Devansh Parikh, a zoology graduate of North Carolina State University, is an office management professional at Rakesh Parikh, MD, PLLC, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Away from his office work, Devansh Parikh enjoys reading and constructing various kinds of vivariums.
The term 'vivarium' refers to an enclosure used to house live animals in a semi-natural environment. Vivariums come in all shapes and sizes, from small, in-home enclosures, to larger structures used in commercial settings such as zoos. Two of the most commonly seen vivariums are aquariums and terrariums.
Aquariums are not only the most popular type of vivarium today, but also a perfect example of a typical vivarium design. Aquariums must recreate an animal’s natural environment to the extent that the animal can survive and thrive, such as filling a tank with salt water to facilitate the natural life cycle of saltwater fish and other animals. However, humans routinely decorate aquariums with toys and artificial plants that, of course, would not be found in lakes or oceans.
A terrarium, on the other hand, often resembles an aquarium without water. Common animals kept in terrariums include land crabs, reptiles, and spiders. Some individuals prefer to use terrariums to safely house plants that rely on specific temperatures and other external factors.
Finally, a combination aquarium-terrarium is often referred to as an aqua-terrarium. This type of vivarium is used for animals that require access to both land and water, such as certain types of newts and frogs.
