This is beautiful! Going to be doing a bioactive enclosure for my ball python as well, just wondering if you can do update videos to see how the tank progresses as time goes on (: also would love to know about more maintenance for the tank?
100% will make an update video, possibly next month. Also, the maintenance is quite simple, waters the plants. That's it! Since its a bio-active enclosure with the two micro-organisms (Isopods & Spring tails), they will do most of the maintenance for you. They will eat any feces/urine left behind by the ball python, as well as shedded skin, and will then recycle it back into the substrate providing even more nutrients for the plants. Personally, if I see any feces or shedded skin, i will just take it out myself, but you really don't have to. Monitor the humidity across the tank with hygrometers; make sure that its between 50-60%, and if the Ball Python is about to shed, it'll need around 70% humidity for a smoother shedding process. As far as temps go, I keep the ambient temp at 85 Degrees Fahrenheit, and for its hide, i keep it at about 93 degrees with a couple of heat mats located under the tank hooked up to a thermostat to regulate the temperature around 90-93F. I water the plants every day, and I also have a Moonsoon Misting machine from ExoTerra thats on a cycle to help with the humidity. I hope this was informative enough for you, just let me know if you have any other questions and il be happy to answer them for you. Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for watching and have a good day!
okay, first off, Monty is *such* a sweetie. I have been dreaming of making a bio-active space for my ball python for *so* long, and it seems like she's finally going to get a tank suitable for such things in the near future! this build is so inspirational, I love the hides and your *amazing* planting array :o
Using a blend of coconut coir, moss and bark for the backdrop was a really good idea!! I'm about to build my first enclosure and wasn't happy with the monotonous look that straight coir gives when people use it, so I'm excited that this seems to work just as well. Thanks. :)
omg i fill vodka bottles with clean water for my BP too 😭😭 lol but wow!!! This is absolutely amazing!!! I literally would have NEVER thought that BUGS would a positive thing in a tank with my snake!! You have me so inspired to build a bio-active tank! I hope you are making a business from this because people would pay thousands for this absolute art you create!♥♥♥
Thank you so much, Its actually a bottle of sour puss lol. same thing, but I thought i was the only one haha. I actually do build enclosures for people as a little side hustle.
will do an update video soon, the tank is doing great but monty has killed some of the plants along the way lol. Unfortunately, I got this tank from my local reptile store, and they don't have an online store..
I would love to go bio active in the future- my only thing is that I was told there should be a drainage layer and I see there wasn’t one in the video I was wondering the benefits and non benefits or if we even need one?
A drainage layer is not necessary for a tank housing a ball python because ball pythons do not require a high humidity environment like some other reptiles. They naturally inhabit dry areas and can thrive in a tank with appropriate humidity levels achieved through other methods, such as providing a water bowl, misting, or using a humidity hide. Additionally, a drainage layer can complicate the setup and maintenance of the tank, potentially leading to issues like excess moisture buildup and the growth of mold or bacteria. It's important to prioritize proper temperature, humidity, and substrate choices suitable for the specific needs of ball pythons rather than relying on a drainage layer.
Very well put together video! once you make more content i'm sure you'll have a big viewer base! I've been liking videos for ideas but have been wondering. with such a moisture rich soil and plants giving off humidity how do you keep your humidity around 50 - 60 and prevent scale rot with bp? lovely snake btw
Thank you so much for the positive feedback, for the humidity is actually quite simple, let me break it down for you; you can use three hygrometers one for the one side and one for the other side and one for the middle, but you could probably just get away with using two for each side of the tank. I check mine daily to make sure that it's staying within 50 to 60% humidity, sometimes you can drop a few percentages below or spike a few percentages above, this is okay. As long as you are close to that range, and it's only temporary. I have three heat emitters running at all times, so that will help evaporate any excess moisture. I also use a monsoon mister from Exo Terra on a cycle, not to mention, I water the plants daily. When I notice my ball python is starting to go into a shed I increase the amount of water I use when missing the tank and bring that humidity level to 70% for a smooth shed. I hope this helps, Thanks for watching!
@@exoticcreations4859 I really appreciate the detailed response and that is amazing advice! However i have owned a healthy ball python for 5 year or so now. I was wondering specfically how you have a substrate prone to retaining so much water (Meaning your snake is constantly damp) without premotting rot. Is there a special mix for this bio enclosure?
