View Cart


Your 1-Stop Vivarium Shop! Your 1-Stop Vivarium Shop!
Loading Loading

Loading

Loading Loading

Loading

Loading Loading

Loading

Loading Loading

Loading

Loading Loading

Loading

Click here to force load

Tap here to force load

Heavy Duty Background Kits For 12x12x12 Terrariums

Everything needed to build a great looking, durable, customizable 12x12x12 background

Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 12x12x12 Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 12x12x18 Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 18x18x12 Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 18x18x18 Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 18x18x24 Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 18x18x36 Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 24x18x18 Heavy Duty Custom Terrarium Background Kit For 36x18x18

Heavy Duty Background Kit Contents For 12x12x12 Terrarium Shown

12x12x12 Heavy Duty Background Kit Contents:

★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★ ★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★ ★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★ ★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★ ★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★ ★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★ ★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★ ★ Save 5% On Everything! ★ ★ On Sale: Save 10% On Everything! ★

6 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $2.93 $2.79$2.64 6 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $2.93 $2.79$2.64 6 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $2.93 $2.79$2.64 10 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $4.89 $4.65$4.40 10 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $4.89 $4.65$4.40 10 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $4.89 $4.65$4.40 10 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $4.89 $4.65$4.40 10 Sets Stainless Background Hardware $4.89 $4.65$4.40
64oz Custom Background Texture Mix $3.66 $3.48$3.29 96oz Custom Background Texture Mix $5.49 $5.22$4.94 96oz Custom Background Texture Mix $5.49 $5.22$4.94 128oz Custom Background Texture Mix $7.32 $6.95$6.59 128oz Custom Background Texture Mix $7.32 $6.95$6.59 128oz Custom Background Texture Mix $7.32 $6.95$6.59 128oz Custom Background Texture Mix $7.32 $6.95$6.59 128oz Custom Background Texture Mix $7.32 $6.95$6.59
1 3oz Black Aquarium-Safe Silicone $7.99 $7.59 $7.19 $7.59 $7.19 $7.59 $7.19 $7.59 $7.19 $7.59 $7.19 $7.59 $7.19 $7.59 $7.19 $7.59 $7.19
1 12x12 Cork Tile Background Panel $10.99 $10.44$9.89 1 12x18 Cork Tile Background Panel $15.99 $15.19$14.39 1 12x18 Cork Tile Background Panel $15.99 $15.19$14.39 1 18x18 Cork Tile Background Panel $20.99 $19.94$18.89 1 18x24 Cork Tile Background Panel $26.99 $25.64$24.29 1 18x36 Cork Tile Background Panel $53.99 $51.29$48.59 1 18x24 Cork Tile Background Panel $26.99 $25.64$24.29 1 18x36 Cork Tile Background Panel $53.99 $51.29$48.59
1 Pair Of Protective Latex Gloves $0.14 $0.13
2 Small Cork Planters $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74 1 Small Modular Cork Planter $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74
1 Large Modular Cork Planter $10.49/ea $9.97$9.44
1 Small Modular Cork Planter $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74
1 Large Modular Cork Planter $10.49/ea $9.97$9.44
2 Small Modular Cork Planters $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74
1 Large Modular Cork Planter $10.49/ea $9.97$9.44
2 Small Modular Cork Planters $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74
1 Large Modular Cork Planter $10.49/ea $9.97$9.44
1 Small Modular Cork Planter $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74
2 Large Modular Cork Planters $10.49/ea $9.97$9.44
2 Small Modular Cork Planters $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74
1 Large Modular Cork Planter $10.49/ea $9.97$9.44
1 Small Modular Cork Planter $7.49/ea $7.12$6.74
2 Large Modular Cork Planters $10.49/ea $9.97$9.44

Prices Start Around $38.69

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $36.63

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

Prices Start Around $48.03

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $45.48

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

Prices Start Around $48.03

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $45.48

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

Prices Start Around $63.49

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $60.13

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

Prices Start Around $69.19

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $65.53

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

Prices Start Around $97.69

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $92.53

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

Prices Start Around $69.19

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $65.53

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

Prices Start Around $97.69

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

On Sale Now!

Prices Start Around $92.53

(Final price depends on your in-cart customizations!)

One or more elements of this kit are currently unavailable

Sold Out!

About Our Heavy Duty Background Kits:

Our Heavy Duty Custom Background Kits were designed to include everything necessary to build extremely realistic live vivarium and terrarium backgrounds, as described on our Heavy Duty Custom Vivarium Background DIY article. These backgrounds are easier and faster to assemble than our fully Custom Background Kits, and hold up great long-term. Although Heavy Duty Background Kits are well suited for larger inhabitants (Geckos, Lizards, Snakes), they also work great with vivariums housing smaller animals & plant-only terrariums too!

