Mary Allen
A desert terrarium is exactly the right choice for many reptiles. Because in the wild they often live in the desert and need high temperatures as well as sand and stones. Read here what there is to consider when designing and what equipment you need for maintenance.
The terrarium facility
If you have decided to have a new animal roommate move in with you, then the choice of a suitable terrarium is of course the most important thing. If you have decided on a desert terrarium, you should primarily use models made of glass. These are particularly robust and neither heat nor cold can get inside. When you have chosen the perfect terrarium for you and your reptile, the nice part comes – setting it up!
A desert landscape is usually barren, there is not much to be found in it. In order to make the desert terrarium as natural as possible, various stones and caves are particularly suitable, where the residents can hide and relax. Some plants such as real or artificial cacti should of course not be missing. Plants not only enhance the look of the terrarium but also make it more interesting for reptiles. If you choose real cacti, please make sure that these do not have spines that are too sharp, otherwise, your animals could injure themselves. Artificial plants are particularly recommended for animals that like to knock over the decoration – so the plants have a longer lifespan. What you should definitely not do without, however, is a water bowl. Ideally, choose a stone bowl. This integrates perfectly into the appearance of your desert terrarium and enhances the desert feeling. Not absolutely necessary, but another visual highlight, is a back wall in a stone or desert look.
Desert terrarium with a suitable substrate
Depending on which animal species you want to move in, you should put a suitable substrate in your desert terrarium. Most animals are perfectly happy with normal sand, but other animal species – such as leopard geckos – prefer a finer or loamy surface. Find out about your dream animal well in advance so that you can make it as comfortable as possible to get used to its new home.
It all depends on the climate
Of course, what cannot be missing in a small desert is a hot, dry climate. During the day, the temperature in a real desert can reach up to 60 ° C. To ensure the perfect climate for your new roommate, you should above all install heat lamps in the terrarium. At night, however, the temperatures in a desert quickly drop to a cool 15 ° C. You should definitely pay attention to these temperature fluctuations. The best way to do this is with a thermostat, which you can use to precisely set and check different temperatures. To make the transition from night to day easier for the residents, you can spray the ground and plants with a little water in the morning – this is a wonderful way to feel the morning dew, which your darlings will surely enjoy. When the temperature rises, it dries up quickly but offers the residents a little refreshment.
Feel good with the right technology
Good technical equipment is essential for a comfortable life in the desert terrarium. In specialist shops, you can get numerous products that make the life of your new resident even more pleasant. The most important technology is probably the heating technology such as heating mats, heating stones, or heating spots. Even if the temperatures in a desert terrarium are generally high, many reptiles love places where they can get additional warmth. For this, you can of course set up special UV spots that simulate pleasant daylight. Fluorescent tubes are particularly suitable for optimally illuminating your desert terrarium. These are often attached to the lid of the terrarium and do not take up unnecessary space.
At the very top of the menu – as with almost all reptiles – are all kinds of insects. Whether crickets, crickets, mealworms, or grasshoppers – all of them are tasty daily snacks. To support the absorption of nutrients, you can pollinate the feed animals with special vitamin preparations. Another important point in the diet is an adequate supply of calcium. For this, you can provide your animals with their own bowl with sepia bowls. Every now and then, a bowl of various complementary feeds won’t do any harm. Depending on which reptile has moved into your terrarium, you can also serve fresh grass or fruit once or twice a week. However, you shouldn’t take it too far with this, as it is less common in nature that the animals find fruit or grass in the desert.
All around perfect
You see: In order to be able to set up an all-around perfect desert terrarium, you should of course know which reptile should move in with you and what special needs it has. Each species of animal needs different requirements for a healthy and happy life and so the temperature, climate, or furnishings can quickly deviate from one another. However, if you observe all the points mentioned and set up your desert terrarium with a lot of knowledge and love, you can transform the desert terrarium into a great little oasis of well-being for your animal roommate.