Biologically Active Substrate

[abrahm]

I was just wondering if anyone has tried one of these biologically active substrate systems for salamanders? I know they promote this system on livingunderworld.org and also in The Art of Snake Keeping by Philippe de Vosjoli. It seems very promising by creating a microecoystem to help break down waste matter would really make things easier on the keeper, plus I imagine it might be beneficial for the animal. Has anyone tried one of these before and have any anecdotal experience? What do people think of using leaflitter from an outside area that hasn't been treated with pesticide?

 

[jennifer]

Can you provide some further information and/or links, Abrahm? Sounds interesting, but I've never heard the term "biologically active substrate" before.

I do find that when I use top soil in terrariums, I get better natural breakdown of waste (no mold!), compared to using coco fiber or towels. I see nothing wrong with using outdoor leaf litter.

 

[edward]

Soil has a much better ability to breakdown wastes and run the ammonia cycle than any aquatic systems.

Ed

 

[abrahm]

Unfortunately, I guess this system isn't quite as well described as I had been hoping. De Vosjoli doesn't really say what his is made of besides, coco fiber, orchid bark, lava rock and sand mixed to some unknown consistency over an eggcrate or fiberglass screen that has LECA (light expanded clay aggregate), or pebbles underneath it. He then lets it be "seeded" with animal waste, which comes from snakes in this case. He also adds a few earthworms to the mix along with some plants. The only maintenance he really does at that point is to stir the substrate every couple of days and clear out large fecal masses.

Livingunderworld.org also mentions using biologically active substrates but also adds leaf litter to their setup as a way of seeding the microhabitat. I can't say for sure, but it also appears that a lot of dart keepers tend to use a system like this where the system is set up with enough microfauna to get a small nutrient cycle.

Knowing that you use leaflitter is a good sign. I just want to check with people to see if a system that promotes a yearly substrate is truly possible. It seems this more natural setup would be beneficial to the animals, but if it didn't work, I wouldn't want my salamanders crawling in their own filth (that wasn't being broken down!)

 

[foster]

Abraham,
Just some random comments based on my experience. I have kept naturalistic vivaria for years and have always retained "freshness" by replacing the top 4 or 5 cm of soil once a year. I began this practice based on recommendations from various houseplant care books. I missed the reference to biologically active substrates on livingunderworld.org however I did read de Vosjoli's snake book. In my T. shanjing enclosure (50 gal breeder tank with a layer of gravel covered by "jungle mix" with a pothos planted directly in the substrate) I have started to mix the surrounding soil after removing feces. I am still not sure if this is making any difference however it does not hurt to try. I added about a dozen or so pill bugs several months ago however I have not seen any in there since (I assume that they have been consumed). Concerning the addition of earthworms, several weeks ago I replaced the large, tupperware "breeding pond" (with unfortunately no breeding) with a shallow water container. In the process I stirred the substrate around a bit only to find it teeming with redworms. This may explain why the shanjings are fat yet often refuse food. I have yet to add leaf litter to the enclosure out of fear of introducing some pesky critter (I have been debating this however). I add leaf litter to my wood roach colony on a regular basis and it continues to smell nice and "earthy". I have not replaced the substrate in several years. I believe that there is still much to be explored regarding bio active substrates.
Chip

 

[edward]

I tend to not like to have worms in my enclosures as the castings can be a problem if you have a drip system or are trying to maintain a leaf litter look to the tank. Springtails are a very effective recycler that will also feed on the feces.
With respect to the isopods, you may need to look for them at night to see if the are still in the tank. One of the newer concepts that is being moved into terrarias is the idea of a refugia where the insects like isopods can become established and then move out into the rest of the terraria where they can be consumed.

Ed

 

[abrahm]

Just a question about Springtails, where do I go about finding them? Is there some sort of setup or particular medium that will attract them in the home or is going out side and collecting some leaf litter (or something else) all that is necessary to begin a colony.

Also, could you possibly elaborate on refugia, Ed? I'm pretty sure I get the concept, but I would like to know how it is actually implemented.

 

[foster]

Ed,
I wondered if too many worms could be a nuisance to the newts. In any case I am thinking about redoing the enclosure this winter anyway, using gravel as a substrate - making it into a shallow shoreline vivarium.
Chip

 

[edward]

Springtail cultures can be purchased from different people that culture them relatively inexpensive. If you want me to recommend a couple of vendors shoot me an e-mail. They will feed on a lot of different items including dead leaves. I have even had some colonize my aquatic tanks and live on the surface of the water.
They are very partial to any fungal or decomposing materials.
The worms really won't bother the newts but they will make the land area messy by turning over the substrate and leaving piles of castings.
Ed

 

[clarence]

From a saltwater aquaria background, I'm quite familiar with setting up refugia. I'd never considered them for any kind of terrestrial application. That's pretty neat.

 

[edward]

Forgot to add that part. I have seen two different types of refugia set-up in the tanks.
One is where the tank is divided into two sections with a planted up wall and the are behind the wall is the refugia site and a little extra food is added there for the inverts to eat. The other way was using the plastic baskets for pond plants filled with a humous compost mixture. The basket is covered with a mesh to prevent the caudates (or frogs) from getting into the basket (thus wiping out the inverts).

Ed