BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

So I think I screwed up.

I made a bioactive enclosure for my new Bluey baby, complete with plants, springtails and isopods. I didn’t realize however that you needed to let it cycle for three weeks BEFORE adding the reptile.

I’m thinking about putting her in my extra 20 gallon with some paper towels (I’ll actually see her poop which can’t be a bad thing), turning the soil and leaves in the bioactive setup and re adding some more cleanup crew and then let it cycle. I don’t know if that will work though. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

I raise Isopods for my mantella enclosure, and to survive they need very damp soil/substrate. I just don't think this is a healthy environment for a blue tongue unless it is a Halmahera type with high humidity requirements. Pathogens can spread quickly in humid environments and I'm just way too paranoid. I have had success with dermestid bugs as cleanup in drier environments, they seem to survive in just about any climate. Just my opinion, let's see what others have to say that may have tried this with their skinks.

Hey, i dont know about bts but i have bioactive setup for crested gecko and it was no problem, i add him there on second day. I even change some plants on the go then (some of them not work as i wish ) You just need to spot clean and keep an eye on cleaning crew .

Don't know anyone who has a bioactive substrate for bluetongues , nearest I know off are people who set up outdoor pits (with wire mesh covers) for their skinks , this works if you live in the natural range of the skinks or a very similar climate to their natural range.

I don't think bioactive substrates are worth the risks and hassle of making them work . I think the only way to really get a good self sustaining bioactive substrate will be set it in a mega sized tank or a pit that's large enough to establish a stable micro climate and stable micro ecology.

Crested geckos and BTS are at the opposite end of the spectrum as far as husbandry requirements. I have a bio for my Cuban Anoles that works fine, and for my Mantellas. Bluetongues dig everything up so as previously mentioned it's just not worth the time and effort. Simple is best with BTS.

I had heard of people putting plants in pots and planting those so their skinks couldn't easily dig up the plants. I think maybe that would be a good option. The issue now is keeping the isopods alive at a lower humidity. Right now it stays at about 65% but I read that's too low for isopods. But then I read in another forum that isopods can live in low humidity enclosures but they stay deep in the soil.

If the Isopods are going to remain that deep in the soil, they're not going to do what is intended for them. I still don't see the reasoning for bioactive for blue tongues. they make an absolute mess in a planted vivarium, and what's so hard about cleaning up after them? Simple is best and most sanitary.

I thought OP was asking if he need to put hes bts in temporary enclosure for three weeks. It is not necessarily if he spot clean - then cleaning crew start doing that for him if conditions is right.
If that bioactive setup is for indonesian species, that can work for sure with high humidity. If it's for australian bts he just need something else as cleaning crew or create some humid area there.

Any one of you guys ever tried setup for BTS with drainage layer? Springtails can live there and come up for "food" . But i think bts will try to burrow under screen protector between drainage and substrate