Bioactive- why the trend?

I've been keeping my snakes on aspen for decades. Not that something new isn't better etc, but as I've been poking my head back into the forum, why is there a switch to bioactive substrates for BPs and other snakes it seems??

2nd does coco fiber substrate kill odor that much? Some people say it does, and others not so much.

Well I'm not sure its necessarily better but it is fun and looks really nice to have live plants in the reptile enclosures. It's really just preference I think. I dont have a bioactive setup, but I do use coconut fiber, and I have not found odor to be an issue. I do check daily for waste and remove it as soon as I see it though, so there's usually no odor to cover up.

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I'm just a li'l lazy and don't want to have to clean as much. It's nice knowing that the little critters will do (most of) it. It also looks more natural and is easy on the eyes. I'm sure the snake doesn't care too much. I haven't noticed any bad smell either.

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I can't comment on bioactive.

But I can't stand aspen. It's dry, messy, doesn't hold humidity, doesn't retain odor and looks like sawdust rather than naturalistic.

I've been using a blend of EcoEarth and ReptiBark for many years and will never use aspen again. It literally does everything aspen doesn't.

There's obviously nothing wrong with aspen as a substrate. I just prefer Coco coir a million times to one.

I think bioactive enclosures are popular because they look a lot nicer and emulate the inhabitants natural habitat. But personally, after doing it myself, it's not worth the added complexity.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

I think bioactive enclosures are popular because they look a lot nicer and emulate the inhabitants natural habitat. But personally, after doing it myself, it's not worth the added complexity.

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Yeah I thought about putting my BP in a bioactive and after careful consideration I decided against it because I think having a live planted enclosure where I can't remove everything would just make cleaning harder as ball python's waste is too large for a cleanup crew to take care of on their own, but I'm currently planning to add a crested gecko to my family and they are great candidates for bioactive. Also inside a terrarium is the only way I'm able to keep plants without my cats murdering them lol

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

Yeah I thought about putting my BP in a bioactive and after careful consideration I decided against it because I think having a live planted enclosure where I can't remove everything would just make cleaning harder as ball python's waste is too large for a cleanup crew to take care of on their own, but I'm currently planning to add a crested gecko to my family and they are great candidates for bioactive. Also inside a terrarium is the only way I'm able to keep plants without my cats murdering them lol

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Exactly. I think smaller reptiles are better candidates for bioactive. With snakes, especially bigger and more cage defensive species, it adds unnecessary headache. I'll probably repurpose my bioactive enclosures for birdpoop frogs.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

I think bioactive enclosures are popular because they look a lot nicer and emulate the inhabitants natural habitat. But personally, after doing it myself, it's not worth the added complexity.

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While I can sure admire the naturalistic bioactive enclosures, I know without even trying it that it wouldn't be for me. Not with 19 snakes, some of them quite prolific when it comes to their output. :rolleyes:

There is a big difference between using a bioactive setup and using coconut chip substrate over other bedding.

Coconut chips have been used for decades by old school people even though it is only in the last 5 years that it has been marketed toward reptile owners.

Now a bioactive setup is different and is more that just coconut chips it's a blend of potting soil, leaf litter, coconut chips, sand, plant, isopods, grow light etc.