<P> A terrarium (plural: terraria or terrariums) is usually a sealable glass container containing soil and plants, and can be opened for maintenance to access the plants inside . However, terraria can also be open to the atmosphere rather than being sealed . Terraria are often kept as decorative or ornamental items . Closed terraria create a unique environment for plant growth, as the transparent walls allow for both heat and light to enter the terrarium . The sealed container combined with the heat entering the terrarium allows for the creation of a small scale water cycle . This happens because moisture from both the soil and plants evaporates in the elevated temperatures inside the terrarium . This water vapour then condenses on the walls of the container, and eventually falls back to the plants and soil below . This contributes to creating an ideal environment for growing plants due to the constant supply of water, thereby preventing the plants from becoming over dry . In addition to this, the light that passes through the transparent material of the terrarium allows for the plants within to photosynthesize, a very important aspect of plant growth . </P> <P> The first terrarium was developed by botanist Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1842 . Ward had an interest in observing insect behaviour and accidentally left one of the jars unattended . A fern spore in the jar grew, germinated into a plant, and this jar resulted in the first terrarium . The trend quickly spread in the Victorian Era amongst the English . Instead of the terrarium, it was known as the Wardian case . </P>

What type of creature lives in the terrarium