TERRARIA AND AQUA-TERRARIA 
Various forms of terraria have been devised to fulfill special purposes. 
These may be classed as Dry terraria for reptiles and for plants which 
best thrive in a dry atmosphere; Moist terraria for amphibia and for plants 
which require a moist atmosphere; Heated dry terraria for tropical rep- 
tiles and for plants requiring a warm, dry atmosphere; Heated moist 
terraria for tropical amphibia and for plants which thrive best in a warm 
and moist atmosphere; and the Aqua-terraria which combine many of the 
features of both the terrarium and aquarium. These will be treated of 
separately, as their respective purposes must be kept 1n mind in their con- 
struction, arrangement and maintenance. 
Dry Terraria. The simplest form consists of a box with a glass 
front, the right hand side either a hinged frame or one fitted into grooves, and 
covered with cotton gauze, Brussell’s netting or fine wire screening. ‘The 
left hand side is also a frame covered with netting and having a central 
sliding door. ‘The back is of wood covered with cork slabs; and the top 
a wooden frame fitted with glass, for the observation of the contents and 
with netting, and arranged for ready removal. The bottom is furnished 
with a neatly fitting zinc tray having a 3 or 4 inch raised edge to contain 
soil. The most approved form has a zinc or iron frame with the sides 
hinged to facilitate planting and cleaning. The uprights are tee irons 
with angle iron upper and lower frames. The sides may have either 
wooden or angle iron frames to fasten into the uprights by turn-buckles 
or other simple device. The top may be made with slanting sides either 
as a mansard or gable roof. A shallow water basin for the inmates must 
also be provided either of metal or made in cement of irregular outline 
with a mirror to form the bottom of the pool. 
Morst TerrariaA. The construction of the moist terraria may be 
similar to the above, but control of the ventilation must be kept in mind 
so as to maintain a moist atmosphere necessary to the animals and plants. 
The approved form consists of either a wooden or metal-framed box, two 
or three of the sides of which are of glass in grooved or hinged frames, 
and one of glass with a netting ventilator below, provided with a sliding 
door. The top may be of netting, over which a glass plate is arranged 
to be raised or lowered as required for ventilation. The zinc tray should 
have a small outlet pipe through the sides of the terrarium to permit of 
drainage of the excess of water. As the animals in this form of terrarium 
are usually amphibious a larger water basin is required. 
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