Reddit reviews The Art of Keeping Snakes (Herpetocultural Library)

I set up a small living (bioactive) viv recently for a white lipped python. Up front cost was not too bad. The one I set up is 36" x 18" x 13" and cost $50-100 to set up with all materials and bug cultures. I bought some supplies like the hydro-leca online for the drainage layer. Wanted to keep it light weight. The leca is worth it.

So far it has been up for only a bit under 2 months, but no problems yet at all. The snake is doing just splendidly in there.

Here is the post for the enclosure. I've since added some cultures of tropical wood lice and tropical springtails. Things have really taken off, and I have healthy populations! They've been taking care of any waste since I've hardly seen any. (I've only seen a couple urates on plant leaves, which I clean off.) The pothos has grown tremendously. New leaves begin growing in almost every day. I've also added a hollow cork wood log since those photos were taken, which has become her favorite place to hide.

For more information on bioactive vivariums, I recommend the book The Art of Keeping Snakes.

Also these articles helped me greatly.

And this Facebook group is active and very informative! Be sure to check the files section at the top, too. Many people with different kinds of creatures (lizards, snakes, frogs, etc of all sizes) and set ups on there.

Also, this forum is just starting, but I found the articles on it very useful as well. Link to the article section.

The links I provided help explain maintenance, the work in it. For larger animals, you'll need to remove what waste you can see.

What do you think your enclosure will be made of? Wood, even sealed, can be tricky and people suggest putting down a liner so it does not rot. Eventually I am going to get a PVC cage and just seal it, myself. Right now I have no worries with the plastic tub.