Want to build my first Vivarium - Tips?

[bradlyb]

Hi all. I am interested in building my first vivarium and had a few questions.

I have owned a few snakes and frogs in the past and would like a vivarium which could house a snake (possibly a breeding pair). I am a big fan of boa's and Honduran milk snakes. I have a background in horticulture and want an exotic collection of plants and am currently studying ecophysiology, so I would like to construct a complicated ecosystem.

My big question is what can you have in a tank with snakes? How complicated can you make the ecosystem? Can you add frogs, fish and other animals/amphibians?

I definitely want to experiment but do not want to "recreate the wheel". If there is somewhere which I can be pointed too that would be awesome and appreciated.

Thanks!

[Ozymandias]

i think you cant really mix snakes with most animal just because of the chance that the snake will eat it. i also think you might have some problems with some smaller plants because the snake will crush them. not saying it cant be done in fact i know it can be just takes some work. i recently picked up "The Art of Keeping Snakes" by Philippe De Vosjoli pretty good info in there on naturalistic snake set ups.