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Hello,

I've been researching going bioactive for about 8 months now.

I know I will need a drainage layer of pebbles or hydroballs, a mixture of plain organic topsoil with sand and moss. Plus the clean up crew and plants if wanted.

My biggest question is what type of topsoil I should use. I found these today at Lowe's but was unsure if I could use either
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[Click image to enlarge]

Hello there. I see you've decided to go for a bioactive setup. Personally I say it is a very good decision. But the two Souls that you have on there. I would not use personally I do not. Recommend anything that is organic Plus. The all-purpose it's a little hard to say you would have to make sure that there is absolutely and I mean absolutely. No fertilizer. Chemical Basically, make sure that it's just dirt. Because your reptile will absorb it. And you don't want that to happen. Lol. There are different types of terrarium dirt. Terrarium sand grind up coconut fiber that you can get. I don't know the size of your Set up for bearded dragons A basic 40 gallon terrarium will take two 36 quart bags I recommend something called Tera Sahara. You can find it online. You can get it directly from the producer of The terrarium soil which is the bio, dude. You can also get it off of Amazon. But he does ship from Texas. So keep in mind that the shipping cost itself is a little crazy if you're far. But he does have species-specific bioactive kits. I do recommend. All of my terrarium setups two bearded dragons in one savannah monitor use the bio, dude. My two bearded dragons are kept in 119 gallon terrariums. I use four bags of 36 quartz each It comes with. Sphagnum Moss which you want to mix into the deeper section of the soil. Leaf litter and biodegradables for the Deep soil The cleanup crew will use it and it will help with the nutrient cycle for your plants. It also comes with bioshot which is beneficial bacteria is Keeps the bad bacteria away. But I would say the one thing that I highly recommend an essential to actually Get is a full spectrum light. LED full spectrum are used for your plants. They can also benefit your lizard, but they're not. Really meant for your reptile They are essential for replicating the Sun so your different plants that you would put in our able to photosynthesize Also, keep in mind that any plans that you actually get are most likely going to be at one point or another destroyed by Your Dragon. If they are anything like my bearded dragons as soon as they get into the terrarium, they go almost immediately into their mouth. LOL I had a large healthy elephant feed plant. Until my female dragon decided to use it as a perch and now it's all crushed. From where she's been smashing it. Anytime I put aloe vera plants into her Enclosure. She automatically will eat it. First chance she gets My male bearded dragon will just leave them alone for most of the time. And for my savannah monitor, I put lemongrass do not and I repeat do not put lemon grass with the bearded dragons. It will kill them. But lemongrass is about the only thing I can really put into my savannah monitor enclosure without Him deciding that it must die horribly. LOL But I do say the best. Terrarium soil that you can get is the bio dude and the type of you would want for bearded dragons is Tera Sahara. You don't even need the drainage layer. Using it

Also add an addition to my original reply I recommend a repti fogger. They take a little bit of playing with but it's good just to get a little bit of noise and keep the Dragon hydrated It's also good for keeping shedding simple I usually have mine to Ploy three times during the day once in the morning once in the afternoon. And once in the evening shortly before the lights go out. For bearded dragons. It's only a very short bursts. So Keep that in mind. Also any water That you use to water your plants. It's not necessary, but I recommend to always use. Reptisafe on it

I find it... curious that people can do extensive research on a topic like this and still come out with diametrically opposed conclusions.

I hope your research has included all the threads on Pros & Cons in the archives here.

I thought a bio-active enclosure was a neat idea at first, but the more I researched, the less enthralled I became for a bearded dragon, regardless of what claims proponents & purveyors of bio-active supplies may make. For a tropical or temperate climate reptile, sure, but not for one native to arid climes.

The biggest fallacy I found was that it would stink less and require less work on my part. Au contraire!

The compromise I settled on is having a sensible substrate (tile) that's easier to clean and helps claw/nail maintenance, and yet still include plants (currently ~20--mostly succulents, but not cacti). He still likes to climb on them, nibble, and beat them up, but he's not digging them up, and the humidity is now a stable 30-40% without misting/fogging. I just asked DW, who said (independently) it smells a little like a greenhouse (but less pungent) and no "dragon odor" whatsoever.

