Rootcave Planters | Aquarium, Vivarium and Terrarium Decor

Ready to use, install or paint. Your piece is 3D printed in your chosen filament colour and supplied unpainted. Enjoy it as it is or paint it to create your own finish.

A decorative and functional root structure for terrariums and aquariums. Several strong, gnarled root arms with fine, lifelike grain make it look like aged wood.

Inside is a spacious cave with round entrances, a good hiding spot for reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp and snails, and small fish. The top has several hollows, like natural depressions in old root wood, for moss, epiphytes, small terrarium plants, semi-aquatic plants, aerial roots or seedlings. As the plants grow, they blend in with the root.

At a glance

• Sizes: two sizes, each with or without drainage holes, see below.
• Material: PETG, made for aquariums and terrariums. Resists water, humidity and heat lamps.
• Floats: Printed PETG pieces can float because they contain air. For aquarium use, secure the base with aquarium-safe silicone or a suitable aquarium adhesive as described under “Good to know”.
• Safety: PETG is deemed safe for plants, fish, insects, reptiles and animals.
• Finish: unpainted, in the colour of your choice.
• Made to order: ships within 7 business days.
• Free shipping: free delivery to Canada, the US and select European countries. Duties and import fees to the US are prepaid by us.

Sizes

Dimensions are width x height x depth.

• Size 1: 14 x 6.3 x 14 cm (5.5 x 2.5 x 5.5 in)
• Size 2: 22.9 x 10.8 x 22.9 cm (9.0 x 4.3 x 9.0 in)

Need a different size? We can scale it up to 31.8 cm (12.5 in). Contact us for a quote.

Details

• With holes: the planting hollows have drainage holes so excess water drains away. Best for humid to wet terrariums, paludariums and plants that must not get waterlogged.
• Without holes: water stays in the hollows longer. Best for aquariums, moss that should stay moist, and irrigation systems that deliberately hold water.

Where it works

Tropical, forest or desert terrariums (depending on planting), freshwater and nano aquariums, shrimp and betta tanks, vivariums, paludariums and rainforest tanks, reptile, amphibian and invertebrate enclosures, naturalistic builds, and tabletop gaming, D&D and wargaming scenery.

Colours

First choose a finish (Basic, Matte, Marble, Sparkly/Galaxy/Metallic or Glow-in-the-Dark), then pick a colour from that finish. Sparkly/Galaxy/Metallic includes our Galaxy, Sparkly and Metallic colours. There are 89 PETG colours in total, and the colour charts at the end of the photos show each one. Want something that is not listed? Contact us and we will try to source it.

Quality and care

Printed slowly at high resolution with thick walls, so it is sturdier than most printed decor. Fine layer lines and small variations are normal and make each piece unique. PETG is non-toxic and easy to clean with soap or alcohol. Colours can look slightly different on screen.

Good to know

• Anchoring in an aquarium: Bond the base to a flat stone or acrylic sheet with aquarium-safe silicone, or with hot glue or cyanoacrylate superglue specifically suitable for aquarium use. Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s surface preparation and full curing instructions before placing it in the aquarium. Do not drill through bowls, planting pockets, water reservoirs or other functional parts. If a separate nonfunctional enclosed air pocket can be safely identified underneath, small holes may allow water in and air out.

• Measure the inside of your enclosure before ordering, and leave a little room for installation.
• Some photos show hand-painted examples. This piece ships unpainted.

Design licensed to Molten Modern by novYTerra.