Wow. Lotta misinformation in here. Bioactive is intended to create a small, balanced ecosystem within the enclosure - which replicates nature and the wild as closely as we can.
yes, that means the keeper doesn’t need to clean up disgusting wet paper towels - loaded with BAD bacteria, feces, dead bugs, etc. A big perk of bioactive is that the insects and microbes in the soil keep everything spick n’ span. The water typically drains into a separate catch can which is emptied regularly. That water is run through the soil and drainage layer.... where plants drink up the nutrients and flourish as a result. The soil a s drainage layer filter the water on the way down. It’s not toilet water - think of it like the water table that is NATURALLY underground outside. Of course - that water is going through even more filtration and depth outside.
How can you imagine that is less sanitary? Try an experiment yourself - poop and pee on a paper towel in your bedroom, and leave it there a few days. Now try pooping and peeing into a bucket of soil with a (big) clean up crew. Which one is nastier after a few days??
Aside from the benefits of bioactive being more sanitary, and less maintenance, it is more NATURAL for the chameleon.
Bioactive soil helps maintain and stabilize humidity. It enables healthier, more natural, and faster plant growth. It allows bacteria and microbes to be naturally cycled and counter balanced by each other and the clean up crew.
Aside from that, it is a more naturalistic environment for your chameleon. They live in trees, bushes, scrub, etc. Many with field expeditions find them at eye level, sometimes lower. The do come down to the ground to travel, hunt, and lay their eggs (and I’d love to do some research on eggbinding in chams in bio vs 12” laybin).
I have 17 chameleons currently, including 9 babies, and every one of them is in bioactive soil. I also have numerous insect colonies that are also thriving in bioactive setups. There is a very noticeable POSITIVE reaction to putting a chameleon in a bioactive enclosure from non-bio. At first they are intrigued and curious - noticeably more active. They get excited by isopods and may spend time entertaining themselves with them. The climb walls less and almost instantly feel more content in their enclosure.
To say bioactive is nasty and unsanitary means you have either never tried it, did it horribly wrong, or don’t understand it. I don’t recognize the other members name you quoted as your reference / back up... I may be wrong, but I believe that is a newer member. You might want the opinions of keepers who have been bioactive for years rather than someone who has never done it.
