Hello!

I'm finally in a rental home with a garage and some space to build, so it's time to research and plan! While my herps are all happy where they are at, it is my dream to get everyone in large bioactive vivariums eventually. I have researched pre-built options in depth and if I go that route I will be working with Animal Plastics to get PVC with glass doors built to meet my needs. Not here for other company recommendations at this time.

What I want to discuss is if I could build it better and cheaper. Saving money is a great thing but often a taboo topic in animal keeping so I want to clarify. I do not mean smaller, shorter, colder, weaker, or temporary. I don't even mean dirt cheap. This transition will be tens of thousands and happen very gradually either way.

When reading online, there is a lot to sift through. Most of what I see seems to boil down to: It is not a matter of IF a wooden vivarium will fail, warp, crack, or rot but WHEN. If that is the truth of it, they aren't for me. I am looking to build something that will outlive me if I am going to be building it myself.

The reason I am so confused by this, is that I see people building wooden AQUARIUMS and I am not understanding how humidity can be more destructive than actual gallons of water. I suspect the heat is a factor, but the science is beyond me or a quick Google search so I am here hoping for an expert.

I am unsure of the price difference, so maybe this is all for nothing but hey discussion can be fun too. The following have been my materials theories that might work, and I am hoping someone here can discuss and maybe show something similar they have had running for years now. Ideally 10+ as there is really no debate on wooden vivariums lasting 1-2 years.

1. A wooden vivarium lined with pond seal paint, with fiberglass patches/fabric reinforcing the seams and corners.

This seems to be commonly done for aquariums, but I am unsure how the heating may affect this method.

2. A wooden vivarium lined with thin PVC and silicone at the seams and corners.

A lot of PVC hate I see is for builds using very thin PVC. Most recommend a half inch, which I cannot source for the life of me anywhere near me without paying more than I would for pre-builts of the same thickness. The thinner PVC in theory would still hold humidity just as well with the wood frame outside insulating and doing the work to hold heat in, right? Or am I way off base there?

3. Wooden vivarium sealed with some type of paintable epoxy, possibly with fiberglass mesh to reinforce seams and corners.

I have very limited experience with epoxy, so this is something I have seen people recommend but never actual evidence of it working or failing. I have no experience with the heat tolerance, fume production, or age resistance of epoxy.


For size, species, etc. I am looking for effectively an overkill build that could work for anything with minor modifications (more or less vents, equipment etc.) My goal is a relatively uniform base design that I can scale up or down as needed with the strength to withstand temps from temperate to arid, humidities from 0-100%, soil weights at any size, etc. Something I can scale from a 12"x12"x12" for small plants to a 10'x10'x10' if I so chose (no herps that big yet, but a girl can dream). If it can't do it all for years on end, it just isn't worth the investment of my time, personally. Not knocking it for others, just outlining what I would view as worth doing DIY vs. Paying a professional.

Thank you for your time and consideration!