There are many types of reptile vivariums available, however, before you buy any one of them, you will have to consider a number of factors which will help you to decide which of them is better for you and your pet. Vivariums are enclosures which replicate both land and water environment apt for reptiles. Normally, these large cages have a high humidity percentage in them. You will have to decide on the kind of tortoise you are planning to buy, as there are some species which do not thrive well in a high humidity environment.
Normally the vivariums come with inbuilt ventilation systems. They have a tough glass door in the front of the tank while the back is solid, opaque, and comes with cables and access points for easy use. If the enclosure is made up of glass on all sides, your pet may become stressed all the time. This will ultimately affect its health and well-being. At the same time, it is important to remember, glasses on all the sides could pose another danger, as tortoises are known to beat themselves against the glass enclosure, resulting in injury in their bid to get through the glass to the world beyond. Hence it is recommended to make three sides of the vivarium opaque.
Tortoises, when in nature, forage around, hence it is essential to provide enclosures for tortoises that will mimic their natural environment. To mimic the natural environment the vivariums will have to be considerably large in size. A tortoise that is about 12 inches in size will require approximately a vivarium which is 9 feet by 9 feet or more.
Accessories will help you make the enclosure similar to the natural surroundings these animals are used to. Some people recommend the use of natural plants inside the reptile vivariums. For the plants to grow well, you will require different types of substrate. It is important to use the right type of substrate, as different substrates retain different levels of moisture. The drainage factor between different substrates is likewise different. The height of substrate will also have to be considerable, so that the tortoise can burrow inside the substrate and rest, as it does in its natural environment.
The temperature inside the vivarium will depend on the species of tortoise you have for a pet. It will have to correspond to the natural temperature the tortoise needs. Normally you will have to light the tortoise enclosure for 12 hours of the day and the remaining 12 hours keep the light switched off.
Seeking information on setting up vivariums from the person you bought your tortoise will also be of immense help to you.