The World of Vivarium & Terrarium .. ..
Terrarium or Aquarium; What's the difference?
The Terrarium :
However, when is an aquarium, not an aquarium? With many an "aquarium" tank having been put into use to house non-aquatic pets - especially in the early days of reptile keeping where specialist equipment was not available - there's an obvious source of confusion and the answer is, of course, when it's a terrarium!
Interestingly, although today the word "terrarium" is widely understood to describe a home for terrestrial animals rather than plants, this use is a fairly modern one. The first terrarium was invented back in 1827 by Nathaniel Ward, a London doctor and amateur botanist, to house his fern collection safely away from the growing levels of pollution being generated by the local industries of the day. His work led to the development of "Wardian Cases" which were used in large numbers by explorers to contain the exotic plants they had collected on the voyage back to Britain.
For pets such as land crabs, many newts and various kinds of frogs which need access to areas of both land and water, a hybrid form of tank exists - the aqua-terrarium. The derivation of this composite word is blindingly obvious!
the tradational terrariums which reflect the small world for land plants
So What's a Vivarium?
Any container which makes a home for your pet is a vivarium - from the Latin "vivere", to live - which means that technically you could possibly even argue that a rabbit hutch qualifies, though it's not something you're ever likely to hear being said! From this it's pretty clear that every aquarium - as well as every terrarium and aqua-terrarium - is a vivarium, but not every vivarium is an aquarium.
The term can be particularly useful to draw a distinction between when you are speaking generally about all kinds of exotic animals as "vivarium pets" rather than making a more specific point about either aquatic or terrestrial ones.
Photos for beautiful tropical vivariums which is widely spread among the hobbyists all over the world
Does It Matter?
Today there is such a wonderful array of tanks and vivaria (or vivariums, if you prefer) gracing the average exotic pet shop that it's hard to imagine the time when the only choice you had was how big an "aquarium" to buy. The days of carrying your tank home and then having to set about making your own escape-proof lid are not so very long ago - so it's pretty clear that for many kinds of animals, it really doesn't matter if you use an "aquarium" without water to house them - and least of all from their point of view.
However, there are times when a specialist vivarium comes into its own and many of the "high-end" units are remarkable pieces of furniture in their own right, making them ideal not only as homes for your pets, but also as display pieces and talking points in your living room.
Opting for one of these Rolls-Royces of vivarium design buys you an impressive level of convenience and a quality of finish. You can certainly house your animal perfectly adequately for considerably less cost - but then buying one of these was always going to be more for the pet-keeper than the pet!
The biggest difference between a terrarium and an aquarium is the presence of water, and the types of plants and animals that commonly inhabit each also tend to be quite different. In general, aquariums are filled completely with water. This water can be fresh, salty, or brackish depending on the contents, but the contents all have an important thing in common: they are capable of existing under water. Fish are popular choices, as are sea snails and certain corals and anemones. Terrariums, on the other hand, may include some water features, but are generally not actually filled with water. These tend to be enclosed habitats for plants and may also be homes for certain land-based creatures, including some types of reptiles, insects, or amphibians. In most cases there are a number of similarities between the two types of habitat when it comes to size and placement, and both can be modified to fit within a lot of different environments. The plants and animals in each aren’t usually interchangeable, though.
Basic Concept:
Both terrariums and aquariums serve a similar purpose, namely to act as microcosms of the natural world. In this setting a “microcosm” is essentially a miniature version. The enclosed space is a recreation of a natural setting, usually complete with plants, animals, and terrain elements like rocks, dirt, or sand. In general both are made up of glass or clear plastic, which allows people on the outside to closely observe the workings of the environment that’s been contained.
Most feature plants, but this isn’t essential, particularly where aquariums are concerned. Both also tend to be most common in individual homes among amateur botanists and more casual pet owners, but again this isn’t exclusive and both sorts of habitats are also used in more serious research endeavors. In these respects the two types of space have a lot in common. The most profound difference comes in terms of habitats studied or observed, with aquariums capturing instances of undersea or underwater life while terrariums recreate earth-based scenes.
