Biodude Bioactive Vivarium Build for Red-Sided Garter Snakes

[@aurora_dawn123]

That's an amazing setup, I think the garters will love it, hopefully you can get some more plants in there.

[@Aquarimax]

Joshua Knoebel. Thanks! I want some more plants, definitely 👍

[@Trellemania]

Not only is snake beautiful but the set up came out amazing!

[@Aquarimax]

Trellemania Thank you!! I have already tweaked it a bit, we’ll see how it turns out. 😊👍

[@bobkob]

Very nice vivarium, Your lil “ Brush dragons” will love it !

[@SupremeGecko]

Outstanding video Rus. This answers a lot of questions people have I am sure.

[@Aquarimax]

Supreme Gecko Thank you Wally!

[@barbhelle5481]

Your snakes are going to love their new home. Thank you for sharing.

[@jlatorre5343]

Nice build, Rus! Your garters are beautiful too. Can't wait to see them in this new habitat.

[@FiFi-kn2id]

Amazing Job, your garters must love their home!

[@kenc9236]

Awesome video, I have learned a lot.

[@Aquarimax]

TjNk you, glad to hear it. It doesn’t look quite the same, but a few years later, the same vivarium and the same snakes are still going strong, Ruby has produced 78 babies in this vivarium over the past few years.

[@saahilsiju]

i think the garters are loving this place

[@Aquarimax]

They seem to be! They’ve grown a LOT since I put them in. 👍

[@AlbertWiskerz]

Hey rus off topic here but could you please do a video on how you like to move your Isopods and millipedes when it’s time for a substrate change?

[@Aquarimax]

Moombuhs Here’s what I do: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIvMZGZ3htNkmbM

[@bearsbeetsbsg8]

Nice! I think the branches would definitely complete this setup

[@SwissCheese707]

Looks great already, I definitely think the willow branches are a good idea too

[@Aquarimax]

Dylan Thank you! I would like to have a whole willow forest of branches in the back. 👍🏽

[@mickiem6833]

Very tasteful and classy build! Will the garters be able to stay together as adults? I love the idea of communal snakes. What others can do that? Ringneck?

[@Aquarimax]

MickieM Thanks Mickie!! The garters will be communal even as adults. That is fairly rare with snakes...flowerpot snakes can live communal though...

[@680ecks]

Its funny thats the same enclosure ive been looking at thinking of moving the m to something bigger . I was looking at the 36" x18"x18" . I dont know anything about the bioactive so ill be watching to see how to do it and how it works out . I wish mine where as tame as yours are mine are more nervous i. Just getting them to climb on my hands when they are looking for food but they are still quite jumpy. Ive almost gone through a bag of fifty small pinkys moving up to large pinky soon . They eat three small pinky each every four or five days they start looking for food and get very active.

[@JBDossie]

I dont keep garter snakes but with our corn snake taking her out and handling her for a few minutes and then feeding her outside of her enclosure has been a great way to build trust and familiarity. I like to believe she loves us and wants to spend time with us but what I know for sure is she loves food and if she's hungry she crawls right into our hands, shes always hungry lol. I'm not a bioactive expert but I have done a lot of soil work keeping insects and vivariums before getting into reptiles, I think we overcomplicate it and run up expense trying to get it perfect but I've realized that if you gain and understanding of what minerals and contents are in each item in the soil, leaves, etc we all have everything we need for almost any type of bioactive setup for free if we go outside harvest it and clean it. Sand, clay, soil... different ratios mixed with different types of mulch like coconut coir, walnut grounds, leaves, etc the moisture it holds/and or releases depends on the substrate characteristics, the biodegradable stuff such as mulch and litter gets broken down into more compost. The most important thing is getting the composition correct and insuring it's clean and that the only life in it is what you add. Biodude is awesome and has made it easy for people who aren't as scientific. His products are great but anyone can afford to go bioactive if they do their research. I'd encourage everyone to try if they have time and energy to make adjustments, research, and learn.

[@NYC1979]

Great job 🎉 What heat bulb do you recommend for 20 gallon long? Thank you

[@Aquarimax]

I would go with something with low wattage, like 25 watts, perhaps suspended higher above the tank, since 20 longs are so shallow.

[@NYC1979]

@@Aquarimax do you recommend a specific brand? Should it be spotlight or floodlight? Thank you

[@deadfred821]

Quite a nice setup. Maybe I've been watching too much Serpadesign; but was I the only one expecting a false bottom beneath the substrate?

[@Aquarimax]

Thanks! Good point to ponder: I use false bottoms or a drainage layers in many of my bioactive setups, but the Biodude’s Terra Firma is designed not to need one. I’ve been using his Terra Sahara for our leopard gecko for a few years now...no false bottom, and it works great. 👍

[@DeformedDevices]

For a single snake how big of a tank like this do you think would be needed?

[@Aquarimax]

For an adult male, I recommend a minimum of 30 inches long (20 gallon long aquarium size), though he would definitely use and appreciate more space. For an adult female, I’d go larger. Someday I want a 4’ x 2’ x 2’ for my females at least.

[@ReptileNexus]

No drainage layer for excess moisture?

[@Aquarimax]

Great question, but not with this particular substrate. With some substrates it is definitely needed.

