Bioactive enclosure

[Malum Argenteum]

I have a bioactive for my leopard gecko and just really like the look of it (espcially the live plants) as opposed to my others. I still plan to spot clean, I do that even with my gecko, but not having to throw out all the substrate and replace is it a bonus, too. I'm planning on getting an eight foot cage. I also like that it's more "natural", even though I know the animals may not care and you can keep them perfectly fine either way.

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If a person likes the look of live plants in an enclosure, and the enclosure has the extra room, has lighting both appropriate for the plants and also ideal for the reptile ('ideal' since any deviation from ideal conditions for the animal simply to attain a certain look isn't good husbandry), then plants can be added (presumably ones that the animal gets some distinct benefit from, so not 'assorted 4 inch plants'). That's not "bioactive", though. Neither is naturalistic substrate and hardscape "bioactive", even though both those things can have tangible benefit for certain species in certain situations. And on almost every definition the web offers of "bioactive", a leopard gecko enclosure isn't one since the way people keep leos in captivity is too dry for waste to get processed, and waste management is the central tenet of "bioactive".

It is best to be very clear on what the goals are from the POV of the animal, and what means best accomplish those goals without unwanted side effects. Unfortunately this is rarely the case in "bioactive" enclosures, since these are often simply purchasing an ill-conceived "package" (which refers both to the plant and supply packages the vendor you linked above markets, as well as the package of hand-waving claims that "bioactive" frequently entails), assembling all the components, adding animal and stirring well.

All this (and what I say in that linked thread above) is a wordy way of suggesting that no one buy into the "bioactive" marketing, but rather figure out what their animal needs and provide it.

For reference, I have 15 enclosures that a person might call 'bioactive' and keep about 50 herps in other ways -- so rather than thinking one husbandry methodology is good for all species (which "bioactive" proponents frequently claim), I try to learn about a species and then provide for their needs in the most foolproof way possible.