Most used substrates are : common soil, small pebbles, sand, peat, chips of various trees, wood mulch, vegetable fibres , or a combination of them. The choice of the substrate depends on the needs of the plants , or of the animals , moisture , the risks involved and aesthetic aspects. Sterile vivariums sometimes used to ensure high levels of hygiene , generally have very straightforward, easily removable substrates such as paper tissue, wood chips and even newspaper
The temperature can be a very important parameter for species that cannot adapt to other conditions than those found in their natural habitat
A day/night regulator might be needed to simulate with accuracy the alternation of light and dark periods. The duration of the simulated day and night depends on the conditions in the natural habitat of the species and the season desired
There are various forms of vivarium, including:
Many plants and animals have quite limited tolerance to the variation of moisture
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
Many kinds of plants are suitable for these habitats, including bromeliads, African Violets and Crassulaceae. Animals commonly held for observation include reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders, and scorpions, small birds are also good
They may be cubical, spherical, rectangular, or other shapes. Coating the inside of a plywood vivarium helps to retain the natural effect of the environment. It is usually made of a clear container . Unless it is an aquarium, it doesn’t need to withstand the pressure of water, so it can also be made out of wood or metal, with at least one transparent side. The choice of materials depends on the desired size and weight of the entire ensemble, resistance to high humidity, the cost and the desired quality. Epoxy-coated plywood vivariums retain heat better than glass or plastic enclosures and are able to withstand high degrees of humidity. The new fashion in vivariums are those constructed from epoxy-coated plywood and fitted with sliding glass doors
A vivarium is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research. Often, a portion of the ecosystem for a particular species is simulated on a smaller scale, with controls for environmental conditions
A lighting system is necessary, always adapted to the requirements of the animal and plant species. For example, certain reptiles in their natural environment need to heat themselves by the sun, so various bulbs may be necessary to simulate this in a terrarium
The ground surface must be calculated to be enough for the species living inside, at their adult size. The width must be big enough to create the sensation of depth, both for the pleasure of the spectator and the good of the species inside. The height can also be important for the larger plants, climbing plants, or for tree climbing animal species
Also, certain plants or diurnal animals need a source of UV to help synthesize Vitamin D and assimilate calcium. Such UV can be provided by specialized fluorescent tubes
Such variation need to be coherent to those found in the natural habitats of the species. Similar to lighting, a decrease in temperature might be needed for the simulated night periods, thus keeping living species healthy. Thermo-control systems are often used to regulate light cycles and heating, as well as humidity . Light-dependent resistors or photo-diodes connected to the lighting are frequently used to simulate daytime, evening and nighttime light cycles, as well as timers to switch lighting and heating on and off when necessary
Heating can be provided by several means, all of which are usually controlled by a thermostat: