Bioactive terrariums are a terrific environment to keep your pet snake as it offers an enriched ecosystem in which the animal can grow and thrive. It is worth noting that there tends to be confusion over the difference between a terrarium and a vivarium, but we’ll clear that up later.

Finding reliable snake kits can be difficult, so we researched on your behalf and found great options for you to try out. Below are our reviews of three of the best bioactive snake terrarium kits.

What is a Bioactive Snake Tank?

A bioactive setup employs any number of plants, invertebrates, and microorganisms to maintain the enclosure by breaking down the waste of the primary species – in this case, a snake. While you can keep your snake in a boring tub or cage without any natural aesthetic, a bioactive setup will allow your slithery friend to exist in a more active environment.

While certain snakes are described as boring in captivity, you will find an increase in activity by installing a bioactive snake enclosure stuffed to the gills with vegetation to hide in and obstacles to climb over (cork is the best option for these because it doesn’t mold). Building on the correct bioactive substrate is imperative too, and is something we’ll discuss below.

As a result, a functional bioactive terrarium doesn’t require tank cleaning, or at the very least, the frequency of cleaning is significantly reduced.

Bioactive terrariums are most common in zoos, but they’re quite popular among hobbyists too. They can house various amphibians and reptiles in an enriched environment that’s also a pleasure to look at.

What’s the Difference between a Vivarium and a Terrarium?

The confusion between a vivarium (a bioactive terrarium) and a terrarium is common among hobbyists because both enclosures feature soil (substrate) and plants. But they aren’t the same thing as vivariums are meant to house animats, whereas terrariums are meant to house plants.

So, if you’re planning to put your pet snake inside one of these enclosers, it is, in fact, a vivarium and not a terrarium.

Are Bioactive Enclosures Good for Snakes?

Absolutely!

If you have a snake and aren’t currently using a bioactive enclosure, then you should definitely consider it – both for practical and aesthetic purposes. While some snake cages can appear to be drab prison cells, a bioactive environment more closely emulates the snake’s natural habitat. Your snake will quickly become more active, less picky at mealtimes, and fitter as a result.

Bioactive Terrarium Substrate

You’re going to want a dense substrate for your snake because it wants to burrow and create dens for shedding. You also shouldn’t be overly concerned with drainage because the plants that best coexist with your snake will want things wet, and we’re going to set you up with the correct type of substrate for snakes.

Choosing a substrate that’s packed with springtails and isopods – those microorganisms necessary for the bioactive bit of the equation – is important. Your terrarium base should feel very loamy, which results in that the top of your substrate layer will remain dryer, while the lower you go, the wetter the substrate becomes. Because of the loamy air-pocket-rich substrate, there will be adequate air and water exchange even though it may seem as though there is not.

Bioactive Vivarium Pros and Cons

Pros

• better for your snake in every way
• aesthetic improvement
• not overly complicated

Cons

• more expensive
• more work to maintain

Western Hognose Snake Bioactive Kit

The western hognose snake makes for an excellent beginner snake thanks to its calm nature and fascinating personality. Western hognose snakes exist in North America across the semi-arid prairies and shrublands. 

Known for its exceptional affinity to play dead when danger closes in, the surge in popularity of western hognose snakes among new hobbyists encouraged us to put this bioactive kit in the top spot of our list.

Except for a tank, this kit comes with all you need to create an all-around self-sustaining ecosystem for your western hognose snake. It’s available through the Bio Dude, a well-established provider of reptile supplies. Your western hognose will happily dig its burrows in this combination.

The set consists of:

• Terra Sahara bioactive reptile substrate
• AAA New Zealand spag moss
• Live Oak leaf litter
• Light with adapter

This bioactive snake terrarium kit also contains cork bark and plants to help you build a dynamic surrounding to promote exploration. This provides your hognose with a nice bioactive outlet for enriching exercise.

You can get this kit in the following tank sizes:

• 10 gallon: includes Terra Sahara kit, 2 succulents, 2 cork bark flats, and a 6-inch light with an adapter.
• 20 gallon long: includes Terra Sahara kit, 3 succulents, 4 cork bark flats, and a 6-inch light with an adapter.
• 29 gallon: includes Terra Sahara kit, 4 succulents, 4 cork bark flats, and a 16-inch light with an adapter.
• 40 gallon breeder: includes Terra Sahara kit, 5 succulents, 6 cork bark flats, and a 22-inch light with an adapter. 

Ball Python Snake Bioactive Kit

Next, we have an excellent all-around self-sustaining bioactive terrarium kit designed specifically for ball pythons (these include thousands of different morphs with varying colors and patterns).

Ball pythons are also among the highest recommended snakes for beginners, thanks to their friendly, docile nature and enduring quality. Not to mention, these snakes only reach about 3 to 5 feet when fully grown.

Living anywhere between dense forests to open grasslands, west and central Africa is the primary home to ball pythons. With such a huge habitat range, it makes sense for this species to be very adaptable.