@@GARR0N You can either use a false bottom layer or just a really thick layer of substrate. If you have a thick layer of substrate, a lot of the moisture/water will sink to the bottom, leaving you with a dry top layer of substrate. Just make sure not to flood your tank with too much water. If you notice the substrate is getting way too damp all the way through, stop watering it, and cover the ventilation as much as possible, letting some of the water evaporate whilst also keeping the humidity at a sustainable level. This is my substrate mix: Top soil Coconut Husk Spahgnum moss Eco Earth ReptiBark Charcoal ABG mix Its a bit overkill and expensive, but I dont typically set a budget for my animals and plants, they deserve the best life for all the happiness they bring me. Hope this helps, if you have anymore questions, feel free too ask.
How do you part your substrate? You just mix until it looks right or is there specific measurements for each substrate you add. I’m hopefully going to start building my bps bio active viv soon and there are countless videos on substrate yours seems to be one of the more simpler ones I can follow.
I didnt really measure anything out to be honest, but the majority was top soil. Then charcoal for filtration, spagnum moss to retain humidity. Then I threw some bark and coconut husk in there as a additional food source for the isopods. I dont they are completley neccessary though.
Most plants that you buy in garden centers usually are littered with fertilizers, therefore washing all of the plants and getting rid of all the fertilizer and soil can take a really long time so I actually ended up doing it the night before recording the video. The soil that you see in the pots is the same as the substrate for the tank.
I get it, just saying though, if you ever have any plants with soil, there’s a 99% chance there will be springtails in there, they’re in all soil for the most part!
Yes, once dried and aired out. It's a pretty common method for making backgrounds for tanks. I have a couple heat mats which are connected to a thermostat, and a couple of heat bulbs.
I will do one soon, I recently started a new job and have been soo busy. I also recently got husky puppy, so there's that. But eventually will be looking to stick to a consistent upload schedule.
its expanding spray foam. its very cheap and you can get it at almost any hardware store. Tank: $550 Building Supplies (Silicone, Foam, etc.): $60 Plants: $200 Decorative pieces: $140 Lights and Heat Mats: $160 Substrate: $50-$100 (I buy all of the ingredients individually and in bulk, then mix them all up together) These are all in Canadian dollars by the way I also breed my own Isopods and Springtails so I didn't have to pay for them. Hope this helps..
I also live on a island off the coast of the pacific ocean, so whenever I take my dog to the beach, I collect a lot of my own driftwood and bark as buying in stores can be super expensive.
this is very helpful i have been planing on remaking my python enclosure and making it bio active , if you could maybe reach out to me i would really appreciate your help with the process
It's not like a heavily tropical enclosure so there's not really any need for a drainage layer, and the more plants you have usually the faster it's all absorbed, I always add a drainage layer for peace of mind but its not always needed
@@exoticcreations4859 yea I understand they can adapt although coming from Africa it’s nice to see them in natives enclosures I’ve been trying to find a way to make a “abandoned termite mound”haven’t found any videos you should make one ,native ball python setup
Best bioactive ball python video on TH-cam. Thanks so much.
Outstanding video, amazing enclosure
This is beautiful! Going to be doing a bioactive enclosure for my ball python as well, just wondering if you can do update videos to see how the tank progresses as time goes on (: also would love to know about more maintenance for the tank?
100% will make an update video, possibly next month.
Also, the maintenance is quite simple, waters the plants. That's it!
Since its a bio-active enclosure with the two micro-organisms (Isopods & Spring tails), they will do most of the maintenance for you. They will eat any feces/urine left behind by the ball python, as well as shedded skin, and will then recycle it back into the substrate providing even more nutrients for the plants. Personally, if I see any feces or shedded skin, i will just take it out myself, but you really don't have to.
Monitor the humidity across the tank with hygrometers; make sure that its between 50-60%, and if the Ball Python is about to shed, it'll need around 70% humidity for a smoother shedding process. As far as temps go, I keep the ambient temp at 85 Degrees Fahrenheit, and for its hide, i keep it at about 93 degrees with a couple of heat mats located under the tank hooked up to a thermostat to regulate the temperature around 90-93F.
I water the plants every day, and I also have a Moonsoon Misting machine from ExoTerra thats on a cycle to help with the humidity.
I hope this was informative enough for you, just let me know if you have any other questions and il be happy to answer them for you. Sorry for the late reply.
Thanks for watching and have a good day!
@@exoticcreations4859It's been two years... How is it going?
PLease make more videos like these and also add some info about lighting too. THat would help a lot of beginners
okay, first off, Monty is *such* a sweetie. I have been dreaming of making a bio-active space for my ball python for *so* long, and it seems like she's finally going to get a tank suitable for such things in the near future! this build is so inspirational, I love the hides and your *amazing* planting array :o
Beautiful setup, very informational and extremely helpful! Can’t wait to make my own. Montys a lucky danger noodle!
great video, can’t wait for more!