If you've definitely made up your mind and can't be deterred, OK--I wish you luck and success!
However, please think about doing it in such a way that if it doesn't work out the way you envision, you can make changes or redo with the least expense/work possible.

I do know the pros and cons, but I feel like it would be the better options for my dragons.

I have one that like a to dig a lot and we have humidity problems in the house so I thought a bioactive enclosure might boost that and help them shed better. I have asked my vet about our current humidity levels which he said is fine, and to give them baths more often. Also they are very good at spitting out any substrate picked up during feeding.

I found a thread on the forum where a member lay out all the items they used for their tank but I just don't know what kind of topsoil to use. I have looked into the Bio Dude but I have a 2×2×4 and the kit is like $200+ which is why i was following the thread that i found
https://beardeddragonforum.com/threads/ ... ice.11152/

Thanks all for the info

I'm always more than glad to help. I have to happy dragons and bioactive setups and they've been and their set up since they were young. Hasn't bothered them one bit. I will be honest. I don't recommend putting an adult immediately in the one kind of ease it into them. Some say would be used more of a sterile environment. Kind of just ease them into it. But the biggest thing I can always say is 100% that Experimenting and doing it yourself. Instead of just buying the supplies is always the best way. Just absolutely make sure that there is no added chemicals preservatives And my guide to bio active enclosures post, I do mention that if you're going to buy the materials outright. It can go up to $500. Very easily but if you experiment and make it yourself The only thing that's really going to cost is the plants. You would have to play around with the ratio, but one of the substrates that I recommend is a mixture of arid sand only a very small amount. A little bit of mulching some dirt and some stagnant Moss mixed in sphagnum Moss is Very good, you won't have to worry about a drainage layer because the Moss will absorb a lot of the moisture and then release it slowly into the soil. You can shoot me private messages if you find any materials that you're kind of iffy on.

DragonQueen3 wrote:.... we have humidity problems in the house so I thought a bioactive enclosure might boost that and help them shed better. I have asked my vet about our current humidity levels which he said is fine, and to give them baths more often.

I agree with your vet.

I feel like it would be the better options for my dragons.

I'm sorry, but that's another of the fallacies. It would be for you. That's not a knock; many of the decor items we put in our enclosures are more for our aesthetic benefit than their health/happiness.

Another fallacy from the link you cited is that bioactive soil is "a more natural substrate choice".
Again, for temperate/tropical reptiles, I wouldn't argue/belabor the point, but for arid climate reptiles like beardies, I've not found that to be true.

In addition to researching bio-active, did you happen to research how/where these little guys live in the wild (because it's about as far from a "bio-active" environment as you can get)?
If so, skip this next part. If not, please take a look (for your dragons).

BEARDED DRAGONS IN THE WILD! (are we keeping them correctly?)
You can get right to the Pogona vitticeps at 6:08, but the entire video is worthwhile (except maybe the commercials... )
That's not a leaf litter covered substrate--it's an arid, plant-sparse desert. Note the lack of undergrowth; if/when there is any, it's sparse scrub grasses--not what goes in a bio-active setup. The soil isn't a particulate problem because it's hard-packed. One place I disagree with Dāv is the use of crushed walnut shells as a substrate (See: Crushed Walnut Shells). I don't know, but that may have something to do with his Zilla sponsorship (as pro-bioactive sites often sponser/sell bio-active supplies).

Here are a couple others from Beardievet:
Bearded Dragon Substrate
Rocky compacted habitat

Does anyone have an information on using Reptisoil??
The humidity in my bedroom drops to 10% with all the lights and everything.

My female has begun trying to burrow at night so I want something she can use

DragonQueen3 wrote:Hello,

I've been researching going bioactive for about 8 months now.

I know I will need a drainage layer of pebbles or hydroballs, a mixture of plain organic topsoil with sand and moss. Plus the clean up crew and plants if wanted.

