Sacramento News & Review
Support Local Independent Journalism Sign up for our newsletter!
  • News
    • Crime Beat
    • COVID-19
    • police reform
  • Voices
    • Greenlight
    • Fifteen Minutes
    • Essay
    • Ask Joey
    • Ask 420
  • Arts+Culture
    • Dish
    • Music
    • Home & Garden
    • Rebooting the Arts
  • Calendar
  • Solving Sacramento
    • Rebooting the Arts
    • Housing
    • ABOUT SOLVING SACRAMENTO
  • Newsletter
  • Become a supporter
  • More…
    • Local Dining
    • SN&R Archive
    • Best of Sac
    • SAMMIES
    • Sponsored Content
    • Independent Journalism Fund
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Contact Us
Hot Topics
  • March 9, 2021 | In light of recent deaths, Sacramento City Hall faces reckoning on warming centers
  • March 27, 2023 | Legendary rockers Blue Öyster Cult to make rare appearance at The Venue in Thunder Valley Casino on April 1
  • March 27, 2023 | Sacramento’s Celebration Arts receives $700,000 state grant
  • March 24, 2023 | ‘Uprooted’ exhibit opens in Sacramento, commemorating the darkest moment – and the tale of survival – for Californians of Japanese descent
  • March 24, 2023 | California’s drought is not over
  • March 23, 2023 | Sacramento’s Miller Park becomes a safe ground for those experiencing homelessness
Spotlight

Vivariums add animals to jungles under glass

Man plants houseplants into large tank.Exotic Plants store manager Maxon Fackert adds plants to a vivarium. Photo by Anne Stokes

By: Debbie Arrington March 1, 2022

Create a perfect habitat for reptiles, frogs and plants; Exotic Plants hosts two events

By Debbie Arrington

Consider this an indoor jungle that’s more than a home for plants. Critters like it, too.

Vivariums take terrarium gardening to the next level. They simulate the habitat of reptiles or other animals, usually encased by glass, Plexiglas or clear acrylic. It’s sort of like an aquarium for snakes, lizards, turtles, toads or frogs, surrounded by plants instead of water.

“Snakes are meat eaters, not plant eaters; they’re not going to nibble (on the plants),” explains Exotic Plants store manager Maxon Fackert, who has his own vivarium. “So your plant choice is a lot wider.”

Exotic Plants will host two vivarium events: A free vivarium basics class March 11 and a build-your-own vivarium workshop March 26. The store also sells ready-made vivariums packed with plants (no animals included). (For details, cost or reservations, contact the store at 916-922-4769.)

“At our free class, you’ll learn how to make your own vivarium – soil, plants, etc.,” says Fackert, who will teach both events. “It will be good for any reptile or just as a terrarium. The build-your-own workshop will include the tank, soil and plants; you’ll actually make one.”

Vivariums are particularly popular with reptile owners. A moisture-loving pet snake may be happier in its own tropical habitat. A vivarium is certainly more fun to look at than a plain tank or enclosure.

A large vivarium greets visitors to Exotic Plants’ store on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento. Filled with lush greenery, the store’s vivarium is home to a large albino boa who is easy to spot in his private jungle.

At home, Fackert keeps frogs in his vivarium. A heat mat under the tank keeps the atmosphere inside the vivarium warm and jungle-like for the little amphibians; frogs must have high humidity to keep their skin moist.

Putting together a vivarium is similar to creating a terrarium. What’s the difference? Terrariums are designed to raise plants; vivariums focus on the animals and their habitat.

Like a terrarium, a vivarium has its own (almost) enclosed ecosystem with just about everything inside to support its animal and plant life (except the animal’s food source).

The layers at the base of the vivarium act as water filters as the plants inside this mini-environment filter the air.

Fackert suggests starting with a 10-gallon tank such as a typical aquarium. The bottom and sides must be watertight.

At the bottom, he puts down a layer of LECA, lightweight expanded clay aggregate. LECA is made up of little baked clay balls that expand when wet. As a bottom layer, it creates ideal drainage for both vivariums and terrariums.

Over that LECA base, Fackerts adds a layer of pumice. This volcanic rock absorbs excess water, so plant roots don’t rot. It also improves aeration.

Next comes a layer of sphagnum moss, which filters water while also retaining moisture; great for plants as well as animals inside the vivarium. Reptiles in particular love sphagnum moss; it make a soft place to burrow or hide, and helps them shed their skin.

Finally, Fackert tops the moss with a layer of terrarium soil mix: Coir, orchid bark and peat moss. This mix also retains moisture and encourages the vivarium’s plants to put down strong roots.

As for what to plant, it depends on who is going to live inside the vivarium.

“We stock a lot of great companion plants for reptiles and vivariums,” Fackert notes.

Those include a wide range of Aroids such as Pothos, Philodendrons, Alocasias and Anthuriums. Also handsome in a vivarium are prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) or colorful rex begonias. Plants generally are grouped by light and water needs as well as size; they need to stay compact to fit into their little world.

Rocks, wood or other accents can be added to create extra interest. A lid maintains moisture – and keeps the animal life inside.

The result is an ultra easy-care habitat for both plants and pets. The plants, at least, almost take care of themselves.

“You only need to add water once a month,” says Fackert. “It’s really self-sustaining.”

