I'm looking for Bioactive setup advice please. Ty, Ricky.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Hi there!

I'm planning to put together a bioactive setup for my Ball Python. His enclosure is 84" wide x 24" deep x 24" high. At this stage I've done some reading on various forums, and my eyes are starting to bulge out of my head! lol.

I have a few things figured out. The substrate mix that I plan to use is organic top soil 70% with some washed childrens play-sand (20%) and coconusk husk chips (10%). The mixture will be roughly 6" deep.

As far as bugs, I'm thinking that I'dd keep a few earth worms, springtails for the most-part and some wood mites.

I plan to create a handful of burrows using half round logs that my Ball Python can use without the need to create his own.

I still need to figure out plants, lighting etc... but for now this is where I start asking questions!

1) So far, from what I've said above - can you suggest better or offer any opinions/advice?
2) How many of the various bugs do I need? I've never purchased bugs other than crickets before (Is there somewhere in CANADA that sells these bugs easily?)
3) How do I provide drainage?

Ok - moving onto plants....

My male Ball Python won't be very large in comparison to his enclosure, so I'm not too worried about him smushing the plants to death. I'd like to create a few "zones" within his enclosure as far as plants are concerned. I want a grass zone and a plant zone. I'll also have wood branches etc that will run throughout the full enclosure.

4) Which grasses would grow well in an indoor environment such as the one I am building?
5) Which plants would grow well in an indoor environment such as the one I am building? (Keep in mind the enclosure is 24" high)
6) What lighting do I need to provide for the plants and bugs?



Thanks for reading! If you have any helpful information, or links to helpful information - please post!

Thanks,

Ricky

[Daniel.michelle]

Here, give this a read. (Keep in mind this article is more for monitor lizards) http://www.varanustalk.com/forum/index.php?pageid=Dirt

[Daniel.michelle]

Don't do coconut husk chips, trust me.

Bugs, just put a few in at a time to start a sustainable culture in the dirt. (don't put a ton in at a time) not sure about Canada, sorry.

For drainage, just every few weeks stir up the dirt. Then every few months, take out 3/4 of the dirt. (So you don't have to starto from scratch with the cultures)

[Daniel.michelle]

As far as plants, I'm not sure of exact species Etc.

What I do is go outside and dig up/transplant some tall savanna grasses from my yard into my enclosure and they last a few weeks. (I have savanna monitors)

I use flood lights (for basking spots) and use lights (like for bearded dragons) to light the rest of the enclosure

[jclaiborne]

I moved my childrens python over to a what will eventually be a bioactive mix and love it. While I didn't do any plants I did plenty of rocks and cork flat hides. I used a mix of organic topsoil (make sure to screen it out, I had one bag that was perfect and another that had bits and pieces of plastic in it, some play sand and instead of coconut chips get some organic peat moss and mix that all together, then on the top I threw in some dried spaghnum moss and leaf litter. I have yet to add any bugs but once the setup is done it is low low maintenance and my snakes activity level greatly increased. I did have to thin out the substrate a little bit when the heat mat is because 6 inches of dirt is hard to heat up. Here is a few pics of the cage he is in. I think I made the substrate switch over starting on page 9: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...pic-post/page9

**For lights, since its a BP you might just want to look into LEDs or a flourescent tube light from a hydroponics store that will help the plants grow, but not put off any extra heat

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Thanks for the help so far!