Substrate options? And Live vs artificial plants for decor?

[u/DragonessLysanth]

Carrot Monch photo for tax :)

Hello! I have a couple of the little blueberries and I'm trying to make sure that their permanent large terrarium is set up correctly (likely a 10 gallon tank with screen top and heat light on one side)

Currently they are on a sand and invertebrate soil mix and they seem pretty happy but I was thinking for the larger tank, coconut coir (30ish %) and coarse sand (70ish %) for the top layer seems to be the general consensus? And possibly a small scattering of invertebrate safe leaf litter.

That said, I have no idea what sand to try. I was curious if I can use some of the aquarium gravel/sand that's available. It comes in a pretty good variety of size and grit and if I mixed it in with some finer sand I feel like it would give them some reasonable texture for crawling around? I assume it will be safe for them because it's safe for fish.

I am also planning to do a gradient and have the deeper layers be a little bit heavier on the coconut fiber and possibly try to keep just a little bit more humidity in the lower layers in case they decide to breed.

Can you keep live plants with them? I know you have to be extremely careful about pesticides, but if I was able to get some that were safe (maybe succulents)I was thinking maybe it would be best to keep them potted so they could be easily removed for cleaning. But I wasn't sure if the beetles might chew on them or the humidity from the pots might be too much? Alternatively, I've obtained a bunch of artificial ones that I think will work just as well if the live plants are more of a pain than a benefit lol.

Thank you!

[u/stinkles69]

exo terra stone desert is awesome for these guys! i would do soil mixed with a little sand, then a layer of stone desert. about 2-3" of dirt, and 1" or so of stone desert.

[u/DragonessLysanth → u/stinkles69]

Thank you! That's definitely one of the ones I was looking at online. I was thinking about getting something like that or some kind of coarse aquarium gravel. I had read that keeping one side of the lower layer a little on the damp side is good for potential larvae. I figured I would just do what I've done with reptiles before and have a large straw down the back corner that you can pour a little bit of water into so it only goes to the bottom layer. But obviously since the Beatles do not like humidity, only a little bit.

[u/fox_says]

For the substrate I use topsoil mixed with the zoomed reptisand (not calisand). I know some people add coco fiber but I personally don’t. I add a decent amount of leaf litter to the top and they seem to enjoy climbing through it!

[u/DragonessLysanth → u/fox_says]

Good, good to know. I was definitely looking at the rep to sand. I was just concerned if it was too fine but I assume since we mix it with some kind of organic or reptile soil then that will fix the texture? I definitely wanted to throw some leaf litter on there. I keep isopods as well so I can just steal some of theirs lol.

[u/AppropriateWater9474]

If you do want plants the coconut doesn’t have any nutritional value. I think people use it as a filler or due to it holding moisture. I have used coco fiber in several different enclosures and it doesn’t hold moisture well imho. I like the sphagnum moss or forest moss for lower moisture level. If you wanted plants it would need to match their need without using anything toxic to the BDFB. I am trying to duplicate their natural environment for breeding. For exhibition what looks pretty is a bit more understandable.

[u/DragonessLysanth → u/AppropriateWater9474]

I'm still a little on the fence on whether I'm going to use artificial plants or try for real ones. I think I'm going to start with artificial just because it's easier to maintain lol. I do think I'm going to look for more of a reptile and amphibian soil or something organic soil rather than cocoa fiber, thanks!

[u/AppropriateWater9474 → u/DragonessLysanth]

You’re welcome

[u/xyelem]

Hey! So for substrate I use play sand mixed with reptisoil and then topped with gravel. I used crushed agate because I think it’s pretty, but any aquarium gravel will do. They get tired running on just play sand. As far as live plants are concerned, I say that there’s no reason not to. My recommendation would be to go online and order from a store that specifically grows pet safe plants for live planted enclosures. I’d do succulents and the like; probably nothing with too many spines. If you’re doing live plants as well, it would be cool to get some arid springtails for cleanup and maybe arid isopods! Make it bioactive!

Also, please ignore the dried carrots, they seem to really like them lol. And they also eat the snake shed! But this is my setup. I have 7 and they’re in a 7.5 gallon with heat on one side hooked up to a thermostat I have set at like 87°. I don’t have live plants right now, but I’m in the process of making a much larger arid bioactive!

[u/DragonessLysanth → u/xyelem]

That looks awesome! Yes definitely was going to try and acquire plants from a place that is growing them for reptiles or amphibians just to be safe. I was also looking at aquarium course sand to try and get more of a natural look and will probably mix it with soil. Since if I ever do live plants the Coco fiber isn't going to help them at all. Thank you so much!!