A vivarium is a closed-container for plants and sometimes animals, often called a terrarium, that creates a mini eco-system captured inside a glass box
. It is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research
. Vivariums are planted differently from terrariums, with plants grouped into categories like “foreground plants,” “carpeting plants”
. Vivariums can be made from clear containers, often plastic or glass, and can also be made out of wood or metal, with at least one transparent side
. Wooden vivariums are ideal enclosures for most small to medium-sized desert and arid habitat as wood is an excellent insulator that makes maintaining high temperatures relatively simple
