Quick answer: New to bioactive? Start with the beginner's guide to terrariums, then follow our pillar guide, how to set up a bioactive terrarium. Everything else on this page is grouped by topic, from soil and wood to plants, clean-up crews, maintenance and individual species, so you can jump straight to the guide you need.
Every guide is written for keepers in Canada, with CAD prices, winter heating and humidity advice, and links to the supplies and care sheets that go with it. Looking for ranked lists instead? See our top 10s and top 100 lists.
Free planning tools
- Bioactive build planner: map out layers, hardscape and supplies for your enclosure size.
- Bioactive plant planner: choose plants that suit your animal, lighting and humidity.
- Species database: care sheets with skill level and typical Canadian prices.
- Substrate calculator: work out how much soil and drainage your enclosure needs.
Getting started
- Beginner's guide to terrariums: closed vs open vs bioactive, choosing an enclosure and your first build.
- How to set up a bioactive terrarium: our complete, step-by-step master guide.
- How to set up a bioactive vivarium: a tropical, humid build for frogs and crested geckos.
- Is a bioactive terrarium worth it? Honest pros, cons and costs.
- Benefits of a bioactive terrarium for dart frogs: why living enclosures suit frogs so well.
- How do you structure a terrarium? Every layer explained, with a depths table.
- Bioactive supplies checklist: what you actually need for a first build, and what to skip.
- Bioactive terrarium mistakes to avoid: ten common errors and how to fix them.
- How to grow in a bioactive terrarium before adding animals: why and how long to wait.
- Best resources for learning bioactive: our tools plus reputable free communities.
Build projects
- Tropical terrarium with cork bark and spiderwood: a full humid build from empty tank to planted.
- Dart frog vivarium with cork bark: a step-by-step frog build.
- Bioactive crested gecko vivarium: a tall, planted build for cresties.
- Bioactive leopard gecko enclosure: a semi-arid build with a humid hide.
- Bioactive ball python enclosure: a humid, secure build for ball pythons.
- Paludarium with driftwood: combining land and water in one enclosure.
- Closed jar terrarium: a small, sealed, self-sustaining plant build.
- Bioactive terrarium for live mosses and plants: a plant-only build with no animals.
- How to build a cork bark background: a natural, plantable back wall.
Soil, drainage and substrate
- What is ABG mix? The complete guide to bioactive soil in Canada.
- How much substrate do I need? Volumes and depths by enclosure size.
- Why use Jurassic ABG Terrarium Mix: what a ready-made ABG mix does for a build.
- Best substrate for tarantulas: holding burrows and airflow with Tarantula Mix.
- How to use coconut husk substrate: preparing bricks and chips, and mixing into soil.
- Top 10 bioactive substrates: ABG mixes, coco, cypress and sand blends compared.
- Drainage layer guide: clay balls vs false bottom.
Wood, stone and hardscape
- Best woods for a terrarium: the top terrarium woods ranked.
- Cork bark vs spiderwood vs driftwood: choosing the right wood for your build.
- Cork bark in a terrarium: benefits and uses of flats, tubes and rounds.
- Sandblasted grapewood for terrariums: where it shines and how to use it.
- Driftwood for terrariums, aquariums and vivariums: types, prep and placement.
- Mopani wood for terrariums and aquariums: a dense hardwood for wet and dry builds.
- How to clean and prepare wood: soaking, scrubbing and when to bake or boil.
- Terrarium hardscape design: composition basics for a natural look.
- Using rocks and stone: safe stones, placement and stability.
- Safe materials in your bioactive terrarium: woods, silicone, foam and what to avoid.
Plants
- Top 100 bioactive terrarium plants: our biggest plant list, by light and placement.
- Reptile-safe plants toxicity guide: what is safe with which animals.
- Best pothos and philodendron: tough climbers for almost any tropical build.
- Fittonia (nerve plant) care: colourful, humidity-loving ground cover.
- Bromeliads in vivariums: mounting, watering and care.
- Air plants (Tillandsia) in terrariums: where they work and where they rot.
- Best ferns for terrariums: compact ferns for humid builds.
- Peperomia for terrariums: best species and care.
- Shingling plants on cork: Marcgravia and Rhaphidophora.
- Begonias for terrariums: small species with striking leaves.