This is beautiful!
Absolutely gorgeous. Well done!
Thank you so much! This is the most helpful I’ve come across
Wow!!! Very inspiring- thank you for creating this 😊
Using a blend of coconut coir, moss and bark for the backdrop was a really good idea!! I'm about to build my first enclosure and wasn't happy with the monotonous look that straight coir gives when people use it, so I'm excited that this seems to work just as well. Thanks. :)
omg i fill vodka bottles with clean water for my BP too 😭😭 lol but wow!!! This is absolutely amazing!!! I literally would have NEVER thought that BUGS would a positive thing in a tank with my snake!! You have me so inspired to build a bio-active tank! I hope you are making a business from this because people would pay thousands for this absolute art you create!♥♥♥
Thank you so much, Its actually a bottle of sour puss lol. same thing, but I thought i was the only one haha.
I actually do build enclosures for people as a little side hustle.
Great enclosure
That turned out so well! Thanks for the inspiration!
this was such a great video i don't normally comment on videos but this was worth it always HATED fake plants
amazing video
Great set up.
Glad you think so!
Amazing
hi is it a special type of expanding foam ty great vid
Hello ! I had one question about your set up , what kind of grow lights did you use?
Beautiful. Thanks! What would you advise about lighting in that kind of terrarium?
Great video!
What are the top tank covers are you using?
I’m building a bioactive setup as well, the next step is the plants. Which plants has survived and which ones died? Also awesome setup!
Where is a good place to get the spring tales and isopods?
Josh's frogs!
thx
Where did you get the enclosure? It looks nice! and can we have an update video on how its doing?
will do an update video soon, the tank is doing great but monty has killed some of the plants along the way lol. Unfortunately, I got this tank from my local reptile store, and they don't have an online store..
@@exoticcreations4859 Thank you! And the tank looks awesome sad it doesn't have an online store
Where do you get the spring tails and isopods?
I would love to go bio active in the future- my only thing is that I was told there should be a drainage layer and I see there wasn’t one in the video I was wondering the benefits and non benefits or if we even need one?
A drainage layer is not necessary for a tank housing a ball python because ball pythons do not require a high humidity environment like some other reptiles. They naturally inhabit dry areas and can thrive in a tank with appropriate humidity levels achieved through other methods, such as providing a water bowl, misting, or using a humidity hide. Additionally, a drainage layer can complicate the setup and maintenance of the tank, potentially leading to issues like excess moisture buildup and the growth of mold or bacteria. It's important to prioritize proper temperature, humidity, and substrate choices suitable for the specific needs of ball pythons rather than relying on a drainage layer.
I am not familiar with enclosures but i wasnt expecting foam and silicone to be some of the first things for a bioactive enclosure 😅
Very well put together video! once you make more content i'm sure you'll have a big viewer base! I've been liking videos for ideas but have been wondering. with such a moisture rich soil and plants giving off humidity how do you keep your humidity around 50 - 60 and prevent scale rot with bp? lovely snake btw
Thank you so much for the positive feedback, for the humidity is actually quite simple, let me break it down for you;
you can use three hygrometers one for the one side and one for the other side and one for the middle, but you could probably just get away with using two for each side of the tank. I check mine daily to make sure that it's staying within 50 to 60% humidity, sometimes you can drop a few percentages below or spike a few percentages above, this is okay. As long as you are close to that range, and it's only temporary.
I have three heat emitters running at all times, so that will help evaporate any excess moisture. I also use a monsoon mister from Exo Terra on a cycle, not to mention, I water the plants daily.
When I notice my ball python is starting to go into a shed I increase the amount of water I use when missing the tank and bring that humidity level to 70% for a smooth shed.
I hope this helps, Thanks for watching!
@@exoticcreations4859 I really appreciate the detailed response and that is amazing advice! However i have owned a healthy ball python for 5 year or so now. I was wondering specfically how you have a substrate prone to retaining so much water (Meaning your snake is constantly damp) without premotting rot. Is there a special mix for this bio enclosure?
@@GARR0N You can either use a false bottom layer or just a really thick layer of substrate. If you have a thick layer of substrate, a lot of the moisture/water will sink to the bottom, leaving you with a dry top layer of substrate. Just make sure not to flood your tank with too much water. If you notice the substrate is getting way too damp all the way through, stop watering it, and cover the ventilation as much as possible, letting some of the water evaporate whilst also keeping the humidity at a sustainable level.
This is my substrate mix:
Top soil
Coconut Husk
Spahgnum moss
Eco Earth
ReptiBark
Charcoal
ABG mix
Its a bit overkill and expensive, but I dont typically set a budget for my animals and plants, they deserve the best life for all the happiness they bring me.