History:
There is some evidence suggesting that terrariums came first, at least when it comes to popularity within the scientific community. Dr. Nathaniel Ward, an English physician and amateur botanist, is credited with creating the first terrarium in the early 1800s, basically by accident. As the story goes, he had been out gathering cocoons, and he placed them in a covered glass jar for storage. After a few days he noticed that there were tiny plants growing in the jar next to the cocoons. Enthralled by what he saw, he began to construct terrariums to study ecosystems in miniature.
Differences in Habitat:
The primary and most significant difference between a terrarium and aquarium is water. A standard terrarium focuses on some element of the natural, land-based habitat just as Dr. Ward’s did. Some are based wholly on plant life, but they can also feature things like frogs, lizards, or insects. The main idea is to create a small little world complete with all elements necessary to sustain life.
Aquariums are almost always filled with water, and the creatures that live in these settings are those that are typically considered “aquatic.” Fish are common additions, as are certain corals; things like sea spiders and eels can also be present. Aquariums help people view and observe sections of life that would otherwise happen out of sight beneath the surface of lakes, reservoirs, and oceans.
Apet lizard would live in a terrarium , as they are land - based animals
Terrariums typically contain soil , rocks , wood and plants
An Aquarium
Ecosystem Possibilities :
It is possible to recreate almost any ecosystem between these two models, though some of the world’s harsher climates and conditions might take more care to closely replicate. Things like temperature sensors, salinity meters, and air quality gauges can help owners keep the internal environments in either setting closely controlled. Even habitats that are designed to be more or less recreational need occasional monitoring and cleaning to keep them healthy.
Soothing Effects:
Studies have shown that a terrarium and aquarium both evoke a sense of peace in their surroundings. Human heart rates have been measured to noticeably decrease in a room that has an aquarium, for instance, which is often one of the reasons why doctors’ offices and medical clinics feature these sorts of attractions. Additionally, the process of creating a terrarium and setting miniature pieces into play is said to have soothing effects on the creator.
A Little History of Terrariums :
Vivarium & Terrarium Components ..
Vivarium & Terrarium Construction ..
Vivarium & Terrarium Maintenance ..
Vivarium & Terrarium Photo Gallery ..
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As early as 500 BC, plants were kept under bell-shaped glass jars for exhibit. But the terrarium in its modern form was invented by accident in 1827 by Nathaniel Ward, a London doctor.
Indoor Wardian Case (from Ward's 1852 book)
The fern case was discovered accidentally in 1827 by Dr. Nathaniel Ward, a London physician with a passion for botany. Dr. Ward built a fern rockery in his backyard, but the ferns kept dying, poisoned by the fumes from the city's factories. Ward was also studying moths and caterpillars and, while experimenting with a cocoon in a covered jar for observation, he noticed that several plants had grown in the bit of soil at the bottom of the jar. Among the bottled plants was a fern and, unlike the ferns in his garden, it looked healthy; Dr. Ward concluded that plants could flourish in London if they could be protected from the city's polluted air. Ward pursued his discovery in miniature greenhouses, which he named fern cases, and which are now known as Wardian cases or terrariums.
For the first time, horticulturists were able to bring back sensitive tropical plants in Wardian cases well-protected from salt air and changing climatic conditions during the long sea voyage. Ward's terrariums also became popular for growing the plants, and it became, in various guises, almost a domestic necessity. The poor had to content themselves with inexpensive rudimentary versions, but there were no limits for the rich. Wardian cases grew into miniature Taj Mahals and Brighton Pavilions, perfect vehicles for the contemporary love of elaborate ornamentation as well as living plants. The Wardian case was fashionable in the United States in the early 1860s, and hardly a self-respecting Victorian household was without one.
Today's "Wardian Cases", or Terrariums, as we now call them, no longer have the need to keep our plants away from cold, and fouled air, but serve quite another purpose. With the dry air of our modern air conditioned, and forced air heated homes, many plants have difficulty thriving without a great deal of attention. Terrariums allow us to keep plants easily in our homes in attractive, decorative containers, while creating an environment which requires very little care. Closed terrariums, happy in their humidity filled surroundings, actually thrive on neglect.
A small historic terrarium with handel
Big in a greenhouse shape terrarium