How to setup a bioactive terrarium for a Ball Python 

So looking forward to showing Tristan this video on his birthday! He may get more excited about the shout-out than anything else! Thanks for shout-out and the set up Josh!

I'm a couple months into a successful (so far, knock on wood!) bioactive setup for my Ball Python and would like to say thank you to Josh for his straight-forward videos and information. I purchased Bio Dude's Terra-Firma Bioactive Kit as the base for my project and was very happy with his stuff! He is a smart guy who knows what he's talking about. Don't let the sound quality of his older videos turn you off - he's got the science covered and you don't need to go looking for something with fancier production :) Terra-Firma does exactly what he says it will do, and it did it even better than I expected. Seriously.... don't pack or compress this substrate - KEEP IT LOOSE so your pet can manipulate it to his liking - it makes the entire experience so much better. It maintains such an even gradient of moisture from top to bottom... My plants are rooting and holding in it like crazy... Microfauna love it... It holds whatever deformation my ball python causes in it like burrows and "roads" and I love seeing the unique shape of the inside of his dens anytime I open them up. I occasionally mix/churn the substrate in non-rooted areas - more frequently under my snake's hide areas (anytime I actually remove him from one to handle or feed), encouraging exercise and stimulation in creating new borrows, as well as spreading microfauna around and introducing oxygen to the soil. Mixing some of the sphagnum moss into the Terra Firma really allows areas of it to stay super airy, and after I freshly "churn-up" areas of my enclosure I leave some spots super "loose" and my snake will actually burrow DOWN into it like a worm, sometimes I even find a tunnel leading from inside his hide to somewhere like 8" away! I think when he sheds, this aspect of the Terra-Firma will help him loosen his old face skin to get it started, too. My Isopods love any holes or partial tunnels left by the snake, I notice they go inside and shed, which draws Springtails and allows me to regularly catch glimpses of these secretive, invisible little guys I spent my hard-earned money on, lol. For somebody anal about weird stuff like me, it's nice to see them and know they're alive without digging! To add to Josh's tips and walkthrough here, I have had excellent luck with Pothos and since my enclosure is long and narrow, I planted any plants at least 2" from the glass to encourage the snake to form his "roads" around and not over them. This has worked pretty well! I notice that snakes tend to cruise their same "roads" during periods of activity, so with some proper planning you can avoid most trampling issues. I have 2 varieties of Elephant Bush (native African succulent, edible, omg delicious) on on the hotter, dryer, basking side and they've been doing awesome. They love the basking lamp, handle the Ball Python's weight, and help retain heat in the basking area rather than let it easily spread over to the cooler side. They shelter some microfauna too which helps keeps them somewhat active in the dryer area. They often live in areas of full sun and over 100 degrees F, and can be 80% of an Elephant's diet so you know they grow fast!

I feel like 50% of all domestic ball pythons are named Monty

Can I make a suggestion? You should get a wireless mic that you can clip on to your shirt. Other than the sound quality your videos are excellent.

The lotus pod in the back wont stop looking at me

So happy I found this video. Probably saved me from burning down my house. My rubber feet fell off on one of my tanks and was laying directly on the cord. It is crushed and flat. Thanks man. Won't make that mistake again. Edit: I dont even have a bioactive enclosure. Im just watching stuff on RU-vid.

thats kinda small for a bp (lengthwise)

Can't wait to pick up a kit for my ball python he's gonna love it! Can you do some videos of some setups after the snakes have been in them for a few months and it's growing out and everything? Kinda like an update!

Awesome I didn't think it could be done at 1st but that's perfect.

You sound like Willy Wonka which makes this video so funny I love it

Maybe this is a dumb question but how does the heatmat work when you have so much soil above it?

Love this vid great help to setting up my own terrarium. I appreciate all your help man

This tank is so ridiculously small, even for a young ball python 😖

I'm looking into getting my first snake ever, a ball python. I've scoured the entire internet & I got to say, this video is my favorite! I really enjoyed being able to watch you put the vivarium together, what products you added, why you added them & how they help. Thank you so so much!

Great video man, I'll make sure to take notes for building my own bio active vivarium for my ball python soon

Very nice! It’s awesome that you did that for the kid and his parents. I know I’ve asked you this a lot but could you please do a tutorial on fire skinks?

enjoyed this video.

Great video! Just got a whole kit for a 4x2x2 enclosure and a set of 5 plants from you. Cost quite a bit, but I think it'll be well worth it.

I have two enchi ball pythons (boy and girl) and like all my other critters I have them in a bioactive terrarium, however they both crush and kill any and all plants I put in there. I've tried bamboo, ferns of all kinds, pothos, grasses, dwarf ivy, penny-wort ...all dead. I tested identical setups in other vaccant tanks including adding in fecal matter from the animals and the plants thrived and took over the tank in about 3 months. Any thoughts? side note... ball pythons don't burrow. They use existing spaces. If your python is burrowing then you have a severe humidity problem and they'd typically wedge themselves under the water dish.