Hope this helps, if you have anymore questions, feel free too ask.
I like how he gave the snake vodka😁😂
What brand of silicone did you use? Beautiful tank 💚
It was rainp/water roof silicone. I just picked it up lowes. I don't remember the brand. sorry.
How do you part your substrate? You just mix until it looks right or is there specific measurements for each substrate you add. I’m hopefully going to start building my bps bio active viv soon and there are countless videos on substrate yours seems to be one of the more simpler ones I can follow.
I didnt really measure anything out to be honest, but the majority was top soil. Then charcoal for filtration, spagnum moss to retain humidity. Then I threw some bark and coconut husk in there as a additional food source for the isopods. I dont they are completley neccessary though.
question arnt you supposed to wash the plant and dirt off first then plant it
Most plants that you buy in garden centers usually are littered with fertilizers, therefore washing all of the plants and getting rid of all the fertilizer and soil can take a really long time so I actually ended up doing it the night before recording the video. The soil that you see in the pots is the same as the substrate for the tank.
beautiful!hide really nicetoo.what sz. is this enclosure ? your bp I'm shure is loving this
.
How does the expanding foam hold? And does it matter what type?
It's been almost a year now, and it has held up very well. I'm not too sure if it matters on the kind, to be honest.
The minute he puts those bugs in, I’m like, nope. No bioactive for me😭 hate bugs
I get it, just saying though, if you ever have any plants with soil, there’s a 99% chance there will be springtails in there, they’re in all soil for the most part!
Do you have a shopping list of what products you used? Im gonna have to look for similar ones since im not from the us
what happens when the plants become root bound and you need bigger pots? or is that not going to happen? Sorry, might be a silly question.
Hi, awesome job, what kind of heating system do you have?
Light or heat mat?
Also is the expandable foam
And silocone ok for the python?
Yes, once dried and aired out. It's a pretty common method for making backgrounds for tanks. I have a couple heat mats which are connected to a thermostat, and a couple of heat bulbs.
would love to do this but its so expensive
Aren't you supposed to layer the substrate?
What did you do for lighting!
Hi, do you have an update on how the enclosure is doing?
I will do one soon, I recently started a new job and have been soo busy. I also recently got husky puppy, so there's that. But eventually will be looking to stick to a consistent upload schedule.
You dont need a drainage layer?
What foam do you use?
what foam did you use? what was the total price for this?
its expanding spray foam. its very cheap and you can get it at almost any hardware store.
Tank: $550
Building Supplies (Silicone, Foam, etc.): $60
Plants: $200
Decorative pieces: $140
Lights and Heat Mats: $160
Substrate: $50-$100 (I buy all of the ingredients individually and in bulk, then mix them all up together)
These are all in Canadian dollars by the way
I also breed my own Isopods and Springtails so I didn't have to pay for them.
Hope this helps..
I also live on a island off the coast of the pacific ocean, so whenever I take my dog to the beach, I collect a lot of my own driftwood and bark as buying in stores can be super expensive.
this is very helpful i have been planing on remaking my python enclosure and making it bio active , if you could maybe reach out to me i would really appreciate your help with the process
sorry for the late reply, was busy on vacation. Is there anything in particular you need assistance with?
Be good to do a video on how u maintain and care for a bioactive viv
Any idea where to get the insects from??
Joshsfrogs or petsmart has 'em
Still waiting for update video
No drainage layer? How is that working out?
I dont have one either, no difference
It's not like a heavily tropical enclosure so there's not really any need for a drainage layer, and the more plants you have usually the faster it's all absorbed, I always add a drainage layer for peace of mind but its not always needed
My thoughts exactly
Is there any benefits to having a bio active enclosure for my ball python?
How much did this build cost altogether?
about $900 (Canadian) including the tank
What are the dimensions on your tank? I have a 40 gallon breeder for my ball python, but I’m looking to upgrade 🤗
Get a 4x2x2’ enclosure or larger. The enclosure should be at least as long as the snake.
@@nightinggale6470 thank you!
I also named my ball python Montee 😂😂
11:57 And apparently Monty likes vodka.
Lol pot plants
Cool but not what they are adapted for ,their natural environment is much more different
if you have the proper temps and humidity, it doesnt matter. they can adapt
@@exoticcreations4859 yea I understand they can adapt although coming from Africa it’s nice to see them in natives enclosures I’ve been trying to find a way to make a “abandoned termite mound”haven’t found any videos you should make one ,native ball python setup
@@SILENTMOTIONS they don’t spend all their time in termite mounds in the wild.
This ain't bioactive (:
how do you figure that out? :)