Quick answer: A tropical bioactive build goes, from the bottom up: 5 cm of clay balls, a mesh barrier, 8–10 cm of bioactive soil like Jurassic ABG Terrarium Mix, hardscape (a cork background, a cork tube and a branch of spiderwood), plants, a layer of leaf litter and moss, then springtails and isopods. Let it grow in for 3–6 weeks before adding your animal.
The plan: a 45 × 45 × 60 cm tropical vivarium
This is one of the most popular enclosure sizes in Canada for crested geckos, gargoyle geckos and small tree frogs, and it can be adapted for dart frogs. It's 45 cm wide, 45 cm deep and 60 cm tall. The same steps apply to any size. Just scale the quantities. Use our substrate calculator for your exact dimensions.
Shopping list
| Layer / item | Product | Approx. quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Drainage | Clay bio balls | ~10 L (5 cm deep) |
| Barrier | Fibreglass window screen or dry sphagnum | 45 × 45 cm piece |
| Soil | Jurassic ABG Terrarium Mix | ~18–22 L (8–10 cm deep) |
| Background | Cork background or cork flats | To cover ~0.3 m² |
| Vertical feature | Cork tube or cork branch | 1 piece, 40–55 cm |
| Branches | Yamuna, Red Mekong or Amur spiderwood | 1–2 pieces, 40–60 cm |
| Leaf litter | Mix of magnolia, red oak and almond leaves | Enough for a 2–3 cm layer |
| Moss | Sheet moss and frog moss | A few patches |
| Clean-up crew | Tropical springtails + isopods (e.g. dwarf white, powder orange) | 1 culture each |
| Plants | Pothos, philodendron, bromeliads, fittonia, peperomia, ferns | 8–12 plants |
Our ABG soil and many of our substrates, cork and hardscape items come from Jurassic Reptile Products, a Canadian maker of bioactive supplies. Everything ships from Ontario, with no border fees.
Step 1: Background first
Install the cork background before anything else. It's much easier on an empty enclosure, ideally laid on its back. Follow our step-by-step cork background guide. Silicone it to the glass, fill the gaps, add one or two ledges for planting, and let it cure for 48–72 hours.
Step 2: Drainage layer
Pour in 5 cm of rinsed clay balls. This holds excess water away from the soil so roots don't rot and the substrate doesn't turn sour. If your enclosure has a front-opening door with a low lip, a slightly shallower drainage layer may be needed so soil doesn't spill when you open the door. See clay balls vs false bottom.
Step 3: Barrier
Cut fibreglass mesh to fit and lay it over the clay balls, pushing the edges slightly up the glass. This stops soil from washing down into the drainage layer and clogging it.
Step 4: Soil
Add 8–10 cm of moistened Jurassic ABG Terrarium Mix. Slope it higher at the back (12–14 cm) and lower at the front (6–8 cm). The slope creates depth and keeps the front glass clear of soil. Moisten the mix until it clumps when squeezed but doesn't drip.
Step 5: Hardscape
This is where the build comes alive. Think in triangles and diagonals:
- Cork tube or branch: stand it slightly off-centre (about one-third across) and angle it a few degrees from vertical. Push it firmly into the soil, or silicone the base to the glass for stability.
- Spiderwood: run a branch diagonally from a low point at the front to the background or the top corner. Crested geckos love diagonal perches. Wedge the ends against the cork or glass, or secure them with silicone or a hidden zip tie.
- Cork flat or round: lean one against the background at ground level to form a hide.
Leave a clear "viewing window" of open space at the front-centre. Our hardscape design guide covers composition in depth. For wood choices, see cork bark vs spiderwood vs driftwood.
Prep your wood first. Spiderwood and driftwood benefit from a soak and scrub before use. Here's how.
Step 6: Planting
| Zone | Plants |
|---|---|
| Background and cork tube | Pothos (Marble Queen or N'Joy), heartleaf philodendron, Marcgravia or Rhaphidophora hayi climbing up |
| Upper ledges and branches | 2–4 mounted Neoregelia bromeliads, trailing peperomia |
| Midground | Lemon Button fern, Peperomia caperata, a dracaena or snake plant for structure |
| Foreground | Fittonia, mini begonias, frog moss cushions |
Related guides: pothos and philodendron, bromeliads, fittonia, mounting plants.
Step 7: Leaf litter and moss
Cover all exposed soil with 2–3 cm of mixed leaf litter. It holds moisture, feeds the clean-up crew and gives the build a natural forest floor. Press patches of sheet moss onto the soil near the front and into crevices on the cork. Read best leaf litter compared.
Step 8: Clean-up crew
Add springtails and isopods now so they can establish. Sprinkle the springtails over the leaf litter and release the isopods under the cork hide. See the clean-up crew guide.
Step 9: Lighting, misting and grow-in
- Install a 6,500K LED on a 12-hour timer. See lighting guide.
- Mist once or twice daily to hold 60–80% humidity, with a dry-down period each day for crested geckos.
- Monitor temperatures. Crested geckos do best around 22–26°C.
- Wait 3–6 weeks. See grow-in guide.
FAQ
Can I use this build for dart frogs?
Yes, with tweaks. Use a front vent and a mostly glass top to hold higher humidity, add more ground cover and bromeliads, and seal all gaps. See dart frog vivarium build.
How long will cork and spiderwood last?
Cork is extremely rot-resistant. Spiderwood is a hard root wood that lasts years in humid builds, though it may soften slowly where it's buried in wet soil.
Do I need to bake or boil spiderwood?
Not always. A good scrub and soak is usually enough. Large pieces won't fit in an oven anyway. See our wood prep guide.