From Vision to Reality: Custom Euro Glass Vivariums Built Around Your Needs

Every animal keeper has a vision — a rainforest corner in the living room, a wall of dart frog vivariums, a mossy, mist-filled tank with trickling water, or a minimalist euro vivarium for exotic plants. At RKY Vivariums in Essex, we don’t sell generic tanks. We build custom glass vivariums that bring those visions to life.

This guide explains exactly how we work with you — from the first idea to delivery — covering design, measurements, sealing, misting systems, planting, and everything that makes a euro vivarium function beautifully.

What Makes a Custom Vivarium Different?

Most glass tanks are made to fit shipping pallets. They ignore the fact that dart frogs need perfect humidity, or that fruit flies can escape through a 1mm gap. A custom euro vivarium instead is built for the animal, the owner, and the space it sits in.

• Any size or shape: From 45×45×45 cm cubes to full-wall displays and corner units.
• Perfect sealing: No gaps for fruit flies or springtails to escape.
• Front-opening design: Easy access without disturbing lighting or misting.
• Humidity & airflow balanced: Ventilation strips positioned for your species’ needs.
• Drainage + misting-ready: Bulkheads, pipework and tubing exits hidden neatly.

Step 1: Consultation — Your Vision, Your Space, Your Species

Everything starts with a conversation. You tell us what you want — even if it’s just a vague idea — and we turn that into a realistic, buildable concept. We ask questions like:

• What species will live in the vivarium? Dart frogs, mossy frogs, micro geckos, tree frogs, mantellas or even plant-only displays.
• Where will it sit in your home? Living room feature wall, alcove, bedroom cabinet, office, frog room rack or conservatory.
• Do you want it empty or fully decorated? We can deliver plain glass enclosures or fully planted bioactive builds.
• Misting or manual spraying? Determines tubing access, drainage depth and electrical planning.
• Lighting and accessibility? Do you need cable glands, LED bars, UVB, foggers or hidden wiring?

Some people come to us with sketches and exact measurements — others just say, “I want a rainforest for my dart frogs that fits this wall.” Both are fine. We translate ideas into a plan.

Step 2: Measurements, Sketches & Practical Design

Once we understand your needs, we help refine the design. This includes:

• Confirming available space: Height, width, depth, skirting boards, wall sockets and ventilation impact.
• Working out internal volume: Enough space for background, plants, fogging systems and canopy growth.
• Sketches or 3D drafts (when required): Especially useful for wall units, multi-vivarium racks or awkward alcoves.
• Choosing euro-style front opening: Sliding glass doors or hinged doors depending on space and preference.

By this point, we can normally provide an estimated price range. Once approved, we begin fabrication.

Step 3: Glass Cutting, Euro Tracks & Fruit Fly-Proof Sealing

Every pane is cut to order — no mass-manufactured panels. We use 4mm, 6mm or 8mm toughened glass depending on the height and structural load of the vivarium.

🔧 The Euro Vivarium Build Process:

• Glass cutting & polishing: Clean edges, no sharpness, perfect alignment.
• Aquarium-grade silicone: Industrial silicone rated for permanent water pressure, safe for amphibians.
• Euro aluminium door tracks: Smooth sliding action, no warped plastic runners.
• Ventilation: Front vents, top vents or both, depending on species (dart frogs = low airflow, geckos = more cross-ventilation).
• Fruit fly containment: Tight tolerances, silicone-sealed corners, rubber cable glands — essential for dart frog keepers.

This is why euro vivariums vastly outperform mesh-topped terrariums or aquarium conversions — they’re made for humidity, not evaporation.

Step 4: Drainage, Mist System Preparation & Hardscape Support

Before decorating or delivery, we can prepare the vivarium for advanced systems:

• Drainage layers: Clay balls (LECA), egg crate false bottoms or drilled bulkheads for external drains.
• Misting system holes: Perfectly sized nozzles for MistKing, Monsoon or Ultimyst setups.
• Fogger or ultrasonic mist ports: Sealed cable or tubing entry points.
• Background attachment stability: Reinforced silicone or glass ledges for heavy cork or foam backgrounds.

You can take over from here — or we can move straight to full decoration, planting and bioactive setup if you prefer a complete build.

Step 5: Backgrounds, Decoration & Live Planting (Optional)

Some customers want a blank canvas. Others want a fully formed rainforest when the glass arrives. If you’d rather skip the messy stages of foam, silicone, expanding cork and planting — we can do the hard work for you.

🌿 Background & Hardscape Options

• Natural cork tile backgrounds — flat or 3D, silicone bonded.
• Expanding foam + coco fibre/clay backgrounds — carved, textured and sealed to create ledges and root walls.
• Tree fern panels & rock inserts for naturalistic vertical surfaces.
• Fixed hardscape — cork tubes, branches and stones bonded securely so they never collapse or crush animals.

🌱 Live Planted Bioactive Setup (Optional Upgrade)

We can fully plant your vivarium so it’s ready to cycle before any animals go in:

• ABG substrate or custom tropical mix
• Drainage layer + mesh + leaf litter
• Bromeliads, pothos, philodendron, mosses, trailing ficus and more
• Springtails and isopods (if required, customer adds animals later)

This option is particularly popular with dart frog keepers who want instant results without spending weeks building and silicone-coating foam in their living room. You literally add the frogs when stable.

Step 6: Delivery, Installation & UK Coverage

We’re based in Essex, but our glass vivariums and euro vivariums are delivered across the UK. We offer:

• Collection — ideal for smaller tanks or local customers.
• Private courier delivery — we personally deliver or use trusted glass specialists, fully padded and insured.
• Full installation — we place the vivarium in position, level it, connect misting systems or backgrounds if arranged.

If you’re unsure whether we can reach you — just ask. Contact us here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you only build glass vivariums for dart frogs?

No. We build for dart frogs, mossy frogs, geckos, mantellas, tree frogs, newts and even high-humidity plant rooms or bioactive terrariums.

Can you make a vivarium to an exact size?

Yes — as long as it is structurally safe in glass. We regularly build alcove-fitting tanks, wall displays, corner-shaped units and rack systems.

Can you add live plants, backgrounds and misting systems?

Yes. You can choose just the glass vivarium, or ask us to add drainage, foam backgrounds, hardscape, planting and misting systems.

Is everything fly-proof for dart frogs?

Yes — we use tight door tolerances, sealed cable entries and silicone joints so fruit flies and springtails stay inside.

How do I get a price or place an order?

Just tell us your measurements or idea through our contact page and we’ll provide a quote.

Ready to Turn Your Vivarium Idea Into Reality?

If you want a glass vivarium or euro vivarium that fits perfectly, holds humidity, doesn’t leak fruit flies, and can include backgrounds, misting and bioactive planting — we can make it happen. Whether you’re planning a dart frog display, a living room rainforest, or an entire rack system for breeding, we build around your needs, not generic dimensions.

📩 Click here to contact RKY Vivariums and request your custom build