Glass & Acrylic Enclosures

About Our Enclosures:

Choosing An Enclosure

Every vivarium build is different because every builder is different. For the most part, we customize commercially available enclosures to suit our needs, since it's typically the best bang for your buck. Off-the-shelf enclosures have durable frames which help prevent damage, are easy to come by, and have manufacturer warranties. Many can be used "as is", while others may require some customization to suit the needs of a specific animal species. Exo Terra and Zoo Med terrariums are our most-used brands thanks to their consistent quality & low overall cost. They are also exponentially more reliable in build quality and delivery speed than some of the newer brands sold on major marketplaces. Every enclosure mentioned on this page is fully supported through our Bioactive Vivarium Kits. We'll run through each of the types we recommend below!

Working With Exo Terra & Zoo Med Enclosures

The two best selling brands of front opening terrariums are great places to start. Our business manufactures small glass inserts to install on the tops of these enclosures, which help to keep humidity & heat inside while still allowing for an appropriate amount of airflow. We recommend glass inserts for all enclosures which require relative humidity levels over 65%. Heating these enclosures (if required) can be done by mounting under-tank heaters to the side of the enclosures, or small heat lamps on top. (Never above a glass insert, please!) More extreme customizations for the Exo Terra models specifically include building the enclosures backwards, with the background mounted onto the doors of the enclosures so they open from the rear. That's a seriously tough job to do while keeping things looking great, and we only recommend it for especially seasoned & confident builders.

Working With Aquarium Enclosures

Aquariums are the cheapest enclosures to purchase at first, but these generally require more customization than other options. Vertical Conversion Kits are a popular method of making these more useful by tipping them on their side & allowing them to be front-opening. We're a fan of vert kits, however they do have major drawbacks when it comes to adding a heat lamp, heat emitter, or UVB bulb. (All of which are incompatible) Leaving an aquarium in it's standard orientation works well too, however a custom top will be required for long-term success. Standard aquarium glass tops can be used in conjunction with screen tops to keep heat, humidity, and the inhabitants inside the enclosure. Unfortunately the purchase of those two (usually necessary) add-ons often makes an aquarium enclosure slightly more expensive than an equally-sized front opening terrarium. At NEHERP, we typically only use aquariums for custom work where a seamless front is required (see desk-mounted photo above), or for Vertical Conversion Kits. Further customization is always possible, if the builder is up for a challenge!