360 Degree View Of HD Background Kit
Heavy Duty Background Info Page Background

Heavy Duty Background Kit Gallery

Basic Gecko Vivarium Background Giant Gecko Terrarium Background Gecko Vivarium Grown In Gecko Terrarium Moss

★ Swipe or tap to navigate gallery ★

This gallery showcases multiple types of vivariums which have been built using Heavy Duty BG Kits.

Displayed plants, substrate, and extra wood decor are sold separately.

Gargoyle Gecko Vivarium

18x18x24 For Gargoyle Gecko

Coqui Tree Frog Vivarium Easy Background

18X18X24 For Coqui Tree Frogs
Shows Kit + Extra Cork

Gecko Bioactive Vivarium

36x18x24 For R. leachianus
Built from two 18x18x24 kits!

Student Built Vivarium Background

18x18x18 For Crested Gecko
Built by novice student employee
Shows Kit + Extra Wood

Basic Custom Terrarium Background For Geckos

18x18x18 For Crested Gecko
Built by novice student employee
Shows Kit + Extra Wood

Chahoua Live Vivarium

18x18x24 For R. chahoua
Shows Kit + Extra Cork

Awesome Gecko Vivarium

36x18x24 For R. leachianus
Built from two 18x18x24 kits!

Gecko Background Plant Growth

Modular Cork Planter
With Heavy Duty Plant Pack

Mature Plant Growth For Gecko Terrarium Background

Mature Plant Growth
On HD Background w/Extra Cork

Bioactive Terrarium Background

Perfect For Bioactive Terrariums
Supports healthy microfauna and mycorrhizal fungi

Grown In Gecko Background

Grown-In HD Background
Featuring NEHERP Moss Slurry

360 Degree View Of HD Background Kit

Example Shown: 18x18x24 Heavy Duty Background Kit
Terrarium & extra cork round sold separately

Our Lowest Prices On HD Background Components

This kit will help you save about 5% off our usual low prices to provide you with the best deal we offer on every included component. Our Heavy Duty Background Kits are our most budget friendly and easy way to add a reliable, long-lasting custom background to a terrarium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question:
Do you have more photo examples?

Answer:
Visit our Vivarium Gallery W/Heavy Duty Backgrounds for some "vivspiration". Not all of the enclosures in that gallery are based on these kits though, so be sure to select "About The Vivarium ID Numbers" to learn how to identify what type of background kit was used in each photo.

Question:
Which animal species are these kits appropriate for?

Answer:
These are suitable for the vast majority of vivarium inhabitant species which are popular today. Unlike our Custom Background Kits, these Heavy Duty Background Kits can handle quite a bit of "abuse" from clawed species without very much effort at all. While they were really designed for larger species, they can also be used for smaller species with no ill-effect.

Question:
How can a HD background be designed to look as realistic as possible?

Answer:
First, planting these appropriately is key. These kits aren't as intricately detailed as our Custom Background Kits, so ensuring the plants grow in nicely is critically important towards the goal of a realistic finished product. Without healthy plants, these kits can look a little bare. Our enclosure size specific plant kits & Heavy Duty Plant Kits have a text box where you can type-in exactly what species you'll be working with, to ensure our team pulls plants which are well suited to your particular setup. Check out your 12x12x12 Terrarium's specifically designed plant packs: 12x12x12 Plant Packs (for smaller species) and 12x12x12 Heavy Duty Plant Packs (for larger species).

Second, these kits are ideal for even further customization, as shown in many of the photos. We tried to keep our HD Background kits as straightforward and inexpensive as possible, but you can add extra cork rounds for more branches, cork flats to merge multiple HD Background Kits, Ghostwood decor for even more of a 3D effect, and a whole lot more. Upgrading these to include more decor is inexpensive and simple. These are designed to be further-customized by the end user. Have fun with it, and don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions. Check out our Vivarium Gallery and Wood Decor pages for inspiration.

Question:
Is this an appropriate project for a child of X age?

Answer:
The finished product is an awesome gift to children (and adults) of any age, but the build process is not an appropriate project for kids. Some of the kit's ingredients (silicone, sharp screws) aren't kid friendly.

Question:
Will these background kits stand up to high humidity?

Answer:
Absolutely. We don't recommend them for aquatic/submerged use, but even the highest levels of humidity won't cause a problem for our background kits, if the instructions are followed. Frequent (multiple times daily) direct misting is also completely acceptable. Cork breaks down much slower than most other types of wood and should last for years even in humid conditions.

