Step 1: Arid Desert Vivarium - Introduction

I know that keeping more than one species together is often frowned upon in the industry.  However, I wanted to build a vivarium that was large enough so that I could keep more than one carefully considered species.

I also had a different idea for a vivarium.  Usually vivariums are constructed inside an all glass aquarium.  I wanted more places for the animals to live and climb, with a smaller portion dedicated to viewing - while maintaining full visibility of the animals wherever they may be in the enclosure.

I decided upon a size of 4' by 4' by 4'.  This would provide enough floor space as well as plenty of climbing area on the walls.

Step 2: The Base and Sides

The base and sides

I started with the base, 3/4" plywood, 4' by 4'.  The three walls also began as 4' by 4' plywood sides.

The vivarium, being made of plywood and holding several real rocks and gravel, would need to support a lot of weight.  So I made several legs of double 2" by 4" pieces.

Step 3: The Background Wall

In order to create the background, which would be covered with layers of climbing rock structures and basking outcroppings, I first built a few shelves and supports with wood.  I just used wood screws to fasten these supports onto the plywood that would be become the back side.

Then I covered the wall with Great Stuff Expanding Foam.

Once the back wall was sufficiently covered with the foam, and it had completely dried, I began carving the wall into rock-like structures.

Step 4: Creating the Rock Background

I carved the foam into rock outcroppings and ledges, making sure there were clear pathways for the animals to safely climb up and down.

By the way, this is my son in the pictures, who helped me with this project.

After carving the background foam into various rocks and ledges, I mixed up a watery solution of tile grout.  I used two colors of grout.  A darker color to cover all of the rocks, making special care to fill in all of the deep crevices.  After that dried, then I mixed up a lighter color of grout.  I used the lighter color to paint over the rocks, but used more of a lighter touch to not paint over the deeper cracks.

 

Step 5: Painting the Inside Walls

To add to the look of the vivarium, I painted desert scenes on the inside walls.

Step 6: Framing the top and front openings

I then framed out the top and front openings, so that I could put plexiglass across the front, and removable screen lids for the tops.  The frames were 1" by 2" boards.

Step 7: The Removable Lids for the top

I made these lids that can easily removed.  I stretched screen across the lid, and fastened down around the edges.  This makes an easy place to rest various heat lamps and UVB bulbs over the lower portion and over the upper portion.

I cut plexiglass pieces to fit the front openings of the lower portion and the upper portion.  I drilled holes in the plexiglass around the edges, and screwed them in to the front frame.

If I was to do over again, I would have used glass rather than plexiglass. I would have had to find a different way to hold them on (i wouldn't have been able to drill holes around the edges).  However, the plexiglass cracked here and there when drilling the holes, and the front of the plexiglass got all scratched up from the lizards trying to climb on it.  You can see this in the pictures of the finished vivarium.

Step 8: The Substrate

For the substrate, I wanted natural looking desert terrain.  However, I didn't want to use sand to avoid any of the animals getting gut impaction from ingesting it.  I decided to use a very small gravel.

I just put the gravel directly on the floor of the vivarium, which is the plywood base.

It has worked fine for the past year.  

When they poop, it dries quickly due to the arid environment.  However, I regret not putting down some kind of plastic or plexiglass on the floor, underneath the substrate.  I am concerned that over time their urine will soak into the plywood and cause the vivarium to smell.  But as i said, after one year it is still fine.

Step 9: Live plants

I arranged actual rocks and various dry branches in the bottom of the vivarium.  I used the expanding foam to put in place some flower pots, containing various drought resistant succulent plants.  I kept all of the plants high enough that my tortoise would not be able to reach them to eat them.

On the left, I put a Sand Sage that I had uprooted from nearby my home.  It will not live as I did not plant it, but just tightly situated it between some rocks.  I will replace this about twice a year as it dries out and starts to fall apart.

In the front, to the left, I planted a succulent - I don't know the name of this one.

On the right I planted Euphorbia Tiruccalli, or Firestick.  Again I made sure it was out of reach of the tortoise.

In the upper level, on the wall, I also used the expanding foam to hold some flower pots in place.

On the left is Schlumbergera Triuncata, or False Christmas Cactus.

On the back wall, on the right, is flowering succulent. I do not know the name of this one either.

In the picture above, you can see the Echeveria I planted on the bottom - but I removed it after the tortoise started to demolish it.

Step 10: The Animals

Here is a view of the entire arid vivarium.  I originally had a Saharan Uromastyx (uromastyx geyri) and a Bearded Dragon (pogona vitticeps) together. I currently have a Leopard Tortoise (stigmochelys paradalis) and an Eastern Collared Lizard (crotaphytus collaris) living together, and they are doing very well together.

Here you can only see the Leopard Tortoise.

Here you can see the Leopard Tortoise and the juvenile Eastern Collared Lizard.

Closeup of the Leopard Tortoise.

Below are two pictures of the Eastern Collared Lizard.

Below is the Bearded Dragon (pogona vitticeps) with the tortoise and they were fine together.  Once I got the Eastern Collared, I removed the Bearded Dragon as he was too large and would have probably eaten the Eastern Collared.  

You can see how the bottom portion of the plexiglass has gotten scratched up, mostly from the Uro clawing the front window.  I mentioned in an earlier post that if i was to do again, i would have used glass for this reason.  I have since replaced the plexiglass with one sheet of 1/4" glass.  It looks so much cleaner and bright with the glass on the front.

Here is the Saharan Uromastyx (uromastyx geyri), which is no longer in this vivarium.  The Uro was fine with the Bearded Dragon as there was plenty of space and their diets were different enough.  The Uro only ate vegetables with the tortoise, and the Bearded Dragon ate a little greens, but mostly crickets and mealworms.

And below is a picture of the Eastern Collared Lizard, through the glass front.  He has grown larger and his bright blue color has really come in now.

Step 11: Feeding

I positioned a water dish next to a rock formation, to reduce the animals walking through it.  I make sure there is always water there.

I keep a very slow drip into the water, as that helps the Collared Lizard be aware of it and drink more.  I just have a plastic bottle with a pin hole in the bottom, sitting on the screen lid above the water dish.  Someday I will set up something more clever and automated.

I have a small dish next to the water dish that I use for mealworms  The sides are high enough so that the mealworms can't climb out.  I usually put in 2 mealworms a day.


I drop 3-4 crickets in a day.  The Collared Lizard usually catches most of them as I put them in. A few get away and hide in the rocks, and he will catch them later in the day as they come out.

I placed a large flat rock in the corner where I place greens for the tortoise.  I like this feeding place as it looks more natural.  I would like to make something more natural for the water and the mealworms... someday.  I don't like the look of feeding dishes in the vivarium.

Completed Desert Vivarium

Here are some pictures showing the completed desert vivarium.
I am very pleased with it, and enjoy viewing my reptiles in this environment.
Feel free to comment.  I am sure there are many things i did wrong or could have done better.
My next project is to make a rain forest paludarium.  That will be much more challenging than this one.