Ball pythons are likely to be found in treetops just as much as underground. These snakes prefer humidity and thrive in enriched environments where they can climb, hunt, and hide.

As such, leafy plants are ideal for ball pythons to offer coverage, while pre-made burrows such as buried cork flats make for an engaging surrounding.

The set consists of:

• Terra Sahara bioactive reptile substrate
• AAA New Zealand spag moss
• Live Oak leaf litter
• Light with adapter

Additionally, ball pythons love chilling beneath a 5% UV bulb, requiring a hot spot of 90 degrees Fahrenheit minimum. However, they get their needs of Vitamin D from whole prey meals.

You can buy this kit according to the tank sizes below:

• 10 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 1 4-inch tropical plant, 1 cork flat, and a 6-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 20 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 2 4-inch tropical plants, 2 cork flats, and a 6-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 29 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 4 4-inch tropical plants, 3 cork flats, and a 16-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 40 breeder: includes Terra Firma kit, 5 4-inch tropical plants, 4 cork flats, and a 22-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 55 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 6 4-inch tropical plants, 5 cork flats, and a 22-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 75 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 6 4-inch tropical plants, 6 cork flats, and a 22-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 18 x 18 x 18: includes Terra Firma kit, 2 4-inch tropical plants, 2 cork flats, and a 6-inch LED light with an adapter.

Corn Snake Bioactive Kit

Last but not least, we have the Corn Snakes Bioactive Kit, also from the Bio Dude. This vivarium kit is perfect for the hardy member of the North American Colubridae family.

Spread across the eastern US, corn snakes are eager hunters, especially when it comes to vertebrate prey. They’re quite versatile and can make a home out of many environments.

As such, corn snakes are fine with having arboreal and terrestrial components in their surroundings. Also, they usually have issues with humidity except in harsh conditions.

Like ball pythons, corn snakes appreciate a hot spot of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and will do well with exposure to a 5% UV bulb if available.

The set consists of:

• Terra Sahara bioactive reptile substrate
• AAA New Zealand spag moss
• Live Oak leaf litter
• Light with adapter

You can purchase this kit according to the tank sizes below:

• 10 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 1 4-inch tropical plant, 1 cork flat, and a 6-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 20 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 2 4-inch tropical plants, 2 cork flats, and a 6-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 29 gallon: includes Terra Firma kit, 4 4-inch tropical plants, 5 cork flats, and a 16-inch LED light with an adapter.
• 40 breeder: includes Terra Firma kit, 6 4-inch tropical plants, 6 cork flats, and a 22-inch LED light with an adapter.

Do Snakes Need a Bioactive Terrarium?

It’s not a matter of need, but rather what’s best for snakes. The average care arrangement for snakes often consists of sterile tanks or sometimes totally bare ones.

Such a setup may provide the fundamental needs for snake survival, but it doesn’t give them an environment to thrive in. Not many people realize this, but snakes have non-aggressive personalities – usually reduced to being “pet rocks” in sterile enclosures.

Your snake will probably become more active, more hardy, and better-equipped for breeding in a bioactive terrarium. With plenty of covers and natural enrichment elements, you’d be making a true home for your snake.

Do Bioactive Terrariums Smell?

Although bioactive terrariums are built to mimic natural habitats that “clean themselves,” this doesn’t stop odors from building up over time if your setup is out of balance.

A smelly bioactive terrarium is usually the work of anaerobic bacteria, which are microbes that don’t need oxygen to grow. These bacteria are characterized by producing bad odors that make your vivarium smell.

A buildup of anaerobic bacteria in a bioactive terrarium can be a result of one of the following:

• Too much water in the substrate layer.
• Not enough microfauna population
• A substrate that prevents microfauna from making soil cavities

To prevent your bioactive terrarium from developing a foul odor, be sure to maintain balance within the setup as best as you can. This requires keeping track of regular care tasks such as draining excess water and changing leaf litter.

Do Bioactive Terrariums Need to be Cleaned?

One of the main reasons behind the increasing popularity of bioactive snake terrariums is being advertised as “self-cleaning” or “zero-maintenance.”

While it’s true that ⁠bioactive terrariums can take care of themselves, this claim is limited to a certain extent. In other words, the reduced maintenance requirements of such setups don’t take away all your care responsibilities.

That being said, if you keep a schedule of performing simple maintenance tasks, you’ll save yourself more tedious work and help sustain the healthy flow of the environment in your tank. Some of these activities include:

• Maintaining an adequate population of microfauna
• Draining excess water periodically
• Supplying organic elements as they get used up
• Trimming the live plants
• Getting rid of sizeable waste
• Providing the soil with nutrients regularly

Wrap Up

As you can tell by now, the best bioactive snake terrarium kits heavily depend on the type of snake you’re looking to house. This is why we included ones for the most common pet snakes to make sure you get a perfect match for your reptile friend. Have a different type of snake? Comment one below and we can help you find the best bioactive snake terrarium kit for your needs!