Bioactive question

[jamest0o0]

I read a few different answers across the internet on this... should i be cleaning my cham poop out while my substrate is still establishing itself or should i flip it under a leaf/rock/bark and let it go?

 

[Boygeorge27]

I do leave some of mine chams poop under some leafs and rocks but some times I take some out just so there is not loads in it

 

[jamest0o0]

That's kind of what i was thinking. Similar to seeding a saltwater tank

 

[Boygeorge27]

I always use the same spot and I've never had any problems with anything

 

[poison]

There's no reason to leave the poop. I spot clean all of my enclosures. The microfauna won't need poop to thrive it will have other sources of food like leaves mainly.

 

[jamest0o0]

Isn't the purpose to break down waste though? I have no problem removing the poop, but at the same time is it really necessary if it's buried under leaves and such?

 

[poison]

In the early stages I doubt it'll break down waste with any speed. Though the purpose of a bioactive enclosure is indeed to have a self sustaining enclosure Idk anyone other then dart frog keepers that don't spot clean (unless the frogs poop on the glass). Your lizards will likely poop much faster then anything we put in the enclosure can break down. The microfauna will allow your substrate to be safe for you animal for a very long time if not the rest of its life preventing any harmful fungus or mold from building up. You may experience a build up in poop if you allow it to stay in the enclosure.

 

[jamest0o0]

Okay that makes a lot of sense. It's nice to have the mold/bacteria/etc in check. I've seen people with larger lizards that have their poop break down in a few days max, almost completely. I guess this would take a long time to establish though. anyway it's nice to know it should keep a healthy environment for the cham. Thanks for posting.

 

[poison]

Hmm, that's interesting. I originally got my bioactive idea from monitor keepers and was told they all spot clean. I'm sure in a very large established enclosure it can happen. From what I've noticed is the springtail and isopods seem to show interest in the poop until it starts to dry after that it slowly decomposes. Ik an enclosure with a good colony of earth worms will most definitely break anything in its way down the only problem I had with earthworms was they break down too fast. My leaf litter was vanishing very quickly. I don't really have a good source of leaf litter that I trust anywhere near my house so I chose not to use earth worms anymore since I use leaf litter in most of my enclosures.

 

[poison]

Here's a book I highly recommend you get, it has an amazing article on bioactive substrate. Though the book is mainly based off snake husbandry it can be applied to other species as well

 

[jamest0o0]

Thanks i'll have to check that out for sure. I was wondering about earthworms, never see those mentioned, but they'd seem like a good addition. I have springtails, but need to get some isopods. Know any sites to order critters like that? Joshs frogs is out of them.

 

[poison]

I would go with the red wigglers. Much smaller then your nightcrallers or Canadian earthworms and in nature they're found in the first few inches of the surface so they would do great for an enclosure. They make a great food source but they do release a bad taste when they are threatened so that could be good if ou don't want them eating it. I've been looking at unclejims worm farm for a while but I've never actually purchased from them. You can also get them at most Walmarts or pet smarts in small quantities.

 

[Goose502]

I spot clean what I can see. Sometimes there's a huge poop dangling from some leaves, you gotta pick those up. I'm sure I've missed many poops that have bounced there way to the floor of the vivarium, I do look for them, but I have a feeling my cleannup crew takes care of a few poops before I can get to them.