Terrariums: What is the best of 2021?

When they first talk to you about terrariums, you may stay the same as you were. But things change if we tell you that it is a protected space where you can imitate the environmental characteristics of your pet (as long as you have a rodent, reptile or amphibian at home, such as turtles, snakes, “geckos” and all kinds of lizards. ).

Few experiences are more emotional than those in which you acquire or bring a new pet home. But this turns to nothing if you don’t have a safe place to spend their days with you. No problem because here we are going to explain point by point which is the best terrarium for your pet and what you should take into account when buying one.

The most important

• Any pet you have should rest in an ideal place for it. If your pet doesn’t have a place of his own, he can get stressed out because he doesn’t feel safe.
• When you have to acquire a new terrarium, you should take into account things such as the characteristics of your pet (type, breed and lifestyle), the place you have at home available and other animals with which you share your home.
• As a general rule, reptiles are animals that do not cope very well with sharing space, so you should pay attention to this fact if you have more than one animal like these. This happens because they are very territorial and quite suspicious.

The best terrariums on the market: our favorites

Both a reptile and an amphibian have their charm. It is clear that not everyone understands it because the vast majority of people believe that they are cold living beings. This statement is not true because they can change the color and the way of behaving, according to the environment. Therefore, let’s stop comparing them to mammals, such as dogs or cats.

• The best terrarium for small pets
• The best wooden terrarium
• The best terrarium for “geckos”
• The best terrarium to place anywhere
• The most versatile and functional terrarium

The best terrarium for small pets

Capacity: 40.5 L. Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 45 cm. Terrarium designed by European herpetologists, in such a way that it contains the ideal characteristics for your small pet: built to prevent leaks (special lock) and front doors to facilitate cleaning and feeding, as well as being completely removable.

The size of this product is geared towards the smallest insects, reptiles and amphibians, such as scorpions, spiders, stick insects, small frogs or “geckos”. This same brand has more sizes available, in case you need a larger terrarium.

The best wooden terrarium

Dimensions: 120 x 60 x 60 cm. Indoor terrarium for reptiles and amphibians, equipped with front ventilation. It is made from 12 mm thick OSB wood, so it does not contain formaldehyde, so it is completely safe for your pet. It comes to assemble, but no carpentry skills are required. The cable holes are not made.

In the same delivery box it contains two float glass panels, to cover the front of your pet’s terrarium. Although the complements and accessories (UV lights, decorations and thermometers) have to be purchased separately, the manufacturers have taken them into account.

The best terrarium for “geckos”

Terrarium for “geckos” size L (45 x 45 x 60 cm). It is made entirely of reinforced glass, with double doors to prevent leaks. Likewise, it also contains a metallic screen for greater ventilation and includes all the decorative accessories that your pet needs. The access doors are double to feed it without complications.

The best terrarium to place anywhere

It is a desktop terrarium, composed of resistant glass and an elegant and stylish design. In addition, it is very easy to install, having a rear panel that facilitates ventilation. The bottom is waterproof. It contains an energy efficient LED day and night light. It contains a curved front window, for a greater viewing angle of the content.

This glass terrarium adapts to any location, ideal for small reptiles and amphibians, such as geckos, salamanders, frogs and newts, among many others. It also includes two photographic background images, in such a way that it mimics the natural environment of your pet.

The most versatile and functional terrarium

Capacity: 30 L. Dimensions: 79 cm long, 29.7 cm wide and 24.5 cm high. It weighs 8.5 kg and the thickness of the glass is 4 mm. This product can be used both as a fish tank or aquarium and as a terrarium. It also contains two mobile ramps for reptiles or turtles. A small roof can be placed above the ramps to prevent the pet from escaping.

Serves both indoors and outdoors. Although the image shows decorations and accessories, the product is delivered only with the ramps and the plastic roof. Don’t worry, accessories and accessories are usually not expensive.

