Bring land and water together in a miniature indoor landscape with the Exo Terra Pro Paludarium X-Small X-Tall. Measuring 30 x 30 x 60cm, this glass paludarium offers a compact footprint with height for upright planting above a small water feature. It is an inviting choice for a carefully composed garden of tropical foliage, moss and waterside plants, where every leaf and branch becomes part of the scene.
A small waterside garden with vertical interest
A paludarium combines a land area with a water section, allowing you to explore planting around the boundary between the two. Here, a modest pool at the front and a raised planted bank behind it could create a simple, attractive layout. Add a slender piece of wood to carry the eye upwards.
Keep the design light rather than filling the enclosure with bulky decoration. Its 30cm square footprint makes restraint worthwhile: allow space for roots, new leaves and maintenance access. The stated height includes the base and frame, so your usable planting height will depend on the finished arrangement. A clear foreground also gives you somewhere to work when lifting out fallen leaves or adjusting a plant.
Choose plants to suit each level
Consider a small Anubias barteri var. nana attached to wood or stone in the water section. Keep its rhizome, the creeping stem from which roots and leaves grow, uncovered. Above the waterline, a compact Fittonia can provide colourful leaf veins in a separate pocket of moist but well-drained growing medium.
Small patches of suitable terrarium moss can soften the transition between planting and decoration. Choose plants for their mature size and individual requirements, not simply because they are sold in small pots. Ordinary foliage plants should not be treated as underwater plants.
Useful access and moisture management
The single front-opening door makes trimming and planting easier, while the removable, lockable stainless steel mesh top provides access from above. A three-position ventilation strip lets you adjust airflow. Rear cable and tubing inlets help organise equipment, and the enclosure is prepared for an Exo Terra Monsoon misting system, which is not included.
Its extra-deep lower basin and closable bottom drain support a land-and-water layout and simplify water removal. Fit the drainage assembly and complete the manufacturer's leak test before planting. The base is only watertight once the drain and its associated fittings are correctly installed.
Plan a display you can care for
Keep the land planting above standing water, with drainage that prevents its growing medium becoming permanently saturated. Leave the drain accessible and plan where any pump or filter will sit before adding decoration. A moving-water feature needs appropriate equipment; the drain itself does not circulate or filter water.
Provide lighting suited to the plants, checking that it reaches the lower planting as well as the top. Keep the enclosure away from strong direct sun. This is a ventilated paludarium, not a sealed bottle garden, so check moisture and the water level regularly rather than expecting a maintenance-free ecosystem.
The X-Small X-Tall makes a rewarding plant-only project. Suitable animal use is also possible, but must be assessed separately against the species' adult size, space needs and care requirements.
Dimensions: 30cm wide x 30cm deep x 60cm high.
Manufacturer code: PT4402.
