Enclosure Setup
How to Set Up a Bioactive Terrarium, Step by Step
A step-by-step guide to building a bioactive terrarium: drainage, barrier, substrate, hardscape, plants, leaf litter and cleanup crew, plus how long to wait before adding your animal.
Bioactive terrarium & isopod guides
Practical guides for bioactive terrariums. Substrate, isopods, springtails and fixing problems, explained without the fluff.
Most-read guides
Getting Started
What Is a Bioactive Terrarium? A Beginner's Guide
What a bioactive terrarium is, how it works, what you need to build one, and the honest pros and cons compared with a standard reptile setup.
Isopods
Best Isopods for Beginners: 6 Hardy Species to Start With
The best isopods for beginners and bioactive setups: six hardy, fast-breeding species, what humidity they need and which one fits your enclosure.
Free tool
Open Substrate CalculatorHow much substrate do you need?
Enter your enclosure size and get the volume of bioactive substrate, drainage layer and leaf litter to buy.
Latest guides
Getting Started
What Is a Bioactive Terrarium? A Beginner's Guide
What a bioactive terrarium is, how it works, what you need to build one, and the honest pros and cons compared with a standard reptile setup.
Troubleshooting
Why Are My Isopods Dying? Common Causes and Fixes
Isopods dying one by one? The most common causes, from drying out to poor ventilation and failed molts, and exactly what to change to save your culture.
Isopods
Best Isopods for Beginners: 6 Hardy Species to Start With
The best isopods for beginners and bioactive setups: six hardy, fast-breeding species, what humidity they need and which one fits your enclosure.
Enclosure Setup
Bioactive Substrate Mix: DIY Recipe and Ratios
How to mix your own bioactive substrate: a simple tropical recipe, an arid variation, what each ingredient does and what to avoid.
Troubleshooting
Grain Mites in Isopod Cultures: Harmful or Not?
Tiny white bugs in your isopod or springtail culture? How to identify grain mites, whether they're harmful, why they appear and how to get numbers under control.
Enclosure Setup
Do You Need a Drainage Layer in a Bioactive Terrarium?
When a bioactive terrarium needs a drainage layer, how deep it should be, which materials to use and why arid setups usually skip it.