The Exo Terra Advanced Paludarium is a semi-aquatic habitat — part water, part land — that recreates a rainforest, swamp or stream in a single 90 x 45 x 90 cm enclosure.

What a Paludarium Actually Is

A paludarium holds three zones at once, and that is the point of it:

• The aquatic zone — a stream, pond or pool for turtles, aquatic amphibians, fish or shrimp
• The riparian zone — the margin where land meets water, where semi-aquatic reptiles and amphibians actually spend most of their time
• The terrestrial zone — planted land for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates

Most enclosures force you to pick one. This gives you all three, which is far closer to how these animals live in the wild — and the water section does real work beyond looking good, stabilising temperature and humidity and giving live plants a permanent reservoir.

Why the Extra-High Front Glass

The tall fixed glass at the front is what makes a meaningful water volume possible. Enough depth to support fish, shrimp or aquatic amphibians rather than the shallow puddle a standard terrarium allows.

Key Features

• Extra-deep waterproof bottom for a substantial aquatic section
• Front window ventilation and dual lockable doors for escape-free access
• High-quality stainless steel mesh — good ventilation and UVB penetration
• Secure screen cover locks
• Raised bottom frame, designed to work with the Exo Terra Heat Mat
• Closable inlets for filter, pump and heater cables and tubing
• Root background included — simulates banyan tree roots and adds climbing surface

Specifications

Suitable For

Tree boas and pythons, day geckos, leaf-tailed geckos, tokay geckos, tree frogs, dart frogs, and — in the water section — fish, freshwater shrimp and aquatic amphibians.

Setting Up

• Check what your floor and stand can carry. Water weighs a kilogram per litre, and a paludarium this size with a filled water section, substrate and rockwork is extremely heavy. Use a cabinet rated for it.
• Build a false bottom to support the land section — it also hides filters, pumps and heaters and doubles as biological filtration media.
• Cycle the water section before adding fish or aquatic animals, and carry out regular partial water changes.
• Use dechlorinated water throughout. Amphibian skin is permeable and chlorine is harmful to them.