Shopping Guide: What You Should Know About Terrariums

Having a reptile or amphibian is not easy. And there are people who still believe that it is the same as having a dog or a cat. They are radically different animals, especially in care, food, way of communicating and habitat. The latter is what we are going to emphasize in this section. We give you all the information to be a professional in this area.

What is a terrarium?

A terrarium is nothing more than a container, almost always made of glass, where the optimal conditions are rebuilt to keep certain animals or even plants inside. It usually remains closed, with adequate ventilation and maintaining the humidity needs that the animal needs at all times.

Thus, if some characteristics are not met, such as humidity, temperature, size or light, your pet could become stressed, which seriously affects its health. You should also know in advance her needs and lifestyle, such as if she needs company, life as a couple or alone.

What terrarium materials are there and what advantages do they have?

It is very important that your pet, be it an amphibian, a reptile or an arachnid, has a place to shelter and that he can live in peace. In other words, a home within your home. To do this, there is nothing like staying informed in the correct way, knowing exactly the types of terrariums that exist on the market and which one is best for you.

What accessories can I include in the terrarium?

It is a huge field of action, since it depends on many factors: the natural habitat of your pet, its needs, tastes or if it is accompanied, among others. However, we can establish six main groups of objects and accessories to introduce in the terrarium: substrate, drinkers, elements that imitate their natural conditions, plants, sheets and light.

• Substrate: a good soil (for spiders, iguanas, snakes or tortoises) is a great complement.
• Drinkers: your pet should always have fresh water within reach.
• Accessories that mimic their habitat: stone caves, branches and waterfalls, among others.
• Plants: make sure they are artificial because natural ones are more difficult to maintain (due to the heat of the terrarium).
• Landscape images: this option gives a more natural look. You can look for, for example, photos of landscapes with rocks or forests.
• Light: depending on your pet, there will be some that need UV rays and others that require red light bulbs (for nocturnal animals). But above all, always ensure that the bulb is covered with a protective grid so that it does not burn if you accidentally touch it.

What types of substrates can I put in the terrarium?

Instead of leaving the base with the cold glass, the ideal is to place a substrate or soil suitable for the type of pet you have. This allows the animal to dig and tunnel, while exercising. Another advantage is that it provides a more natural environment, making you feel calmer and stress away.

Thus, we can classify the most common substrate into three types:

• Calcium sand: for more desert animals, which require little humidity.
• Coconut fiber or pine bark: for tropical pets.
• Mosses or litter: ideal for terrariums in warm environments.

What habitats and types of terrariums exist?

In general, we can differentiate three main environments in which reptiles and amphibians can live: desert, forest and tropical. Each of them will demand certain terrarium characteristics, such as adequate humidity, size, temperature, light or ventilation, among others. Let’s see it with an outline, to make it clearer.

And it is that buying a terrarium is not to arrive and win, as they say. It must be a premeditated decision and look at both your own possibilities and those of the animal. You think that, in the vast majority of cases, it will be your home for the rest of your life. If the situation were to apply to you, you would surely think twice, right?

How to equip a terrarium for an iguana or a chameleon?

You can’t possibly be right if you think that any terrarium is valid for all animal species. In this case we can explain exactly what these two pets need so that their habitat in your home is optimal. We must take into account the light, humidity, substrate, heating and decoration.

• Substrate: a good product is the Forest Bark , which you can spread with a thickness of 3 mm at the base of the terrarium.
• Lighting: low consumption fluorescent, with contribution of UV radiation.
• Heating: for iguanas, 100 watt (W) ceramic heating lamps. As for the chameleons, a 50 W heating cable.
• Accessories: both species need adequate feeders and drinkers. Chameleons enjoy drinking from a small waterfall-shaped fountain, although they will often hydrate from the dew that accumulates on the glass of the terrarium.
• Decoration: both iguanas and chameleons require spaces where they feel safe.
• Temperature and humidity: the ideal environment is between 24º and 26º of temperature and a humidity of 70%.

