Lampropeltis and Heteredon Bioactive enclosures.

[Ben Thorne]

I have a California Kingsnake and a Western Hognose. I want to switch them both onto a more natural substrate (Currently on Snake Life Aspen)

Do you think their environments are similar enough that I could use a similar substrate

Was thinking "BioLife Desert"

Mostly sandy, some dirt mixup.

Thoughts?

 

[Dandrobates]

In all honesty you’re better off staying with the aspen. The bioactive trend is getting a bit over the top and I see more people sinking money into it when it only makes husbandry more difficult. The concept only works if you have a large environment compared to the primary inhabitant. I keep 10 frog vivariums that could be considered “bioactive” but they are massive compared to their inhabitants so the bioload waste can be handled effectively. I never keep my snakes on anything besides newspaper or paper towels because I’d need an enormous enclosure to handle the waste effectively in a “bioactive” setup. Also, the bioactive concept is further compounded by the fact that it is much easier to maintain a naturalistic vivarium with species that thrive in moist environments over dry environments. Springtails and the like by and large are moisture dependent and this is contrary to the captive needs of many snake species and specifically the ones you mentioned. You could pull it off but remember you are going to do a lot of substrate spot cleaning and you have the potential for substrate impaction if you feed in the terrarium. I hate to rain on the parade so please don’t take this post the wrong way. It’s just been my experience that this type of setup just doesn’t work with some species.