Can Bioactive Setups be Successful with Fake Plants?

[blisterbeetle]

Another thought: could I stick some bamboo stocks in the soil to substitute live plants? In addition to the other biodegradables like dead leaves etc.

you could use bamboo stocks as another biodegradable, but i wouldn't use them as a replacement for live plants. if you do end up going the bioactive route, i'd make sure to get the hardiest and sturdiest plants you can- ball pythons are heavy and will bulldoze plants. you could also use a mix of live and fake plants. it's also necessary to let your plants establish (root) for at least a month or so before adding any inhabitants (other than your isopods/springtails) so they won't be uprooted immediately.

the chances are until you have an established population of isopods and springtails you will have to clean up your snake's feces.