Lizard Vivarium
Great Ideas for a Lizard Vivarium
If you are new to the world of reptiles, you may have never even heard of a lizard vivarium. What it is, quite simply, is the enclosure in which you keep your lizard. The enclosure could be something very simple, but there are also vivariums available that look like beautiful pieces for furniture that cost a pretty penny.
Whether you spend a little or a lot on the lizard vivarium, the fact is that the lizard really won’t care much about the outside and what the thing looks like. What will make a difference in the quality of life for your pet will boil down to what is going on INSIDE the enclosure.
Size
Obviously, size is one of the most important considerations. There is more to consider here than just whether or not the lizard has room to move around (although that is, obviously, important). If the tank is bigger, that means that there will more room in which you can add items that will mimic what the lizard’s life would have been like in his natural environment.
Heat
Heat is required for lizards to survive. Remember, these are cold blooded animals. That means that their heat comes from outside sources. In the wild, you will see lizards sunning themselves on a rock. In a vivarium this is not an option, so you must provide an artificial heat source.
Humidity
Some types of lizards require humidity in addition to heat. If this is true of your pet, consider a lizard vivarium that is lined in order to be able to maintain optimum humidity.
Lights
Light is another important element in a lizard vivarium. There should be more than one light source in addition to any heat lamps you may include.
Now that the necessities are out of the way, you can begin thinking about other elements you would like to include. One great way to get ideas is to look at photos of your particular type of lizard in their natural environment.
After studying the terrain and elements he would naturally encounter, you can then try to mimic that as much as possible in the vivarium. Include plants, branches, rocks, small bodies of water and anything else that will help your lizard feel right at home.
This will not only make the lizard vivarium better for your pet but, if done well, it will look great as well. This may be especially important to people who keep the vivarium in a common living area. With some care, you can create a beautiful vivarium that looks as though you have brought the outdoors in.
While it is possible to spend a lot of money purchasing and equipping a lizard vivarium, there are plenty of ways to save. Try to find a large used aquarium on a classified site, such as Craig’s List. You may be able to find one very cheap, since it can be cracked.
There are also plenty of plans available online to help you build your own from scratch. Once the vivarium has all the items needed to keep the lizard alive and healthy, you can add decorative items a little at a time.
Lizards can make wonderful and interesting pets. The lizard vivarium will be his home for his entire life, so it is important to make it a place that allows your pet to be healthy and happy.