What are terrariums for amphibians like?

The idea is to recreate your pet’s natural habitat in the most convincing way. And this can be complicated in the case of an amphibian (such as frogs, newts and salamanders, among other species). The place where you are going to stay must have adequate conditions. The objects that you are going to introduce must be completely clean.

We must insist on cleaning because bacteria proliferate in humid environments, which we must also take into account given their diet (in many cases, they like fresh products). In addition, it is also interesting that they have a body of water that does not receive direct light to cool off.

Is a terrarium or an aquaterrarium better?

If we talk about amphibians, we can have this great doubt, since not only terrariums exist, but recently aqua terrariums are proliferating, which maintain certain similarities with those. The main and obvious difference is that they are destined to be inhabited by aquatic animals or amphibians, which need a lot of humidity to live.

Another aspect to highlight is the need for many species to have a filter to purify the water and keep it clean, in addition to having easy access to the aqua terrarium to be able to spray water. Oddly enough, it is easier to maintain humid conditions in a large one than in a small one.

Where can I put the terrarium?

Professionals and experts in the field often recommend placing them on solid and stable surfaces, such as specially manufactured stands or sturdy tables. This possibility should be taken into account, since there are many terrariums that contain a lot of weight, so not just any place will work. They also recommend putting it away from visitors.

The best room in your home for a terrarium is the coldest room you have (that does not shine directly on it, away from drafts and heating), since in this way it will be easier to control the temperature of the room, just like you need to have an outlet nearby. With this clear, your pet will have no problems.

How to clean a terrarium?

It goes without saying the compelling reasons why you need to have a clean environment for your pet. Reasons such as the hygiene of your reptile or the smell in your home are more than enough for you to decide to get to work regularly. Here we are going to show you step by step how to do a good cleaning.

By the way, before proceeding we must take into account some details, since the ideal is to put on gloves, especially to pick up the pet (depending on the type of animal, it could even defend itself, believing that it is being attacked). Afterwards, we must ensure that the process is carried out in a safe environment, away from noise and drafts.

• We carefully remove the animal , as well as all its accessories and accessories. Let your site remain empty.
• We throw away the dirty substrate.
• Mix soapy water in a clean bucket, gently wiping the surface of the terrarium with a sponge, both outside and inside, without leaving a corner to clean.
• Then rinse with a clean cloth soaked in warm water, applying a disinfectant. In this step, we must let it act for approximately 20 minutes before continuing.
• We rinse with a sponge and water to remove all the disinfectant.
• Finally, we dry the terrarium with paper napkins or a clean cloth. Before leaving everything as it was before it is necessary to let it air for a few minutes.

I am a beginner, where do I start in the world of terrariums?

Entering this world is relatively simple, since it will not cost you many resources to start. You just have to focus on choosing a specific terrarium for your pet, choosing the accessories it will need and the food for its breed. These are the three main pillars you can start with.

As we told you before, it is worth nothing to buy the pet and the glass urn exclusively, since your pet also needs its accessories, containers, food and entertainment. You must be clear that a reptile is not a toy. It is comparable to having another animal, such as a dog or a cat.

Purchase criteria

As for what you should take into account when buying a terrarium, we imagine that at this point you will have a lot of questions, so we proceed to give you small buying advice, detailing them one by one. In this way, you can dispel your doubts, hitting the mark with your new acquisition. And what about your pet? She will be more than delighted.

• Dimensions
• Pet type
• Materials
• Security
• Maintenance
• Ventilation and light

Dimensions
It is one of the main criteria that we must observe, since stress due to little space is usually a common cause of illness or even death. We can choose them from two classes: long and wide, for reptiles and amphibians that crawl or remain on the ground; or tall, specific for species that need to climb.

