Potted plants vs bioactive?

[WuTangCham]

Hey everyone, I finally got the plants put in and ready to go. I'm a bit worried, however, of the little guy squeezing in between the pots down low. I know that I read pots are easier and better in terms of him not eating substrate, but it feels like there are some tight spots in here that he'd be able to get trapped in. Almost feels like it'd be cleaner for me to go the bioactive route. Any thoughts?

 

[WuTangCham]

Related to my Ikea Build

 

[SeeJay]

I think worrying about them eating the substrate is overrated.
You’re most of the way to bioactive. I say go for it. If you can cover the substrate in pots, you can cover it in a terrarium floor.

 

[Thezillaman21]

I was thinking about this too. you could get some larger pieces of like cock bark or pack the surfaces of the substrate down if your worried about them eating it, in my experience crickets will climb up towards the lights so that's not an issue, id use a cup for worms and go the bio active route. cage looks great by the way, what type of bromeliad is that? almost looks like a fireball but bigger!

 

[GoodKarma19]

It would be difficult to get the substrate depth you need for bioactive with your enclosure as is, but if you build a 10" planter or so (perhaps under the terrarium?) you might be able to swing it! I'm a huge bioactive fan.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be terribly concerned.

 

[cyberlocc]

It would be difficult to get the substrate depth you need for bioactive with your enclosure as is, but if you build a 10" planter or so (perhaps under the terrarium?) you might be able to swing it! I'm a huge bioactive fan.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be terribly concerned.

Dont you use an Exoterra? the substrate depth on that is like 5 inches isnt it? You dont need 10 inches for a male, 3-4 inches of soil would likely be fine, 5 would be great.

OP could easily make this bio, just put a strip of glass across the front and silicon everything in real well those doors rest against the metal, he could silicon a substrate damn across the front on the inside of the metal. Wouldnt be hard or cost that much .

That said I cheated I seen his ikea thread, looked at these, and already figured out exactly how to bio it on his first post .

While your at it OP, I would cut and silicon that foam then push ecoearth into it as well, it looks better and helps hold moisture .

 

[Multivitamins]

Not to distract from the topic at hand but you are going to want to add some horizontal / diagonal branches if you give them avenues to climb and hide (back to the issue in the post) you likely won't have a chameleon hanging out down low unless there is food or it's to thermo-reguate. I have a 2*2*4 and rarely see my panther in the lower 1/3 of the enclosure unless he sees a loose feeder or is posted up in his PJs sleeping. Not saying it doesn't happen but it's not regular for my dude to explore the floor.

 

[GoodKarma19]

Dont you use an Exoterra? the substrate depth on that is like 5 inches isnt it? You dont need 10 inches for a male, 3-4 inches of soil would likely be fine, 5 would be great.

OP could easily make this bio, just put a strip of glass across the front and silicon everything in real well those doors rest against the metal, he could silicon a substrate damn across the front on the inside of the metal. Wouldnt be hard or cost that much .

That said I cheated I seen his ikea thread, looked at these, and already figured out exactly how to bio it on his first post .

While your at it OP, I would cut and silicon that foam then push ecoearth into it as well, it looks better and helps hold moisture .

I have one of the newer "paludarium" models, which have more depth to the vent bar. ~9", if I'm eyeballing it correctly! I have 7 inches of substrate, and 2 for drainage. 3-4 inches doesn't seem a lot for the sake of the plants, but fair enough I suppose they spread out just fine.

Personal preference! I like deeper substrate.

 

[cyberlocc]

I have one of the newer "paludarium" models, which have more depth to the vent bar. ~9", if I'm eyeballing it correctly! I have 7 inches of substrate, and 2 for drainage. 3-4 inches doesn't seem a lot for the sake of the plants, but fair enough I suppose they spread out just fine.

Personal preference! I like deeper substrate.

Ya they tend to mostly spread rather than dig deep, or rather they do if they can't dig deep.

I have a 7 inch, with a 1 inch Drainage Layer. However my cage has a drain in the floor, the drainage layer is just to help that work easier.

 

[Reptofreak]

Personally, I run everything bioactive. I believe it provides a more natural environment. Which in my opinion leads to healthier animals.

 

[WuTangCham]

Wasn't too difficult to convince me to go bio lined the front, about 1 inch of drainage rocks there, with a 2 inch soil, then heads up the hill to 6inches soil in the back, 1 inch drainage underneath that, not to mention the ultimate drain still below. Spills out sometimes out of screen on the sides, but for a living, breathing ecosystem if all I have to do is sweep the floor every once and awhile, I think I'm sold