Reptile vivariums
A vivarium is more than a container — its size, ventilation, material and how well it holds heat and humidity all need to match the specific species you are keeping, and getting any one of those wrong can make an otherwise attractive enclosure genuinely unsuitable. Research the needs of your particular species before choosing a vivarium, rather than choosing on looks or price alone.
Getting the size right
Enclosure size needs vary hugely by species, and a vivarium that looks generously sized for a small juvenile reptile may be too small once that animal reaches its adult size. Research the adult size and recommended minimum enclosure dimensions for your specific species before buying, rather than sizing for the animal you have today.
Bigger is not automatically better either — some species, particularly certain juveniles, can struggle to thermoregulate or feel secure in an enclosure that is oversized relative to their needs. Match the vivarium to species-specific guidance rather than simply buying the largest one available, and expect to upgrade as a growing animal reaches its adult size rather than trying to buy for the future in one purchase.
Material and ventilation
Wooden vivariums tend to retain heat well and suit species needing a warm, relatively low-humidity environment, while glass or PVC enclosures are often better suited to species needing higher humidity, since they hold moisture more effectively and are easier to clean thoroughly.
Ventilation needs to match the species too — desert species generally need different airflow than tropical or humid-environment species, and getting this wrong can lead to an enclosure that is too damp, too dry, or that fails to hold a stable temperature gradient properly. Front-opening doors are worth considering too, since they make daily handling and cleaning easier without disturbing a carefully set-up heat and humidity gradient the way a top-opening lid can.
Setting it up properly
Beyond the vivarium itself, most setups need appropriate heating with a thermostat, suitable lighting including UVB for many species, a substrate appropriate to the species' natural environment, and hides that let the animal feel secure at both the warm and cool ends of the enclosure.
Set up and test the full heating and lighting setup, including checking actual temperatures at different points in the enclosure, before introducing an animal to a new vivarium. A vivarium that looks right is not the same as one that is holding the correct temperatures and humidity for the species living in it, and running the setup empty for several days first is a sensible way to catch a heating or humidity problem before it affects an animal.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Hagen Exo Terra Daylight Basking Spot
A broad-spectrum daylight basking bulb, providing heat and light for a terrarium
From£8.39
Komodo Tortoise Food Salad Mix
A complete holistic tortoise diet flavoured to taste like fresh salad
£7.29
Monkfield Mouse, Fluff
25 frozen Fluff-stage mice (3-5g each) for reptiles, from a DEFRA-licensed maker
£14.99
Tetra Reptomin Sticks
Complete Tetra ReptoMin dry sticks for water turtles, with calcium and phosphorus
£4.98
Tetra ReptoMin
Floating stick food for water turtles, with 39% protein and added calcium for shell growth
£9.06
Supa Turtle Food Super
A freeze-dried shrimp and tubifex food for turtles, alongside fresh food
From£5.99
Komodo Tortoise Food Dandelion
A complete holistic tortoise diet in dandelion flavour, high in fibre
From£7.29
Komodo Tortoise Food Fruit Flower Flavour
A fruit and flower flavoured tortoise diet, high in fibre with a calcium-forward mineral ratio
From£7.29
Komodo Aspen Bed Terrain
A 6-litre aspen bedding for snakes, built to hold its shape when burrowed into
£6.79
Common questions
- What size vivarium do I need for a reptile?
- This depends entirely on the species and its adult size, so research species-specific minimum enclosure guidance before buying rather than sizing for a juvenile animal. Many reptiles need considerably more space as adults than they do when first bought.
- Should I choose a wooden or glass vivarium?
- It depends on your species' needs. Wooden vivariums generally hold heat well and suit lower-humidity species, while glass or PVC enclosures often manage higher humidity better and are easier to clean thoroughly. Match the material to what your species actually needs.
- Do all reptiles need UVB lighting in their vivarium?
- Many species do, though requirements vary. Check the specific lighting needs for your species rather than assuming one lighting setup suits every reptile, since getting UVB provision wrong is a common and significant welfare issue.
- Can a vivarium be too big for a reptile?
- For some species, particularly certain juveniles, yes — an oversized enclosure can make it harder for the animal to thermoregulate properly or feel secure. Follow species-specific sizing guidance rather than assuming bigger is always better.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.