Bioactive Help

Ambaryerno · 06-09-19, 07:49 PM

So I'm having some trouble with my planted terrarium.

Right now I have two Dichondra (silver falls). The one in front was added May 24. It USED to look like the one in back, which was added this past Wednesday. However as you can see, it's not doing so good now. The decline was very sudden, as well.

I'm not entirely certain what's wrong.

Right now I have some humidity problems in the terrarium. During the day it's not too bad, sitting around 55% when the basking lamp kicks in. However at night once all the lights go off it's getting into the 70s. This is going to be for a garter snake, so that definitely needs to come down at night. My apartment does tend to be a bit humid. I've tried adding a fan blowing across the top of the enclosure screen to get some air circulation going, but that hasn't helped. I just ordered a dehumidifier I'm going to stick next to the tank to see if that helps. It's not heavy-duty enough to do the whole room, but I just need the area near the terrarium. The temperature seems to be in a good place (ranging from mid-70s to low-80s).

The first plant is still alive, but it could clearly be doing better. Are there any thoughts? I've tried following the general care/watering recommendations for the type. The weird thing like I said is that for the first week plant #1 was thriving and doing well. Then suddenly not.

kudzu · 06-09-19, 08:36 PM

What substrate are you using? Do you have a drainage layer?

Ambaryerno · 06-09-19, 08:57 PM

Yes, there’s a drainage layer. I’m using a. Neherp V2, their temperate substrate.

Ambaryerno · 06-10-19, 04:32 PM

Do you think I should try a different substrate? Repitsoil?

Ambaryerno · 06-15-19, 10:36 PM

Well, I changed out my substrate to Reptisoil and changed my watering schedule, and that seems to have done the trick. Front plant is back to flourishing again. My main concern now is that the humidity spikes into the 70s once the heat lamp goes off at night. Everything is fine during the day, sitting between 45-55%

I'm starting to wonder if I need to get a small dehumidifier for INSIDE the habitat, but there doesn't seem to be anything smaller than about 7" x 6". I'd also be concerned whether there'd be a risk to the snake.

I'll be giving it a few days to see if there's any change before taking any sort of corrective action; I lost a lot of my microfauna during the change, and ended up putting in extra water trying to get the springtails in there (seriously, why would Josh's frogs not just use a soil base for the substrate?).

Scubadiver59 · 06-16-19, 01:08 PM

Here's a link to some tips to try to lower the humidity...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambaryerno

Well, I changed out my substrate to Reptisoil and changed my watering schedule, and that seems to have done the trick. Front plant is back to flourishing again. My main concern now is that the humidity spikes into the 70s once the heat lamp goes off at night. Everything is fine during the day, sitting between 45-55%

I'm starting to wonder if I need to get a small dehumidifier for INSIDE the habitat, but there doesn't seem to be anything smaller than about 7" x 6". I'd also be concerned whether there'd be a risk to the snake.

I'll be giving it a few days to see if there's any change before taking any sort of corrective action; I lost a lot of my microfauna during the change, and ended up putting in extra water trying to get the springtails in there (seriously, why would Josh's frogs not just use a soil base for the substrate?).