My biggest question is what type of topsoil I should use. I found these today at Lowe's but was unsure if I could use either
[Click image to enlarge]

[Click image to enlarge]

For a drainage layer charcoal is the best option .what I use for my bioactive substrate is 25%play sand 25%topsoil and 40% coconut fiber and I have some sphagnum moss and oak leaves for leaf litter and sand is pretty much my drainage
Layer and for clean up crew I have orange powder isopods, nightcrawlers , and a few darkling beetles I know you can use clay in your substrate mix aswell but what I mentioned above is best dont buy biodudes 100$ substrate that doesn't even come with clean up crew I'll tell u myself how to concoct it yourself

If you have the right mix of substrates it will be dry in the at the top and at dry at the bottom and moist in the middle trust me bioactive will lower your humidity plants take humidity out of the air and wherever else they find water like the substrate u have for reference my enclosure Is half bioactive and half ceramic tile I think two substrates Is best so he can not only escape the loose substrate but the tile helps their nails

DragonQueen3 wrote:Does anyone have an information on using Reptisoil??
The humidity in my bedroom drops to 10% with all the lights and everything.

My female has begun trying to burrow at night so I want something she can use

I'm not sure about reptisoil I looked it up and looks fine to me since it has 3 properties youd need put I'd still add coconut fiber to it and you'll need leaf litter and of course the most important element the clean up crew and what's ur humidity at most people freak out about it and is never an issue you can put a sock with rice in your enclosure to lower your humidity it's what I do

My problem with boiactive is (though quite EYE pleasing) ""health issues"".
Moist soil is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Both are detrimental to a dragons health. Respiratory infections and scale rot would high on the list and would have a devastating outcome. Not to mention the fact that they tend to lick everything and boiactive substrates could be ingested causing an impaction risk.
So with all of that being said, I will not risk the lives of my dragons so their homes would be more eye appealing.

If you must go bioactive.... Get an animal suited for that environment.

Gormagon wrote:My problem with boiactive is (though quite EYE pleasing) ""health issues"".
Moist soil is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Both are detrimental to a dragons health. Respiratory infections and scale rot would high on the list and would have a devastating outcome. Not to mention the fact that they tend to lick everything and boiactive substrates could be ingested causing an impaction risk.
So with all of that being said, I will not risk the lives of my dragons so their homes would be more eye appealing.

If you must go bioactive.... Get an animal suited for that environment.

The bacteria and fungi is no issue that's why you have clean up crew , and they do lick everything but a few grains womt hurt if your husbandry is correct and u feed out of bowls and dragons live in arid conditions with there are arid bioactive
Substrates it's not only enriching for you to look at but its best for him with live plants and being able to dig and natural find bugs in the substrate like they would in the wild bioactive substrate is the best route I have two substrates tile on one side and bioactuve on the other impaction is caused by incorrect housing not licking at his substrate and you can coat it with coconut fiber to make it more packed and wont get in the air and it wont get in the air if u have the right mix to begin with and leaf litter on top wont let him scoop it up and it's as simply as watching your dragons behaviors.Any dragon I've seen on bioactive is more healthy the owner does more research and knows more and isnt lazy with it there is no health issues with bioactive as much as you made it seem the clean up crew will eat the substrate and poop it out making it more nutritious having them on just sand is what you made it sound like

Gormagon wrote:If you must go bioactive.... Get an animal suited for that environment.

+1 👍 Amen!

Cleanup crews aren't going to take care of all bacteria & fungi. If they did, the plants would all die. See: Root microbiome and Mycorrhiza. And because these organisms are beneficial to plants doesn't mean they're beneficial to bearded dragons or other arid clime reptiles.

My daytime humidity is around 10% if I don't spray in the cages. Night time can go up to 30%.

My female hasn't shed since October which I find very concerning. I was thinking maybe using Reptisoil with play sand and moss would be an appropriate way to combat the extreme dryness here in the desert and she would start shedding again