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Desert Vivariums
The desert terrarium is perhaps the easiest to set up and keep in good condition. In its simplest form, the desert terrarium has two to three inches of fine sand, and a few potted cacti and stones on the background, and perhaps a weathered piece of wood. There is no drainage problem, for the idea is to keep the desert terrarium as dry as possible. What little moisture the potted plants require can be supplied to them directly, at their roots, without dampening the remainder of the cage. The cacti used should be kept in the soil in which they were found or purchased. If they were bought unpotted, a sandy loam mixture with a little slaked lime added makes a good potting medium.
The sand selected should be of a fine grade, not the course type sold for use in aquariums. It should be rinsed repeatedly to remove the dust, then thoroughly dried out before use. This can be accomplished quickly by heating in an oven. The potted cacti should be sunk in the sand to conceal their individual pots, and the sand gently sloped toward the front of the cage. Desert animals will rarely find or use a drinking dish, even if it is sunk level with the surface of the sand. Water should be provided by a spray over the background rocks, or a lettuce leaf may be wetted and placed in the cage from time to time.
A constant dry heat is especially essential for the desert terrarium. An aquarium tank with a screen cover and a light reflector above makes a good desert terrarium. One with better ventilation can be made by fastening screening or hardware cloth to a wooden frame-work. Nearly all desert reptiles require natural sunlight or a substitute for it. Few thrive for any length of time in northern climates, though there are exceptions which do exceedingly well. Many desert reptiles will burrow into the sand at night.