Another relevant aspect is to think ahead: many species grow very quickly. Especially if you have an iguana or some types of snakes, you should keep this in mind and stay ahead of events. Obviously, the bigger the terrarium, the more money you will have to invest.

Pet type
As we could see, there are very different types of terrariums, depending on the characteristics of the habitat, size and breed of the reptile or amphibian. And it is not a trivial question, since it matters a lot. In truth, if you don’t want to buy the wrong terrarium, whether you have a turtle, a salamander, a gecko, a snake or a scorpion, make sure you get their environment right.

And it is that the type of pet is linked to the style of habitat. You must identify the breed of your animal and classify it within a certain type of environment. A reptile or amphibian accustomed to living in the jungle (even if it has been bred in captivity) will not require the same as a forest or even desert one.

Materials
It is another decisive criterion to observe for the life of your pet. In the buying guide section that we wrote above, we have shown you the types of materials with which terrariums can be built: glass, plastic, mesh or wood. In addition, we make a brief description of each one, detailing a series of benefits and drawbacks.

So you have no excuse to get the most suitable terrarium for your reptile or amphibian. For example, if you have a gecko, you know that they love to hydrate with the dew that adheres to the internal surface of their terrarium, so the logical thing is to buy one made of resistant glass. For this reason, it is essential to adapt the terrarium to the pet.

Security
Owning a reptile or amphibian requires a minimum of security, as does providing a conducive home environment. Maintaining security, both inside and outside the terrarium, will guarantee the health and happiness of your pet. Remember that high levels of stress maintained for a long time are usually among the most frequent reasons for visiting the vet.

To meet this requirement, there is nothing better than buying a home for your pet that has the following characteristics: reliable closure and optimal mobility panels (to be able to feed your animal and that it does not escape). You can also consider purchasing an extra lock, which never hurts.

Likewise, you have to choose a resistant product that can withstand possible blows, both made by your animal and from outside. That is why you need to locate the terrarium in a place that is not passing through your house, the least approximate to the edges of the supports, not very high with respect to the ground and well secured, either against the wall or said supports.

Maintenance
It is something that usually worries, since the terrarium, sooner rather than later, has to be cleaned. Above we have described a step by step so that you know exactly how to proceed. However, this task is easier if you buy a product that is not complicated to clean. What to keep in mind in this regard? The dimensions and the way to open the panels, mainly.

The dimensions, because if you think about it, it is absurd to buy one much larger than your pet if it is going to stay as it is over time. And as for how to open the panels, maintenance can cost more work if they do not open all the way, for example. And there are even some terrariums that can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Ventilation and light
Your pet needs an environment where it can enjoy adequate oxygen exchange. Since she is locked up without being able to go out where she wants, what less than to offer her a comfortable and oxygenated cabin. You should choose a terrarium with optimal ventilation so that the indoor air is renewed. A suitable grid is usually sufficient.

Although your pet should not be located in a place in your house where the sun shines for a long time, it is beneficial that UV rays from the sun also enter through the ventilation slits because reptiles, as we wrote above, are not animals cold-blooded, but obtain heat from external sources, and can be supplemented with appropriate bulbs.

Today they sell a multitude of terrariums equipped with everything you need to get started, especially if you are a beginner: lights, ventilation connections, accessories and accessories. In the event that the light is poor, you will have to purchase a bulb on your own. Fortunately, they are not very expensive, since the idea is not that you will ruin yourself having a pet.

Summary

The world of reptiles has its charm. As we said before, there may be a lot of people who don’t like it, mainly because they don’t understand it. However, whoever is lucky enough to welcome one of these animals into their home will know that they are very lucky. We have written this article to know how to proceed in terms of acquiring a good terrarium.

You already know that, no matter how well you mean, if you don’t provide your animal with a safe place, in addition to good food for reptiles or amphibians, it won’t have much of a chance of staying with you for long. Also, never forget to have the advice of a good veterinarian, who will help you and assist you throughout the breeding process.