vivarium

A vivarium is an enclosed or semi-enclosed space used to keep and observe living organisms for study, education, or display. The term comes from Latin vivarium, meaning "a place of living", from vivere "to live." While the word can apply to any habitat enclosure, it is commonly used for terraria, paludaria and aquaria that house terrestrial, semi-aquatic, or aquatic species.

Common types include terrarium (soil or dry habitats for reptiles, amphibians, insects, or plants), paludarium (wetland-like environments with both terrestrial and aquatic components), and aquarium (fully or partially aquatic environments). Some setups combine elements in a single enclosure.

History and use: Wardian cases in the 19th century popularized plant vivaria for transport and cultivation; later, reptile and amphibian hobbyists, zoos, and laboratories developed increasingly sophisticated enclosures to study behavior, physiology, and ecology in controlled conditions.

Design and care: A vivarium includes an enclosure (glass, acrylic, or other transparent material), substrate, climate control (temperature, humidity, lighting, ventilation), and sometimes water filtration or circulation. Substrates vary by species: soil, bark, moss, or sand. Lighting often includes day-night cycles and, for certain species, ultraviolet light. Enrichment and safe shelter are important.

Ethics and welfare: Enclosures should meet the needs of the resident species, minimize stress, and allow natural behaviors. Regular sanitation, appropriate feeding, monitoring for health, and preventing escapes or invasive spread are essential. Legal and biosafety considerations may apply to certain animals or plants.

Uses: in education, research, and hobbyist keeping; vivariums are used to study ecology, physiology, reproduction, and microhabitats and to simulate natural communities in controlled environments.