u/rjps6

Hey everyone! I have this built-in alcove in my living room (kind of like a niche) and I'd love to turn it into a focal point instead of leaving it empty. And I immediately thought of a vivarium... or maybe a terrarium.

I love plants and animals, and having a little ecosystem inside my home is something that fascinates me. I've seen tons of amazing vivarium photos and videos (I'm attaching an AI-generated image here just to give an idea of the kind of thing I have in mind).

With that said, I have a few questions and would love your honest opinions:

• Is it feasible to build a vivarium into a built-in wall alcove like this? Do you think the space would work well, or does it need special considerations since it's "inside" the wall?
• Is it expensive? I know it can vary a lot, but I'd like a realistic idea of costs (both buying everything ready-made and building it myself).
• I want to build this from scratch myself... is that something someone with no experience can pull off, or does it require a lot of specific technical knowledge?
• If it were up to you, what kind of plants/animals would you recommend for a first project?

Any advice, constructive criticism, or personal experience is very welcome! Thanks in advance!