species' natural habitat and talk to an experienced keeper or a vet who treats exotic animals.
- Plan the enclosure for the animal. Size, ventilation, heating, lighting (including UV for species that need it) and hiding places come first. Many attractive sealed jars are completely unsuitable for any animal.
- Know what it eats and whether you can supply it, often live insects, reliably for its whole life.
- Find a vet first. Not every practice treats reptiles or amphibians.
- Think about lifespan, holidays and cost of equipment and electricity.
- Buy captive-bred animals from responsible sources. Never take animals from the wild. Rules on keeping certain species vary by country.
- Never release an animal or its tank water into the wild.
The legal duty of care
In England and Wales, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on anyone responsible for an animal, including reptiles, amphibians and fish, to take reasonable steps to meet its welfare needs. These are usually summarised as five: a suitable environment, a suitable diet, the ability to behave normally, housing with or apart from other animals as appropriate, and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease. Failing to meet them can be an offence even if the animal has not yet visibly suffered. Scotland and Northern Ireland have similar laws, and the government publishes codes of practice describing good care. Elsewhere, check your local rules.
Poor husbandry causes many problems seen in captive reptiles and amphibians, and these can develop slowly, so a keeper may not notice until an animal is unwell.
Invertebrates and clean-up crews
Springtails and small isopods in a planted terrarium are usually kept as a clean-up crew rather than as pets. They still need damp, suitable conditions and food in the form of leaf litter and decaying matter.
If you are planning an enclosure, describe the species and space you have in mind in the comments so others can share what worked for them.