Success With Planted/bio-active BP Vivarium?

[Slither Seeker]

has anyone here been successful with live plants in a BP vivarium, and if so, which plants? my BRB has been in a bio-active live plant vivarium for 2.5 years and it's been an amazing experience. as he has grown he's trampled just about everything but the Pathos that has taken over pretty much everything but the benefits have been numerous. the snake has been the picture of health with regular eating and full one piece sheds and I'm wondering if I can create a similar set up for my BP (S). this link spells out many of the benefits that I've experienced first hand:http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Rept...nd-Amphibians/. let me know what you have tried and what has worked and not worked for your BP if you've ventured into this realm.

[Craiga 01453]

I'm glad this thread was started. There's a shop near my hometown that keeps a BP in the store, I've become friendly with the guy and we chat snakes whenever I'm in there. He uses a bio-active setup with live plants and swears by it. However, he is a first time snake keeper, so hearing from any experienced keepers would be great. I like the look of the enclosure a lot and he has explained the benefits of the setup and has given me a crash course on how it works. It's a option I have thought about, but am in no rush.

So, more experienced keepers: any experience with Bio-Active?? Pros? Cons? Aside from BPs, has anybody used it for Kings or corns?
Thanks in advance...

[distaff]

I'm glad this thread was started. There's a shop near my hometown that keeps a BP in the store, I've become friendly with the guy and we chat snakes whenever I'm in there. He uses a bio-active setup with live plants and swears by it. However, he is a first time snake keeper, so hearing from any experienced keepers would be great. I like the look of the enclosure a lot and he has explained the benefits of the setup and has given me a crash course on how it works. It's a option I have thought about, but am in no rush.

So, more experienced keepers: any experience with Bio-Active?? Pros? Cons? Aside from BPs, has anybody used it for Kings or corns?
Thanks in advance...

Both my king and my corn are in planted tanks (one year,plus). These two snakes have benefited from the more stable humidity. I live in the desert.

Potos, Sanseveria, and Hedera helix have done well. I actually consider all those sort of boring plants, but they flourished, and the others died off. I also have some low and not so visible "Mother of thousands" can't remember the Latin lane - roundish lobed, somewhat furry leaves, and sends out numerous runners with baby plants.

If I do another, I'll use Great Stuff Foam, and follow the build methods that dart frog and geko people tend to go with. Then, the plants will be mostly trailing down from the vertical wall, and there will be more free space on the floor, with fewer crushed plants.

There are numerous postings and pics from the past on this topic, Worth the search if more indepth info in needed.

[Lizardlicks]

Do you train the ivy upwards or let it trail along the floor of the habitat?

[fourward]

a quick question. I think this is an awesome idea, and I would really like to know how I should build BP's environment.

Since bp is from a savannah, should I use clay or sand to mix with eco earth substrate?

[distaff]

Do you train the ivy upwards or let it trail along the floor of the habitat?

The English ivy (Hedera helix) is the same plant that climbs brick walls.
It is more wiry than drapey, and can almost support itself. Mine grows mostly up.

[distaff]

a quick question. I think this is an awesome idea, and I would really like to know how I should build BP's environment.

Since bp is from a savannah, should I use clay or sand to mix with eco earth substrate?

I use ABG type mix and some home compost. The plants do well in it. a substrate that is mostly clay will pack down too much to grow plants in. It needs to stay light and fluffy for proper aeration, so for this application, just garden soil doesn't work well either. Not sure about mixing sand into the substrate. Some would be ok, but putting snakes on primarily sand seems to be controversial. No experience with Eco Earth. The top surface of the substrate should be DRY. It will be dry with a screen topped drainage layer (absolutely necessary!). New England Herpetoculture has good info on how to properly layer the drainage and top substrate. Serpa is a YouTube channel run by a guy who shows terrarium/viv builds step by step, with emphasis on the construction of the bottom layers.

[FlynnTheBP]

When I upgrade my new BP to my 20 gal, I'm hoping to make it bio-active. Does anyone use live insects along with plants? Also, can you use coconut mulch as substrate with the plants?

[Slither Seeker]

I used springtails with my BRB because initially mold was an issue. I have no idea if the springtails are the cure, but things got better quickly after I added a "culture" that I bought from Josh's frogs.

When I upgrade my new BP to my 20 gal, I'm hoping to make it bio-active. Does anyone use live insects along with plants? Also, can you use coconut mulch as substrate with the plants?

[FlynnTheBP]

I used springtails with my BRB because initially mold was an issue. I have no idea if the springtails are the cure, but things got better quickly after I added a "culture" that I bought from Josh's frogs.

Cool! What substrate do you use? I'd like to use a mix of spring tails and woodlice for insects, but I was worried it might be too much for a twenty gal...