General living vivarium questions

[RAD House]

I like plants and snakes so the obvious jump is to set up a natural vivarium. I just have a few questions about this. First is won't a snake destroy any plants I put in there? I have a corn snake and a milk king hybrid now and they tear up their enclosures now with all sorts of tunnels. This brings to my second question. What snake species are best suited for a live vivarium? I would prefer a diurnal species as my two now are not particularly active during the day. How do you clean a living vivarium with out disturbing it? What sort of bugs should I consider introducing into the system? Also consider that I would rather not end up with more bugs running around my house than usual. Finally and most importantly how much more work is a natural vivarium in comparison to a more traditional snake set up?

[Sasha2]

You have to get the book, The Art of Keeping Snakes, by Vosjoli, its the go to book for making living vivs. Even lets you know which snakes make the best displays and do well in these types of vivs.Has plant suggestions and everything.
I think the garter snakes have been suggested as the best for this type of viv as they are diurnal and they are active, stay small enough to not destroy it.
As far as work involved, I would think it would be more work to set up but once up and running maybe less work. Ive not tried making one yet but have two big tanks I am going to try with my Cornsnakes. Then if it works out will try one with the rainbow boa.
Possibly the nelsons too.

[RAD House]

I was thinking garter address well. I just bought the book, thanks for the suggestion.

[eminart]

It can be done with pretty much any species. But, I think it requires a suitably large enclosure to work. It would take a HUGE enclosure, planted with large plants like shrubs and ficus trees to house a retic in this way, for example.

It's all about adapting the soil and plants to the snake you keep. And, where you might keep a 6' boa in a 4' cage under normal conditions, it probably wouldn't work with bioactive, at least not well.

Also, the book listed above is a good introduction. It has a lot of info. But, I think it's time for someone to publish an updated, more in depth book on the subject.

[Sasha2]

Just a note that the care requirements in the Vosjoli may be WRONG on some species.
This took me by surprise when he recommended so high a temps for rainbow boas(that is just plain wrong). So double check with other care sheets.

[RAD House]

Well that explains why I found it for six dollars. I am definitely thinking keeping it small at first is a good idea.

[jarich]

It works great for pretty much any snake, but you just have to adapt it to the snake. My GTP loves it and while it has been a bit of trial and error with the plants, it was not too difficult. The garters love it. The one that has been the toughest has been the kingsnake, just because he digs so much. I had to go deeper and deeper, but I love that it gets to exhibit this natural behaviour.

As for the bugs, start with springtails, isopods, and earthworms. You can get others if you want but those are the basic enclosure trio. The majority of the nitrogen cycle is actually handled by the bacteria in the soil rather than the 'inhabitants', but those will help with soil and enclosure health in general.

[RAD House]

I have decided on a Garter snake of some sort. If I were to collect the earthworms from my garden would I need to worry about parasites? What is a good source for buying these bugs? Still awaiting my reading material. Do you have any plant suggestions? Thanks for your input.

[Sylphie]

I have all my snakes in live plants vivs (and geckos too!). I prefer plants like pothos, they can survive everything, and snakes can't smash them. I have 2 corns and 1 Russian Rat, so they are rather bigger and active, and they are really fine with this type of vivs.
I just spot clean, even if you can't reach to one poop, it's nothing to worry, it will be a good fertilizer for plants. As for bugs... I wasn't set any, they will just "be there" after a few weeks (they come with plant ground, and you are having them in all your plant pots in home).
As for work... I'm just spot cleaning once in a while and changing the water bowl... and depending on the ventilation I just water the plants once in 2-4 weeks.

Ps. I'm having this type of vivs for about 2 years, and never has health issues, or any other problems. Whats interesting my Russian Rat once get mites, when she was in temporary tank with only paper towels.

[Roman]

Some additional information about plants in vivariums I wrote some time ago

--> http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/natural-vivaria-plant-forum/103570-plants-terrariums.html


Roman