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Simply put- bioactive vivariums are enclosures that mimic your animal's natural habitat. Giving them a slice of what they would experience in nature. In nature animals have options.  To do this, you will add all parts of a living cycle- rich, nutritious substrate to support growth,  detritivore insects, plants, leaf litter, branches, and other nature items.

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The Substrate

Our all-natural, hand-blended substrate was created to improve your animal's welfare by replicating the soil that would be found in your animal's natural habitat. Each blend is a wide variety of natural or organic materials that will support this living cycle. In very wet, humid rainforest enclosures a drainage layer and mesh barrier will need to be used to keep the soil from growing bad bacteria. In all others, a deep layer of substrate will help your animals feel at home, promote a stable humidity level, and allow your animal to burrow like they would in the wild.

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The Detritivore Insects

Detritivores are small, harmless insects that live in the soil or leaf litter and eat rotting, decaying organic material and animal feces. They are commonly called "the clean-up crew". These insects play a key role in keeping your enclosure clean. With the addition of detritivores, you will greatly reduce or eliminate the need to routinely change bedding and clean up the animal's feces. They will do this for you! 

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Plants

Plants provide many benefits to your animal's health and well-being. As your enclosure plants take root and grow they will create an ever-changing environment for your animal, in turn creating environmental enrichment. These plants will also allow your predator to hunt for their food as they would in the wild. When choosing your plants make sure they are non-toxic and will thrive in the ecosystem you are planting them in.

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Leaf Litter and Other Natural Items

Leaf litter is extremely important to a bioactive environment. Leaf litter provides a hiding place for your clean-up crew so they are not eaten by your animals. Leaf litter will provide a natural meal to your clean-up crew.  Your clean-up crew will eat the decomposing leaves, in turn fertilizing your soil with their feces, feeding the enclosures plants. Smaller terrestrial animals will use the leaf litter as a playground, climbing over and under. Natural branches and twigs will provide structure for your growing plants. Make sure that all leaf litter and nature items that are added have been sanitized, so you are not bringing in unwelcomed guests (diseased and harmful insects) into your enclosure.

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Lighting

Providing the proper lighting is as important to the plants and animals living in your enclosure as the sun is for wild ecosystems! Reptiles and amphibians need exposure to UVA/UVB to metabolize calcium.