Question:
Is the background removable or reusable

Answer:
It depends on the construction style you choose. Reference step 3 of our Heavy Duty Background DIY guide for more info. Keep in mind that a removable installation may be less well suited for small species, since there's a greater chance for small gaps around the sides of the cork tile being installed. At NEHERP, the vast majority of Heavy Duty Backgrounds were mounted using the "removable" method, when we're housing things like Crested Geckos, Gargoyle Geckos, Phelsuma Geckos, and more. For the few HD backgrounds we've built for small species like Mourning Geckos & Dart Frogs, we always use the permanent installation for a tighter bond against the back glass panel.

Question:
What should I expect when the background is finished and the vivarium is built?

Answer:
All the typical healthy vivarium acclimation signs described in Vivarium Construction 102 are to be expected. In short, after a few weeks the plants will begin to acclimate to the background, moss slurry (if applied) should start to take off, and you can expect to see some microfauna activity in the substrate layer.

Background Kit Build Info

Building a heavy duty background is a straightforward process. Follow the instructions on our Heavy Duty Background DIY guide, and don't hesitate to contact us for background kit support!

Visit HD BG Article

Large Gecko Custom Background

Building HD Backgrounds On Larger Enclosures

Building backgrounds of this style on larger enclosures can be tricky, since the largest cork tile background is only 18in x 36in. Since larger animal-safe tiles aren't yet available in the hobby, we're forced to limit our HD background kit sizes considerably. If you'd like to build a HD background kit for a larger type of enclosure, multiple cork tiles will be necessary to get the job done. It's a little tougher to make look nice than building a standard HD background, but it's totally doable with a little extra time and effort.

In the example shown, we used two Heavy Duty Custom Background kits from an 18x18x24 terrarium to create a single background for a single (2X larger) 36x18x24 enclosure. The instructions are pretty much the same as a usual HD Background kit, with one small added step. After the background tiles are attached to the enclosure, there's a small but visible gap between the cork tiles. To ensure that gap is hidden, silicone and background texture mix (included in the kit) can be used to attach a natural cork flat to bridge the gap. With the flat installed, the two tiles appear more like a single piece, creating a more realistic finished product.

There are a few different ways to combine HD Background Kits to cater to different enclosure sizes. (Another popular 2-tile setup would be two 18x18x36 kits stacked to fill a 36x18x36 terrarium) If you are comfortable using a saw to cut-down a cork tile, even more options present themselves. It's a little more difficult to make a 2-tile background look great, but the results can be surprisingly realistic.

Large Gecko Custom Background Large Gecko Custom Background Large Gecko Custom Background

Custom Background Kit

Custom Vivarium For Harvard Museum of Natural History Moss Vivarium Acclimated

Time Investment:
2-30+ Hours

Depending on size & style

Curing Time:
4-12 Days

Depending on size & style

Financial Investment:
$50-125+

From 12x12x12 to 18x18x24 w/Cork

Level Of Difficulty:
Medium to Extreme

Depending on style & scale

Design Flexibility:
Extremely Versatile

Suitability For Large Inhabitants:
With Considerable Effort

Level Of Realism
From medium to ultra-high, depending on builder

Related Links:

Gallery

DIY Article

View Kits

Heavy Duty Background Kits

Student Built Vivarium Background Basic Custom Terrarium Background For Geckos

Time Investment:
0.5-5 Hours

Depending on size & style

Curing Time:
1-3 Days

Depending on size & style

Financial Investment:
$42-75+

From 12x12x12 to 18x18x24 w/Cork

Level Of Difficulty:
Easy to Medium

Depending on style & scale

Design Flexibility:
Limited

Suitability For Large Inhabitants:
With Minimal Effort

Level Of Realism
Fair to medium, depending on builder

Related Links:

Gallery

DIY Article

Hide Comparison

Enclosures shown in the gallery were built using NEHERP Heavy Duty Background Kits, and are for reference/inspiration only. Plants, substrate, and and decor are sold separately. No two Modular Cork pieces will be alike.

Something went wrong...

Your browser is blocking active scripts!

This part of our website requires jQuery script to display properly.
Please turn off script blockers and/or allow scripts in your browser settings to continue.

Need help? Google results for "how to allow scripts" by browser:
Chrome | Firefox | MS Edge | MS Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari
Email support@neherpetoculture.com for help!

Our website is best viewed in modern Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browsers. (Not IE / Edge!)
If you suspect an adblocker is blocking scripts, please whitelist us. Our site has no ads to block.