Exotic Plants is located at 1525 Fulton Ave., Sacramento. Phone 916-922-4769 or visit www.exoticplantsltd.com.

TOPICS:exotic plantsfrogsgardeninghouseplantsreptilessacramentovivarium

Our content is free, but not free to produce

If you value our local news, arts and entertainment coverage, become an SN&R supporter with a one-time or recurring donation. Help us keep our reporters at work, bringing you the stories that need to be told.

Become a supporter
Newsletter

Stay Updated

For the latest local news, arts and entertainment, sign up for our newsletter.
We'll tell you the story behind the story.

    • Previous post
    • Next post

    About the Sponsor

    Exotic Plants
    A local, family owned business like no other in Sacramento. For more than 45 years we have brought the largest variety of premium indoor plants to the Sacramento metropolitan area. Our inventory changes constantly, but you’ll always find large green palms, ficus and fiddle leaf figs, colorful foliage plants such as crotons and bromeliads and blooming plants, including the largest variety of vibrant orchids in our community. Our plants, containers and other decor are often imported from places such as Hawaii and even Bali. Stop by our shop to experience exotic beauty in full effect! https://www.exoticplantsltd.com/

    Related Articles

    News, Voices

    Editor’s note: Does our strong mayor want more power?


    Dish

    Review: Treat yourself


    Voices

    Editor’s note: Reimagining Sacramento’s waterfront


    COVID-19, Home & Garden

    Garden tour goes virtual


    Meet the sponsors

    • Berkeley Strategy Advisors
      Berkeley Strategy Advisors

      published 5 articles

    • BRIDGE Housing
      BRIDGE Housing

      published 3 articles

    • California Workforce Association
      California Workforce Association

      published 13 articles

    • City of Roseville
      City of Roseville

      published 4 articles

    • Del Paso Boulevard Partnership
      Del Paso Boulevard Partnership

      published 28 articles

    • Exotic Plants
      Exotic Plants

      published 6 articles

    • Joshua's House Hospice
      Joshua's House Hospice

      published 1 article

    • Midtown
      Midtown

      published 11 articles

    • N&R Publications
      N&R Publications

      published 5 articles

    • Northern California Research
      Northern California Research

      published 10 articles

    • Sacramento County Department of Child Support Services
      Sacramento County Department of Child Support Services

      published 5 articles

    • Sacramento County In-Home Supportive Services
      Sacramento County In-Home Supportive Services

      published 1 article

    • Sacramento Regional Transit District
      Sacramento Regional Transit District

      published 28 articles

    • SEIU
      SEIU

      published 30 articles

    • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
      Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

      published 1 article

    • The California Endowment
      The California Endowment

      published 65 articles

    • Volunteers of America
      Volunteers of America

      published 8 articles

    • Workforce Development Board of Solano County
      Workforce Development Board of Solano County

      published 4 articles

    Our Sponsors

    Berkeley Strategy Advisors BRIDGE Housing California Workforce Association City of Roseville Del Paso Boulevard Partnership Exotic Plants Joshua's House Hospice Midtown N&R Publications Northern California Research Sacramento County Department of Child Support Services Sacramento County In-Home Supportive Services Sacramento Regional Transit District SEIU Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. The California Endowment Volunteers of America Workforce Development Board of Solano County

    Categories

    Tags

    2020 affordable housing art astrology Black Lives Matter board of supervisors budget California cannabis City Council city hall climate change coronavirus COVID-19 COVID-19 in Sacramento Donald Trump election food gardening gavin newsom George Floyd homeless homelessness horoscopes jobs Joe Biden letters Mayor Darrell Steinberg music november election pandemic police reform president donald trump presidential election protests public health sacramento sacramento county Sacramento police Sacramento Regional Transit District SacRT SEIU Stephon Clark strong mayor taxes
    Newsletter

    Stay Updated

    For the latest local news, arts and entertainment, sign up for our newsletter.
    We'll tell you the story behind the story.

      Recent Posts
      • Legendary rockers Blue Öyster Cult to make rare appearance at The Venue in Thunder Valley Casino on April 1
      • Sacramento’s Celebration Arts receives $700,000 state grant
      • ‘Uprooted’ exhibit opens in Sacramento, commemorating the darkest moment – and the tale of survival – for Californians of Japanese descent
      • California’s drought is not over
      • Sacramento’s Miller Park becomes a safe ground for those experiencing homelessness
      Links
      • Newsletter Signup
      • Follow us on Twitter
      • Find us on Facebook
      • SN&R Archives
      • Best of Sac
      • SAMMIES
      • RSS
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Service
      • Contact Us
      Become a supporter
      Categories
      • 2020 election (86)
      • Arts & Culture (43)
      • Arts+Culture (416)
      • Ask Joey (1,017)
      • Behind the Issues (1)
      • Cannabis (39)
      • COVID-19 (312)
      • Crime Beat (101)
      • Dish (74)
      • Food (12)
      • Greenlight (492)
      • Home & Garden (77)
      • Housing (47)
      • Music (66)
      • News (1,160)
      • Rebooting the Arts (33)
      • Solving Sacramento (47)
      • Stage (8)
      • The arts (4)
      • Voices (477)

      © 2019+ Sacramento News & Review