- Miniature orchids for vivariums: mounting and airflow for tiny orchids.
- Plants for desert and semi-arid builds: dry-tolerant choices for arid reptiles.
- How to mount plants on cork bark and wood: epiphyte mounting step by step.
- How to fertilise terrarium plants safely: feeding plants without harming animals.
- Terrarium lighting for plants: LED, PAR and Kelvin made simple.
- Top 10 brands for terrarium lighting: what each real brand is good for.
Moss and leaf litter
- How to use moss in a terrarium: placement, attaching and care basics.
- How to keep live moss green: troubleshooting browning moss.
- Sphagnum moss in terrariums: live vs dried, uses and growing it.
- Top 10 mosses for bioactive terrariums: a care table for ten reliable mosses.
- Best leaf litter compared: which leaves to use and why.
Clean-up crews
- Best clean-up crews: springtails and isopods matched to your build type.
- Springtails and isopods guide: biology, species and culturing in depth.
Maintenance and troubleshooting
- How to maintain a bioactive terrarium: daily, weekly, monthly and yearly routine.
- Humidity and ventilation: getting the balance right.
- Mould in a bioactive terrarium: what is normal and how to fix it.
- Why does my bioactive enclosure stink? Causes and fixes for bad smells.
- Bioactive terrariums through a Canadian winter: heat, humidity and light in the cold months.
Species care and setup
Frogs
- Best vivarium setup for dart frogs: sizes, humidity, lighting, plants and microfauna.
Geckos and lizards
- Crested gecko care and setup: husbandry, diet and enclosure.
- Leopard gecko care and setup: heat, hides and feeding.
- Bearded dragon desert habitat: size, UVB, basking and soil.
- Panther chameleon setup: screen or hybrid enclosure, UVB, drip and plants.
Snakes
- Ball python care and setup: humidity, heat and security.
Tortoises and turtles
- Red-footed tortoise setup: humid indoor enclosures for Canadian homes.
- Russian tortoise setup: tortoise tables, UVB, diet and summer outdoors.
- Red-eared slider setup: water volume, filtration and basking.
Tarantulas
- Creating a bioactive haven for tarantulas: terrestrial, burrowing and arboreal builds.
Choosing an animal
- Easiest reptiles for beginners: forgiving first reptiles.
- Easiest pet frogs for beginners: hardy first amphibians.
- Best pet reptiles for hobbyists: a step beyond the starters.
- Best pet turtles and tortoises: size, space and lifespan compared.
- Top 100 reptiles and amphibians by experience level: our biggest animal list.
- Best reptiles for bioactive vivariums: species that thrive in living enclosures.
- Top 10 tarantulas for hobbyists: beginner to intermediate spiders.
- Top 10 arboreal spiders: tree-dwelling tarantulas and jumping spiders.
- Top 10 largest insects: giant stick insects, beetles and roaches.
- Top 10 rarest dart frogs: uncommon captive-bred frogs and prices.
- Rarest crested gecko morphs: traits, genetics and prices.
- Most expensive reptiles and amphibians: the high end of the hobby.
- Most expensive aquarium fish: real high-value species and varieties.
- Top 10 brands for terrariums: enclosures available in Canada.
Where to start, by goal
- "I have never kept anything." Read the beginner's guide, then pick an animal from the easiest reptiles or frogs list.
- "I have an animal and want to go bioactive." Use the species setup page for your animal, then the matching build project.
- "Something is wrong with my enclosure." Start with the maintenance and troubleshooting section.
Want to know who writes these guides? Visit our about page.
FAQ
Which guide should I read first?
Start with the beginner's guide to terrariums, then the complete guide to setting up a bioactive terrarium. Together they cover the essentials before you buy anything.
Are these guides specific to Canada?
Yes. They use CAD prices, cover winter heating and dry indoor air, and mention Canadian rules where they matter, such as never releasing pets or collecting native wildlife.
Do I need a bioactive setup for every animal?
No. Many animals do well in simpler setups. Bioactive enclosures are a great option for many species, and our species pages explain when they suit and when they do not.
How do I work out how much soil to buy?
Use the substrate calculator with your enclosure dimensions, or read the substrate guide for depths by animal and build type.
Can I suggest a new guide?
Yes. Get in touch through our contact page with the topic you would like covered, and we will consider it for a future guide.