Reptile Vivariums are the most basic component of any reptile housing one may set up. Since the vivariums are where your reptile will spend most of its life, it is very important to make sure you purchase a high-quality housing unit (vivarium) for your pet. Fortunately for you, I have had the experience buying and trying out most of the brands and types of vivariums sold in both America and the UK, so I can easily explain to you which reptile housing units have the highest-quality for the lowest-price that you can buy painlessly on the Internet.
Different Types of Vivariums
1. Most plastic vivariums are much too small for adult-sized reptiles. If you would like to house a small reptile in an enclosure for the minimal cost to you, buying a plastic vivarium is a fantastic idea … if the reptile wont outgrow the cage itself and is still comfortable within it if the reptile does grow larger .
2. Glass vivariums are perfect for animals living in habitats filled with water, such as turtles or fish. This type of enclosure always has either a removable wire mesh top or a ventilation hood to provide just that – ventilation. The ventilation hood may also include a light / heating unit that is necessary to monitor (a very easy task) in order to be certain that your reptiles / animals do not overheat. Since glass vivariums are see-through, it is important to provide a small shelter within the vivarium where the reptile can go to hide or to escape to in times of feeling stressed from seeing something moving outside of the cage that may scare them.
3. Wire reptile vivariums can be bought to house reptiles such as chameleons or bearded dragons. This cage is usually made out of wire mesh crafted around a wooden frame. Since the wire mesh is not the best type of insulation, it can be difficult to maintain a certain temperature necessary to simulate the reptile's habitat. Fortunately though, your reptile will get plenty of fresh air with a wire vivarium because of the many natural holes in the cage's walls. This type of enclosure will also offer you a greater view of your reptile over what a wooden cage will provide for a view. Make sure you buy a wire vivarium that has tightly-woven wire mesh so that your reptile cannot escape, but will still get great enough air ventilation. One very-high quality cage I have personally bought and tested can be found here: Extra Large Screen Reptile Habitat Cage – USA made ..
4. The most popular type of lizard enclosure is the wooden vivarium. The popularity is mostly due to the fact that since lizards are agoraphobic, or fear of a difficult escape from an enclosure, the visible walls of a wooden vivarium will prevent your lizard from running into them like lizards in glass vivariums frequently do. Because of this and since wood is part of their natural habitat, most reptiles in wooden vivariums feel more comfortable and relaxed. Buying a wooden housing unit for your reptile could make a huge difference in its personality when it is both inside and outside of the reptile vivarium .
Wooden reptile vivariums are also very good insulators as compared to a wire mesh or glass cage. More insulated housing means lower electricity bill since the wooden vivarium's heater works much less to keep the cage warm for your reptile. Need I say more?
5. Melamine is another type of vivarium which is made out of wood painted with a finish resembling plastic. Usually, a melamine vivarium has a glass front with three side walls and a bottom made of melamine. This type is very innovative because it provides the insulation of a wooden vivarium and the ability to see your pet as with a glass vivarium, all the while still providing the reptile with its own privacy. Melamine vivariums are great at resisting water and absorbing heat.