Hi. I was wondering if you could do a northern blue tongue skink bioactive setup video. I met you at NARBC Arlington and I had just bought my baby northern blue tongue skink. Thank you I hope you can make that video! 🦎

The dude abides

Very nice set-up!

I would love to see story videos about your reptiles and inside/close ups of the interiors and your little creatures! I think it would be a good way for you to increase people that view your channel and buy your products. Kind of like AntsCanada here on RU-vid. And if you ever need graphic art or icons... i know a gal ;>

Beautiful setup, but won't an adult ball python need more than an 18 by 18 enclosure?

NPK stands for Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (potash, or K getting this name from the periodic table).

I love how this turned out! I’ve been pondering the idea of giving my ball python a bioactive terrarium but I’m nervous. I have a lot of house plants and typically in the summer time I’ll have gnats. I can only imagine they’d have a great time in an enclosure like this. How would you prevent a gnat infestation and how would you treat it?

I’m watching this to build one for my new baby and his name is Monty too lol

So to my understanding with being1 a person that loves to garden. The heat mat would heat up the soil and create the proper humidity for the snake. You also don't want it get right close on the mat as it can burn their under bellies. I don't think the amount of substrate or soil is going to hinder heat distribution in the tank with the amount he has. Also, if you listen closely he does state it would keep the middle layer which going to create moist heat in fact it would mostly like heat your boop noodle more efficiently then sitting on a dry mat. Think of it as this have you ever dug in dirt after a rain shower on a hot summer day? That would be the same effect. At least that's how I see it

Loved the video, however I’m not sure how much substrate I’ll need for a 36” by 18” by 18” enclosure or what clean up crew I’ll need? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How long will that size enclosure be suitable for what I'm guessing is a small young snake?

Dude my BP is names Monty!!! 😂😂😂

Can you do a uromastyx bioactive setup?

Bro love your bideos

God so many people are being rude to him and making mean comments while stating “the enclosure isn’t big enough” maybe you people should watch the video and read what he is saying in the comments it’s for a young ball python, so y’all need to chill and use your brain

Isnt it to small?

Is it better to put the cork bark in first before adding the isopods and springtails to avoid crushing them?

Got a new follower bud!

Always awesome

Just a question out of curiosity, how is the heat getting up since the bedding is very thick? Just wanted to know since I want to build one too:)

"Npk is short for fertilizer"lol

It would be great if you included a product list, possibly with links to buy online.

Hey man. Love the videos. Thanks for all of the great info. Where are you from? I noticed your sweatshirt was from a bar in OCMD.

I'd love to see a video on a your moss spore mix. some tips on using it.

Excellent as always Josh!! Love your products and my frogs are stoked because of it!! Not sure if you are taking suggestions, but could you do a arboreal tree frog tank set up???

Make a video for milk snakes!!

Looks beautiful. I had a setup with a lot of the same things you used. My beautiful girly ended up with mites. I took her to the vet and he told me too take her out and put her in a clean tank, new water and his with a absorbant mat made for reptiles. Once they were gone they never came back. Just be careful

No thermostat on the UTH? I guess that much substrate should prevent it from getting too hot, but I would still worry.

THANK YOU!!!!

With bioactive terrarium's like these, how often are you changing out the substrate and do you let waste naturally decompose or remove it?

I'd probably add the insects lastly to avoid them escaping or getting crushed with the earthquake that's happening with the terrarium's new geology.

How often do you need to change your substrates for the ball python living inside?

Any comments welcome… I’m looking at getting a python, possibly ball python and plan on a bioactive enclosure similar to this set up. I am thinking about removing the screen top and replacing it with a plexiglass material with spaced holes drilled into it because it would help hold humidity better. I see this in tarantula keeping and it seems to do well .

How often do you have to change the whole soil n how do you know ur lil animals are still alive to you have to keep putting more with time n what is the full cost of doing something like thing n ongoing maintenance/cost.?

If ball python starts digging in & all this stuff including that fertilizer gets in his mouth is your earth substrate 100% safe? I saw my ball had a mouthful of eco earth when he got excited and started digging ..I had to scoop it all out of his mouth with a qutip.

The Dude Abides...(mic drop) lol! Great video Josh! Moving to a bigger home soon and looking to rehome my 4 ball pythons to a bioactive setup! One question though, does the springtail/arthropod colony ever get so big that you need to remove some of them?

Does he mention it's for a baby BP? Because this is TINY for an adult. Especially length wise.

Can I add meal worms as part of the clean up crew as well?

Do you NEED to add the bugs?

Ok I am a new owner. I have trouble with keeping humidity high enough. I am thinking of doing this bio house for her. What happened if they get mites? Do you have to start new with all materials? If no issues do you have to change dirt out or are you just good to go from here on out? Please provide a list of all materials for this!

The bio duddeeee!

I'm just wondering why you jumped straight to your media do you not need drainage in this instance?

Is this for a hatchling? Can you show how to set up an adult 4x2x2? Or is it pretty much the same?

