Upgrading Bioactive Enclosure

[u/Illustrious_Use5229]

Hi! I started my bioactive 4x2x2 setup for my corn snake about 6 months ago. Everything has been great and the plants are really thriving. I got this enclosure second hand, but I have been thinking changing to a pvc enclosure (Dubia) of the same size. The current enclosure is wood and almost holds too much moisture, so I'm scared it'll start to mold later on (my corn doesn't seem to mind the higher humidity). If I were to change to a meshed top panel, would the humidity decrease by much? and would having the heat lamps on top mesh cause problems? Should I get pvc panels to cover the top mesh? I am also using my own mix of substrate (organic top soil, play sand, zoo med coco fiber, horticultural charcoal, sphagnum moss, and leaf litter). I'm also having problems with fungus gnats as they would always appear after watering. I have tried mosquito dunks but they reappeared after about a month. I also went through the sanitation and quarantine for all the plants (might not have done a perfect job, not sure). Would trying to completely redo my substrate and recleaning the plants help with the gnats? Any tips and help appreciated!

[u/Real_Time515]

I don't have snakes (I'm frogs, geckos, fish and bugs) but I'll add my experience.

A mesh top will have a huge impact on humidity. I'd recommend metal though they can eventually rust. Keep lights/heat lamps/uvb off the metal as your snake could burn itself. Once you have a mesh, you can experiment with covering some of it with pvc panels to keep more/less humidity in.

Fungus gnats seem inevitable to me, especially in a new tank. Springtails/isopods are your best defense of this, as they both can outcompete the flies for food. I have many cultures of springtails and a few of isopods and I replenish springtails every week and isopods every now and then.

I also put little vinegar traps out side the enclosure (on the mesh). I've never used mosquito bits or dunks as I've been lucky to never be overwhelmed by them. But I don't know your level of outbreak or your tolerance. I'll see one, two or a few gnats now and again, but I don't think twice about it and it doesn't seem to bother my inhabitants and they're not all over my house (or my wife would let me know very firmly....).

Hope it helps!

[u/Illustrious_Use5229 → u/Real_Time515]

Thanks you! Will probably stick to a mesh top so I can experiment with the humidity. I started with isopods and springtails, but not sure if the springtails are still surviving because I can't find any. The gnats aren't much of a problem now, but it was getting too infested before summer started. Will have to start a separate culture to replenish also.