We have seen them in zoos. They are a combination of terrariums, with the rain forest on top and an aquarium, with the swamp right below: Paludariums.
What is a Paludarium?
Aquarium + Terrarium = Aqua-Terrarium or Paludarium (Latin: Palus = Swamp), a vivarium that consists both of land and water features.
How to Start a Paludarium
There are terrarium starter kits you can find to make your own paludarium aquarium. The most basic setup of a paludarium would consist of three main areas:
Canopy - the topmost area of a paludarium, formed from the planted flora that grows from the land and into the top part of the enclosure. It can consist of branches or rocks, providing shade and security for the inhabitants.
Land - The terrestrial feature of the paludarium which is separated from the water by a dry piece of hardscape. It can consist of different materials such as rocks, soil, driftwood, even sand.
Water - An essential part of the thriving ecosystem of a paludarium, providing living space for aquatic inhabitants but also the condensation required to hydrate the rest of the areas of the tank.
What to Consider When Looking for a Paludarium Tank
• the layout you want to have
• the number of inhabitants
• if you want a waterfall or not
What Can You Put in a Paludarium?
Plants - terrestrial plants (rooted in a dry enough place above water), submersed plants (plants that are fully submerged underwater), and emersed plants (plants rooted underwater but sprout stems and leaves above water).
Animals - frogs, salamanders, newts, fish, turtles, or any other creature that can benefit from land and water.
Bokkusu Kei is a leading provider of usb desktop aquariums, terrarium starter kits, paludariums, and more. Visit their website to shop and discover ideas on how you can start one.