The set up looks really good but I think this must be where us and uk do things differently.. unless a b.p was in a rack, we would never use u.t.h as it will never reach a hot enough temp, especially under that much substrate, without cracking the glass. Ceramics should be a go to heat source in a viv. If you disagree that’s cool. Not trying to wind you up, just an observation. Ps. You need to find a cheap way of shipping to the uk, there are only a 1 or 2 bio websites around that are good.

It would be nice to know about the lighting .. are u using UVB ? Or LED just for light so u can see inside...?

Dose the substrate have Pete moss?

Do bio active enclosures have to b glass?

How long would a tat that size be suitable for a baby/juvenile bp male before you need to move up to a longer enclosure?

I know this is old but I’ve always wondered how having isopods works, do they not try to escape into your home?

What type of plants are you using in this one?

How long would this last for once setup? When would I need to re-surface the terrafirma, etc.? Does this last a year? More? What does upkeep look like?

Should I get a light source for the plants?

In some past video's, you said that the spring tails and isopods don't break down the snakes pee/urate. Would you have to clean that out and how would you do that without ruining the setup if, for example, the snake pooped in a tunnel? I really want to do a bio active setup for my snake but I have been curious about that for a while.

Hey man great video likes and subbed😁. Dude, do you know if putting superworms to turn into darkling beetles, if it’ll be ok to use them as part of the cleanup crew along with spring tails and isopods. Will that be ok in the enclosure with a bel python? And also how about with a snowcorn snake? Anyone know ❓❓ Thanks 🙏🏽

Cool video, if set up tons of ball python tanks, and many other species. Is that heat pad even gonna penetrate far enough to warm up that substrate? Seems like a lot.

I am looking at getting a ball python ... I am looking at different ways to do my tank. So I have a couple questions ... 1) once this is put together, is there any maintenance other then keeping the plants alive? Cleaning? Updating? 2) I am getting a young one, was born September of 2018. Can I get a bigger size to handle him through full growth?

i just got isopods for mine but i don’t see them and feces were still solid like not being eaten, what else can i do to help that?? he’s going to shed soon but honestly haven’t seen any isopods since i’ve gotten

Why use this vs the layered system for ball pythons? I have read about others using different types of light heating w/ dimmers and protection and scrapping the heat pad altogether. Would that be what to do if it were layered? Or keep a combination? What are your thoughts on this? I'm still learning and super respect your methods/dudeness! Thank you for sharing your expertise!

Is it true that springtails and isopods help prevent or cut down on snake mites?

I have just came across this video I am currently lookin into creating a bio setup for my year old male ball I believe i have a 30 gal tall setup right now looking into a 50 or 100 gal because he is around 3 maybe 4 ft as of now so what would you recommend I start with, thank you, your products are great btw my wife and I use mostly biodude products for our crested gecko

This is probably a silly question but how much do you must it per day...? Like a quick mist? Several mists? Do you must for a certain amount of time?

Can someone please explain to me how a screen top is able to keep a humidity level of ~60%? Any help is appreciated!

When heating a cage is it better to use the heat pad instead of a heat lamp? I've heard that ball pythons don't really bask and like to hide instead.

for a bioactive set up, can you have a heat mat inside of the tank, or does it have to be under the tank?

I need help bad. I bought all my stuff from the bio dude. Which is all great, tank looks awesome! But I have a zoomed heat mate the substrate temp is at 70 on the hot side, up a little higher its 73. The cold side is 65 on the sub and 67 up the tank a bit. I also have a 100w ceramic heater on top of the hot side. Im so ready to give up

Would you post links to all or most of the materials you used ?

Can you do a guide how to setup a bio active vivarium for a Chinese water dragon, I plan on creating one of my own and find that not many people have properly done so.

That’s an n’joy pothos. Pearls and jade if anything.

I'm curious what the average cost of setting up a tank like this is and then also the cost of maintenance for it? I'm just recently starting my research on getting a pet snake for the first time.

Way to small for a ball python unless she is a baby.

Bio dude - love the ball python set up .. for all the work in time involved with this set up ? Would it be easily transferred to a larger Terrium ? I would recommend going bigger because ball pythons will grow out of this size Terrium with in a year or so ? So in other words would it be wise to just go bigger if we’re going to spend the money on such a nice set up

Giel Beelen junior hahaha

How does any heat get through that thick layer of substrate?!

I feel like little to no heat from the heat mat is going to make it through that much substrate.

How many bags of the substrate would you suggest for a 36x18 tank?

Hi! Question regarding the set up, i set mine up in a 20l tank but soon after realized i need a new tank, can i empty the current set up into a new tank? Or do we need to start over?

Iwas told that Springtails may kill themselves with under tank heating.. because when they get too hot, they instinctively burrow down which only leads them directly to the uth... ????

do one for rainbow boas

Isn't this enclosure WAYYY too small for a ball python? and also, isn't overhead heating a lot better and more natural than UTH?

Im putting together my kit and I dont have isopods? I have a white package with tough brown dirt or something maybe for humidity while traveling?

what about the drainage layer?