Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[grink dude]

Hi everyone, i have been thinking of doing a bioactive substrate for my crested gecko. Could anyone tell me what i need, and how to do it.

Thanks Steph
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Steph

[Exalted Gecko]

You need to use mainly soil, (obviously) and then its along the lines of keeping the lower layers moist and mixing in the droppings, and keep moving the top layer to the bottom and vice a versa.

Bit of an effort to be honest...
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Kind Regards,

Chris

[Cleef]

I'm not sure what you mean exactly...

For my substrate though I used mainly moss peat, some coco fibre and orchid bark. It is heavily planted, with plants directly in the substrate. I notice a lot of very tiny insects in the soil, when droppings hit the substrate it takes about 24 hours (I think) for a fluffly mould to grow upon it. This soon disappears and the dropping disintergrates very quickly a few days later, so something obviously takes care of it. I have just set up a viv for day geckos too, using just moss peat and orchid bark, also lives plants. I've noticed a few creepy crawlies in this too, only after a few days, so they were obviously there already (in the substrate i think). I spot clean occasionally but a lot of the time I can't find droppings on the substrate as they disappear, it's a good thing - good for the plants Oh I think good ventilation also helps a lot
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Steve P

[Muttley_109]

I noticed the little insects in my cresties viv. I think they are tropical springtails. God knows where they came from but if that is what they are then its all goodas they will eat fungi mould etc.

[grink dude]

thanks for the help, i am going to try and do this bioactive substrate a.s.a.p. I heard that a good way to kick start the bacteria and micro organisms, is to add some soil from a plant from the house ( as long as it hasn't got fertilizers and other toxins). My mum will help me do the substrate.
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Steph

[grink dude]

does moss need a good uv light source to grow?? because i am looking to have moss as the top layer of the substrate, but i don't have uv. Will it be ok?? shall i look for a different top layer or look into getting a uv lamp.
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Steph