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  1. #1
    Registered User LemonDroops's Avatar
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    Bioactive vivarium setup help

    Hello,

    This will be my first time working with a bioactive setup and need some advice. I separated my questions into categories. Thank you for any replies in advance, I appreciate the help!

    SUBSTRATE: I plan to use coconut fiber, cypress mulch and sphagnum moss. Will I need to change out the substrate from time to time?

    PLANTS: I will be using artificial plants but will be adding leaf litter. How many leaves should I put in? And how often will I have to add more?

    CLEAN UP CREW: I need help choosing an isopod species, there are so many and I'm completely lost when it comes to microfauna. I need one that can thrive in the same humidity as ball pythons. Which one would be best? If a few were to escape into my home, would I have to worry about a infestation?



  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran wnateg's Avatar
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    No, you don't change out the substrate. Only spot cleaning, if necessary.

    It's up to you, but generally a light covering of the substrate with leaf litter. You will not need to add more very often (months).

    Type of isopods doesn't really matter too much. Powder blue, orange, dwarf purple, they all accomplish what you need. But you should add springtails too. I doubt they could or would want to escape, but if they did, I would not be worried about any infestation.
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  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran Aerries's Avatar
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    Re: Bioactive vivarium setup help

    I currently have one BP in a Bioactive and OMG what a change I see in his personality and I didn’t shrink down his enclosure but it’s actually realllllllyyyyy easy. I spot clean the poop and urates. I never change the substrate, and in all honesty don’t bother with fake plants....pothos thrives in the enclosure that BPs have for their temps and humidity requirements. I have a combo of cypress mulch, coconut fiber, and organic potting soil. My CUC consist of dwarf whites and powder orange and spring tails and they’ve exploded and doing amazingly well. I’m planning on doing my Boas enclosure Bioactive as well and can’t wait to see how that comes out.


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  4. #4
    Registered User Alien's Avatar
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    Re: Bioactive vivarium setup help

    Quote Originally Posted by Aerries View Post
    I currently have one BP in a Bioactive and OMG what a change I see in his personality and I didn’t shrink down his enclosure but it’s actually realllllllyyyyy easy. I spot clean the poop and urates. I never change the substrate, and in all honesty don’t bother with fake plants....pothos thrives in the enclosure that BPs have for their temps and humidity requirements. I have a combo of cypress mulch, coconut fiber, and organic potting soil. My CUC consist of dwarf whites and powder orange and spring tails and they’ve exploded and doing amazingly well. I’m planning on doing my Boas enclosure Bioactive as well and can’t wait to see how that comes out.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I am in the planning stages of bioactive for my Boa. Look forward to seeing what you do and what you use.

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    Aerries (02-01-2020)

  6. #5
    BPnet Veteran Aerries's Avatar
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    Re: Bioactive vivarium setup help

    Quote Originally Posted by Alien View Post
    I am in the planning stages of bioactive for my Boa. Look forward to seeing what you do and what you use.
    I have a while to further dig into it because I just purchased Anubis' AP A20 my only challenge if I do decide is the sub level.....it doesn't look like I can have much so I'm still asking around how to pull this off.

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