Bioactive

Bioactive Custodians

Bioactive cleaner crew are the hard working little critters that keep nutrients recycling in your enclosure. Small springtails and worms work hard under the bedding while various woodlice species will check the lower branches and decorations for food to recycle. They are essential for a long lasting bioactive enclosure.

Bioactive cleaner crew food

In recent years we have seen the mass adoption of naturalistic living enclosures and they can be truly breathtaking. Soil, decor and plant selection is essential but if you want it to last you'll need to keep the little critters tidying up well fed. This page consists of all of our cleaner crew diets, specifically formulated to keep your cleaner crew colony as healthy as possible and to pass as much nutrition into the soil as possible. If the growth in your enclosure slows we would recommend trying one of these foods, once your colony is up and running the entire system should thrive.

Bioactive Live Plants

Phrases like 'Terrascaping', 'Bio-Active' and 'Living Terrariums' are becoming more and more common in the world of reptile and amphibian care, as keepers become more aware of the benefits of creating a living ecosystem for their pets.

Apart from the aesthetic appeal of a planted terrarium there are some very real, tangible benefits for the animals. Living plants provide natural cover and climbing perches, shade, basking sites and maintain natural humidity. Just as live plants in an office can improve workers well-being, live plants in a terrarium will have the same effect for animals.

But not all plants are suitable for terrarium use and it is important to not only choose the correct plants for the environment but also to select species or varieties that do not grow too large. Many houseplants for sale appear suitable when they are small specimens in a garden centre, but given time they may end up as giants that overwhelm a terrarium.

ProRep are delighted to introduce a comprehensive range of live plants. These are not just small houseplants but are a selected range of species that are ideally suited to the terrarium, including some of the more unusual or rare types. They have carefully selected the range so that there are plants to suit all habitats and growth patterns. There are succulents for arid environments, bromeliads, ground cover plants and epiphytes for jungle setups as well as aquatic plants and mosses.

Whatever the environment you're trying to re-create, you will be able to use live plants to suit.

Natural Wood Decorations for Bioactive Enclosures

Natural wooden decorations have been a staple of the reptile keeping hobby for many years. They provide a nice touch of nature to any enclosure but have proven to be particularly useful for bio-active enclosures. Hard wood decorations like the ExoTerra forest branches or Java branches are brilliant for dry enclosure and heavy pets. They won't deteriorate in low humidity and are generally much sturdier than bark covered alternatives. We have found these to be perfect for dragons, ground dwelling geckos, scorpions, tortoises and boas. On the other end Asian and Amazon Lliana, oak and troncho branches are brilliant for forest and jungle enclosures. Many of them have an outer bark layer which will absorb moisture when misted and help to maintain humdity throughout the day. We have found them to be perfect for arboreal geckos, basilisks, water dragons, pythons, treefrogs and tree snakes.

Bioactive Substrates

Bioactive substrates are a great way to create your own bioactive set up. These soil based substrates are already packed with nutrients so plants and cleaner colonies like woodlice or springtails can be added straight into the enclosure. These are a great way to create a naturalistic enclosure.

Natural Wooden Hides for Bioactive Enclosures

Naturalistic hiding places are an essential part of a reptile, amphibian or invertebrates enclosure. They provide partial cover from the lighting and heating and can be used to trap humidity allowing for more gradients within a smaller enclosure. They are particularly useful in bioactive enclosures where they can provide a safe space for ground dwelling species while blending in with the rest of the natural decor. We have found these perfect for small lizards, snakes, toads, ground dwelling frogs, geckos and spiders.

Natural backgrounds for bioactive enclosures

A range of natural backgrounds for climbing species of spiders, lizards, frogs and snakes. These backgrounds are perfect for bioactive enclosures as they can cover a back wall increasing the naturalistic feel of the enclosure. The cork wooden backgrounds will retain moisture and help keep humidity up during the day while the turf and coco backgrounds are perfect for planting seeds into and creating a living wall. Both options provide a natural looking climbing space and look great in bioactive enclosures.