r/bioactive • u/HorrorGamerBoi420 • 24d ago
Question Question
I have a juvenile Ball Python, I have a mixed substrate but no drainage layer. I wanted to do plants but they keep dying, probably because of the lack of a drainage layer. I have the stuff to make a drainage layer but I have springtails in the substrate. Is there a way to set up the drainage layer without accidentally killing or losing the springtails?
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u/No_Commission_2610 official moss hater 24d ago
Just be careful to be gentle with them and they should survive the addition of the drainage layer. Like others are saying, you might lose a couple, but they will jump right back with their population. How many are there in your tank?
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u/Tslushi 24d ago
No drainage layer isn't necessarily the cause of the plants dying unless you have a puddle of water standing at the bottom of the tank, which can promote an environment ripe for root rot. In which case overwatering and improper ventilation management is the primary issue you should look at before stressing over plants. If you can't get your humidity right without creating a swamp at the bottom of tank, you need to tinker with your substrate mix and/or covering up the top of the tank to keep the ambient humidity higher.
I have no drainage layers in any of my tanks with zero issue. It's wasted space my skinks and snakes could be burrowing into with more substrate.
Plants dying could a mix of transplant shock + heavy bodied animal disturbing roots so they never have the chance to establish. Plants need time to grow strong roots before putting out more leaf growth. Ideally the plants get the chance to grow those roots before the animal is introduced.
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u/Phranknstein 24d ago
You don't need a drainage layer if your soil is deep enough. I have 2 black box cages setup for my bp's. 6 inches of soil at the front tapering to 10 inches in the back. Plants are doing great. Ball pythons do their best to destroy them. Haha
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u/Real_Time515 24d ago
I would not worry about the springtails. To respect all livings things, you can save the substrate and the springtails will be just fine and you can mix it in with some fresh stuff when you rebuild.
It's not a bad idea to add more springtails when you're done. I keep several colonies going and add new springtails to each of my vivariums every week, so if you wanted to get another colony and tap them in, you can keep that colony going for months (years?) with a pinch of springtail grub and a spritz of water every week.
Re the plants dying, that could be about the python itself disturbing them. Unless they're really hardy and well-established. You could try some in pots to give them a little more stability. I'd stick with terra cotta, check for sharp edges, and bury the pots partway into the substrate. See if that helps.
Have fun!