[@rochellenilson-huntley6687]

Russ whered u get the 40 gal tank

[@Aquarimax]

Rochelle Nilson-huntley it was on KSL actually

[@rochellenilson-huntley6687]

@@Aquarimax k

[@Alan-bw2sc]

for a garter snake bioactive a drainage layer is not needed right?

[@Aquarimax]

Alan Martinez with the right substrate mix and moisture levels, a drainage layer is not needed. They do need fairly dry surface substrate.

[@Alan-bw2sc]

Aquarimax Pets thanks

[@isolemnlyswearthatimuptono5016]

You remind me of Bob Ross!!!

[@wistyfish9844]

Do you use a thermostat for your heat lamp? I know some people don’t but that makes me nervous. How do you do it?

[@Aquarimax]

Whoopsie Beauty Basic on/off thermostats do not work well with bulbs. There are more expensive thermostats that do, though. Lamps can be somewhat safer to use without a thermostat than a heat mat, as long as the heat produced is not excessive. In this vivarium, I let the bulbs work for several days before putting the snakes in, and measured the maximum temperatures produced in the basking areas. There was nothing in the danger zone, so I felt safe in putting the snakes in, and it is working out great. I would absolutely not do this with a bottom heat mat.

[@wistyfish9844]

Aquarimax Pets ok, thanks!

[@ReptileNexus]

No isopods and springtails?

[@Aquarimax]

I put some springtails in, and the isopods are going in today. 👍

[@-never-gonna-give-you-up-]

Do i need to have plants in it or could i also be perfectly fine without plants?

[@Aquarimax]

It can be done without plants, although the nutrients recycling will not be complete, so you might need to change substrate more often (still quite infrequently)

[@-never-gonna-give-you-up-]

@@Aquarimax thanks!

[@Mr.Manzanas]

Do you or anybody else know any garter snake breeders in the US? Love the setup btw!!!

[@Aquarimax]

I have been breeding garters myself for a couple of years now, and Don’s Garter Snakes has been breeding many species and morphs for many years . He is here in the US, quite close to me, in fact!

[@Mr.Manzanas]

@@Aquarimax TYSM!!! You are a life savor for this quick reply! You have a new sub!

[@DMiranda1]

This is a stupid question I know.....can you interact (handle) them if your giving your snake a bio active set up?!

[@Aquarimax]

Yes you can! I handle mine frequently! (Not right at the moment because they are brumating)

[@lucacastilho]

I’m looking for a garter snake and I’m having trouble finding a captive bred one, any tips or good websites for garters?

[@Aquarimax]

Luca Castilho try Don’s Garter Snakes on Facebook, that is where mine came from 👍

[@lucacastilho]

Thanks!

[@heatherjensen3327]

Any interest in Korean rock ferns Polystichum tsus-simense? They have a crazy frond pattern along the rib where they go in a zig-zag pattern and are just the coolest to me. A lot of places by me carry them and I could send one over.

[@Aquarimax]

Heather Jensen Is this the same species that I unboxed in the video? I was thinking it was...a gorgeous fern!

[@bigbigumms2661]

Hey I got a question, are u just playin around u never said u were

[@Aquarimax]

In what sense?

[@bigbigumms2661]

It was just a joke because you said just playing around a bunch of times

[@alirahimi7566]

Hi sir Can you sell one baby gartersnake for my son please

[@Aquarimax]

I would be happy to, but all of this year’s babies have sold. I would be happy to put you on the waitlist for next year if you like!

[@Upper_echelon_exotics]

Are they going to be okay with that moss in there? I have heard concerns about moss causing possible impaction. I am not sure if that is something you need to worry about with garters. I mean if they are not eating in the moss it should be fine. I'm just trying to do my research so don't poop on me if I am wrong. Lol

[@Aquarimax]

Sincere questions are always welcome! Since I feed the garters with tongs, or on small plates, I can ensure they do not pick up any moss as they eat. So far, they have done great! 👍

[@Upper_echelon_exotics]

@@Aquarimax That's good! I love garters they are so cute!

[@cloud9.599]

i like

[@Pet_Obsessed5253]

If you watch bio dude you would have done that before you would have put the water in the bag instead of in the tank. Not that it really matters all that much. But you know more efficient and I'm being dramatic cuz I'm a huge fan. So of bio dude and you so

[@Aquarimax]

I like Bio Dude’s videos too…I think I just forgot to put the water into the bag 🤣 🤣

[@Beth_Amphetamine]

I love watching enclosure builds but I get really annoyed when they don’t show the animals in the enclosure at the end.

[@Aquarimax]

Sorry...I probably should have done it that way.

[@Beth_Amphetamine]

Aquarimax Pets oh hey! Yeah it would have been cool to see them exploring their new home but it was a good video anyway! Great build!

[@tyleroconnor5949]

Im actually related to josh

[@dias-lab]

I like the build but its very monochromatic.

[@Aquarimax]

The Keep I agree it needs a little color...the snakes will help, but maybe something else too

[@dias-lab]

@@Aquarimax my suggestion would be some rocks and perhaps some moss on the some of the cork

[@giovanni545]

Revelation 14:12 1599 Geneva Bible 12 [a]Here is the patience of Saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

[@Mr.Manzanas]

Bro what