Show me your Bioactive Vivariums Looking for Inspiration and Guidance

[tarrynh011]

Hi Everyone,

I'm wanting to change things up over the December holidays and have been doing quite a bit of research on Bioactive Vivarium's for my 2 chameleons.
We will be upgrading their enclosures as well as their current enclosures are a mission as there is no drainage so every weekend I'm cleaning out about 2L of water in each. I am looking at doing a Bio active (With drainage) in the new enclosures as I think this will be "lower maintenance/cleaning" . Not that cleaning is an issue I'm just concerned at how much water is at the bottom of the enclosure and the amount of drowned crickets i find there it can be very good for my chams?!?
I also want to make their enclosures more a feature as they are situated in my lounge area. Am looking at doing a feature wall on the back with expanding foam and logs and plants, Hoping to include a few Orchids as well.
If you guys are willing to share images of your bio active enclosures I would really appreciate it.

Thank you

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Have you perused the 3 Official Enclosure Picture threads at the top of this forum?

 

[jamest0o0]

Do it!

 

[tarrynh011]

Have you perused the 3 Official Enclosure Picture threads at the top of this forum?

Hi There Klyde O scope if you are referring to the enclosure link under the resources tab yes i have ? just looking for more inspiration

 

[tarrynh011]

Do it!

Thank you JamestOoO your enclosure is huge! wow is that Moss on one of the branches ? (Think its Image 1)

 

[jamest0o0]

Thank you JamestOoO your enclosure is huge! wow is that Moss on one of the branches ? (Think its Image 1)

Yeah, I got moss slurry and some living moss and placed it around the enclosure. It mostly thrived under the bright lights and misters. That parts that stayed a little more dry the moss died off a bit. You can put some sphagnum around it too to help keep the moisture.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Hi There Klyde O scope if you are referring to the enclosure link under the resources tab yes i have ? just looking for more inspiration

bioactive chameleon enclosure

 

[Mawtyplant]

 

[Gingero]

This blog is great to help you in your bioactive journey: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/intro-to-bio-activity.2429/

 

[tarrynh011]

bioactive chameleon enclosure

Thank you klyde OScope, pinterest is definitely my first go to for ideas, however I'm curious to know how the other members on this forum are doing it, aswell as how are their chameleons enjoying enclosures like these.. They absolutely stunning i love the vivariums

 

[tarrynh011]

Yeah, I got moss slurry and some living moss and placed it around the enclosure. It mostly thrived under the bright lights and misters. That parts that stayed a little more dry the moss died off a bit. You can put some sphagnum around it too to help keep the moisture.

Just a question I thought that the moss is "dangerous" for the chams as it could cause them to become impacted (think that is the correct term) ? I love the moss look in the vivariums it really brings the vivarium to life.
Do you or have you considered grow lights for the plants ? Curious to know peoples thoughts are on this. Some research I have done people say yes and others say grow lights are bad for the chams not sure what to beleive

 

[789]

I was you just a month ago. Now im here in the process. Im unsure if im going to put a substrate in the bottom. Not a fake plant in sight.

 

[tarrynh011]

View attachment 282331

Hi there Mawtyplant thank you for the image, what plants have you used in your vivarium?

 

[tarrynh011]

This blog is great to help you in your bioactive journey: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/intro-to-bio-activity.2429/

Thank you Gingero I did find this blog I think @MissSkittles was the one who composed it.
When I first got my chams I made a point to cover the soil of my plants with a plastic mesh and stones so the chams can't get to it and eat anything weird. However with these bioactive vivariums it would appear to be the opposite. I do understand that the final layer needs to be leaf litter but surely the chams can still get to the soil? This to me dosent make sense..

 

[tarrynh011]

I was you just a month ago. Now im here in the process. Im unsure if im going to put a substrate in the bottom. Not a fake plant in sight.

Hi 789 So glad I'm not the only one ? I would really like to get to this stage where all plants are live. I see you have pothos, umbrella tree, ficus (to name a few) what fern is that on the back left?

 

[789]

Hi 789 So glad I'm not the only one ? I would really like to get to this stage where all plants are live. I see you have pothos, umbrella tree, ficus (to name a few) what fern is that on the back left?

Thats's a boston fern in the back. Baby Tears on the bottom, a cutting of a monestera on the top and trying to save that pathetic orchid that was given to me.

 

[tarrynh011]

Thats's a boston fern in the back. Baby Tears on the bottom, a cutting of a monestera on the top and trying to save that pathetic orchid that was given to me.

I didnt even see the orchid ? is it not surviving because its in the enclosure or was it like that before you put it in? I want to have orchids in my new enclosures but don't want to waste my money if them won't survive. Attached is what my enclosures currently look like, the bottom is all real plants and the top for decor is all plastic I did have little real alyssium violets in small pots on the sides of the enclosures however they did not survive.. even though I watered them daily because the misted dose t reach them they just didn't love being in the enclosure ??‍

 

[Rhea’s mum]

It’s still all growing in

 

[789]

The orchid the person gave to me was in a glass vase that was unable to breath due to having no drainage hole. Im sure itll perk right up after a few weeks in my cage. Looks like itll be an easy transition to a bioactive cage. Youre essentially halfway there.

 

[tarrynh011]

It’s still all growing inView attachment 282349

Hi there Rhea's mum, thank you for the image, what plant is in the white bucket as well as above on the side left mesh oh and the bottom infront of the ficus ?