Keeping reptiles, amphibians or invertebrates frequently conjures up images of lush tropical habitats, filled with exotic plants. Unfortunately, up until very recently, it was not possible to maintain a planted vivarium of this type for any length of time successfully in the home. Yet now this is achievable, even for enthusiasts who have little or no experience, thanks to advances in lighting technology in particular, enabling you to grow plants successfully in these surroundings, as well as catering for the needs of the creatures themselves Here in this highly practical guide, written by an acknowledged international expert in this area, you can learn what is involved in setting up not just a tropical rainforest enclosure, but also, at the other extreme, a desert-like environment and a dry grassland set-up, so you can replicate these set-ups yourself, with everything being shown in a clear, step-by-step style.
CREATE YOUR OWN STUNNING PLANTED BIOACTIVE VIVARIUM A range of step-by-step guides
Create Your Own Stunning Planted Bioactive Vivarium: a range of step-by-step guides
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • Here John Courteney-Smith MRSB, FLS and the team at Arcadia Reptile guide you through the steps needed to create a stunning bioactive rainforest vivarium for the home, which will be suitable for a wide range of reptiles or amphibians, and invertebrates too.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • Once the basics of the enclosure are set up, the next step is to instal the lighting and heating equipment, deciding where best to position this within the vivarium. You can then add the substrate on the floor here, along with the initial‘clean-up crew’ or custodians that will ultimately play a vital part in ensuring the breakdown and recycling of waste matter within the enclosure.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • In this section, putting the final touches to the electrical supply, and starting to think about the interior decoration, in terms of the planting scheme, are covered.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • Having now set up all the different aspects of the vivarium, from the electrics to the landscaping and having adding the plants and the custodians, it is now simply a matter of carefully monitoring everything, and making any necessary adjustments, before adding the main occupants.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • It’s now a question of fine-tuning everything, in eager anticipation of being able to introduce the reptile occupants to the enclosure. Here’s what needs to be done, in terms of adding the finishing touches before taking this exciting step.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • So what has happened in the bioactive planted vivarium since the Cameroon or spectral pygmy chameleons (Rhampholeon spectrum) had just been introduced to the new bioactive vivarium? Here is an update of what has happened in the interim, and the ongoing maintenance that has been carried out.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • As a living ecosystem in miniature, so your bioactive vivarium will need on-going care, and problems will crop up. The key thing is to be alert to them and know what to look for, as is explained here.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • Having been focusing on the enclosure design and the plants, the focus now switches to the occupants, observing and fine-tuning the care of the pygmy chameleons here, with the aim of encouraging on-going successful breeding. A problem has unfortunately also arisen as the result of an unexpected and unwanted guest appearing in the vivarium.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • The excitement mounts as the chameleons breed successfully for the first time in their bioactive, planted enclosure. The team have to consider how this event impacts on the management of the enclosure.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST • It’s time for reflection on this build - and what has worked, and even more significantly perhaps, just what hasn’t worked out as well as hoped....
