The word vivarium is Latin for "a place of life" a vivarium is an enclosed, complete, bio-active live ecosystem. Vivariums have been becoming more popular over the past few years, as there are several advantages of building a live vivarium over a traditional terrarium setup. Not only are vivariums more aesthetically pleasing & realistic than standard terrariums, they also require significantly less upkeep, and offer the inhabitants extra hiding, climbing, and breeding spaces within the enclosure. When built properly, upkeep should involve nothing more than cleaning the glass, misting the enclosure, and occasionally trimming plants