Customer Reviews

Vivaria Designs (Advanced Vivarium Systems)

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The modern-day reptile and amphibian keeper has long needed a sound book covering the topic of basic vivaria design with a generalist approach. Previous to this, there have been two excellent books written by "the vivarist" himself, Phillipe de Vosjoli, with one book treating desert vivaria design and the other teaching us how to artistically creat a living vivarium for snakes.
Mr. Walls, another expert, has provided the all-around beginning and intermediate herp keeper with the basics of cages, restraint, and several tried-and-true, fundamental vivarium designs covering ever major biome (e.g. desert, rainforest, woodland, etc.) where herps are found on planet earth. This book was written with practically every type of common pet reptile or amphibian in mind.
This is a must have for every pet store owner who wants to display and sell herps, and for every young lad or lass who is lucky enough to have parents who will let them keep and enjoy God's creatures in their home. If you want to become a zoo keeper when you grow up, learn the basics that are taught in this book. If you want the little pet that you brought home to thrive, do the same.
I believe this book is a manifestation of the growing sophistication of the hobby.
I would, however, love to see an author tackle a much more in-depth, large-scale approach to the subject. I'm sure that there are some zoo keepers who could teach us how to build some amazing, detail-oriented, half-a-room-sized vivaria.

I waited so impatiently for this book and was so disappointed once it arrived. I was hoping it would offer good information on designing more advanced vivaria, complete with plants, but all it really offered was the most basic information on creating an adequate cage for your pet. That's fine if you are a beginning herp keeper, but I'm moving on to my second pet and wanted to create something beautiful and natural for him/her to live in and did not find the kind of information I needed in this book.

Also, if you are looking to keep plants in your viv with your pet, don't even bother with this book. I found the author to be very "anti-plant." He writes about decorating rainforest vivaria , "However, sometimes the keeper can't see the forest for the trees. You are trying to keep reptile and amphibians in comfortable surroundings that at least somewhat mimic their natural habitat; you are not just trying to paint a pretty picture with plants. That's a different hobby." (p. 99) Although, I have a greater appreciation of the difficulties of keeping both plants and animals in the same enclosure, I don't think the two are different hobbies. I want an enclosure that will be the centerpiece of my home as well as providing the most naturally comfortable habitat for my pet, and, again, I could not find the info to do that in this book. If your goals are the same as mine "Natural Terrariums" by Philip Purser is a much better source of information for creating all types of terrariums.

A very general book on habitats for herps. More chapters on dry scapes then for amphibians. Easy reading.

This is really not designed to be for specific animals, if you are looking for what should be in your vivarium for a specific animal, this isn't the best source of knowledge, however it is a good source and has a lot of useful information in it just the same.

I really thought this was a great book! It would be great for anyone that wants to start a vivaria. It even had a list of plants to use for a live tank, and alot of books don't have those.

The author does a great job on this book. This book is a nice book to add to your collection, but don't spend the excessive prices they want on this. A used book is worth about $40 and under. Or check the multiple internet sites on how to build a vivarium for your specialized pet. $100+ for a book that contains information you can obtain for free.. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
Peter Keane, Curator of Herpetology

this book breifly covers all reptiles. it is very helpful to know the dos and donts of reptile care.