Bioactive enclosures

What bioactive means here

A bioactive enclosure uses a drainage layer, a soil mix, live plants, and a cleanup crew such as springtails and isopods. The crew eats waste and mold. It does not remove the need to spot-clean feces, and it does not sterilize parasites.

Build order

Start with a secure lid. Add a drainage layer and a barrier so soil does not drop into it. Use a soil mix that holds a burrow for species that dig, and a drier mix for desert species. Plant before the animal moves in, and let the crew establish. Quarantine the animal somewhere simple first.

Species fit

Crested geckos, gargoyle geckos, dart frogs, and some skinks are commonly kept this way. A leopard gecko can use a dry arid mix with a moist hide, not a swamp. Aquatic turtles and large tortoises are a poor match for a small planted tub.

Risks

Deep damp soil that never dries grows bacteria and can chill a desert animal. Impaction is a risk if the animal is fed on loose soil or is kept too cold to digest. Bioactive is not an excuse to skip a thermostat.

Cleaning

Remove feces you can see. Replace plants that are destroyed. If you treat the enclosure for mites, assume the cleanup crew will die and plan to rebuild it. Do not use pesticide foggers around reptiles.