This article explains how to design your vivarium so that its interior has the dense coverage associated with the rainforest. This asthetically pleasing look has been simplified and explained by James Sharp. We hope this article helps to inspire you.

For the purpose of this article we will assume that your vivarium is already built and sealed.

Step 1.:

First apply 1 heavy coat of light colored base paint. (The light green.) The mini-rollers will help speed this up.

Step 2.:

Pour a small amount of darker paint into the plate. This will be used to create the rainforest effect on the walls.

Step 3.:

Next scrunch up a carrier bag. This will be used in place of a brush to create the illusion of a dense forest.

Step 4.:

Dip the carrier bag into the paint and lightly dab it onto the walls.

Step 5.:

Review your work to ensure the effect is coming out as planned. It should look something like the images below.

Note: Since I didn't want my existing lizards to suffer from solvent based fumes, I used 4-5 heavy coats of water based varnish on the walls, floor and ceiling.

Step 6:

Once the paint has dried, as well as any varnishes you may have used to seal it, it is time to fit the lights, add substrate, decor, branches, etc.

Note: The mesh on the walls of my vivarium was a personal touch.

Step 7:

The final and most rewarding step is to add the occupants.

I hope this article has inspired you to be creative. Once the paint has sealed you could add corkbark, branches, large stones, etc. to further enhance the vivarium. Your imagination and own creativity are your limits.