Wood enclosures are tricky, due to what Paul said of water finding it's way everywhere. This is where you get into the difference between a sealer and a sealant. I would use marine epoxy to seal the inside of the wood where the actual vivarium would be and at the very least, spar urethane on the exterior. Silicone in an excellent sealant, but it will only cover and protect the surface. It won't penetrate the wood like epoxy would. All you would need is 1 tiny defect in the silicone, and it's game on. Water vapor will get behind the silicone and the rot game will begin.

As far as the base, you can seal the bottom with some pond liner for added protection. I have also seen fiberglass mat and poly resin used for this section.

I could really go on and on about this kind of build. I have been gearing up to build a wooden enclosure for years. I have it planned, just haven't decided to actually build it yet. I hope this gives you a glimpse of what you would be in store for. It is by no means cheap to build, as you can imagine. But you would have a really beautiful piece of furniture with life in it


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