bio active substrate

[Ra]

hello every one, im intrested in trying out a bio active substrate for my pacman.
whats the best way of setting this type substrate up? what will i need?

The only resources I've read concerning bio-activated substrates in terrariums that contain larger anurans are from care articles here on the site by John P. Clare and in books by Phillipe De Vosjoli. I quote John P. Clare's African Bullfrog care article published right here on the site.

"Substrate: Most hobbyists use coconut fiber substrate which is sold under various brand names including "Eco-Earth".... Its primary disadvantage is that it doesn't harbor any beneficial bacteria or fungi so it can sour, and it requires changing more frequently than natural substrates such as soil.

The main alternative to coconut fiber is additive-free top soil (or your own garden soil, provided it is free of pesticides and fertilizers). If you use one of the additive-free top soil products available at hardware stores rather than your own soil, ensure that it contains little or no large pieces of mulch, which is a common additive in these commercial products. The reason for this is that these frogs can accidentally ingest the substrate when they lunge for their prey and this can cause intestinal blockages/impaction. This is one of the most common causes of premature death in these frogs. Top soil doesn't sour/spoil as easily as coconut fiber due to the presence of helpful bacteria and fungi, and as a result it generally requires less frequent renewal. It is also cheap (or free if you use your own)."

Phillipe De Vosjoli in his chapbook on Pacman frog care states that such soil can be spot cleaned for large fecal matter, and then the top half most of the soil should be stirred around so that waste can seep down to the deeper strata of the soil and be broken down by beneficial bacteria and fungi.
The presence of live plants will also help aid the breakdown of waste matter even further. In large terrariums containing smaller reptiles or amphibians, such as dart frogs as a popular example, such living set ups can be maintained without soil changes for a couple of years or possibly more. In such situations, colonies of small tropical pillbugs make great biological agents for assisting the breakdown of waste. In your typical ten to twenty five gallon pacman frog set up, the soil will none the less need to be changed every few months, as waste will build up more quickly than it can be broken down. A good indicator of when to change the soil is a persisting foul odor that isnt diminished by large waste removal and spot cleaning. This makes set ups containing pillbugs impractical.
A more permanent set up can be maintained by setting up a very large terrarium, which is more than most people are willing to do for a single pacman frog or two.

I have a Fantasy Frog that I intend on using bio activated topsoil in as a substrate, with vining plants planted directly into the soil, the roots of which the frog can burrow into, along with one or two small potted plants the type of which I am undecided. The topsoil will also be covered with clumps of sheet moss and leaf litter. Due to the impermanent nature of the set up, and the burrowing nature of the frog, I dotn plan on using a drainage layer, so making sure the set up doesnt become soggy is imperative.

A very large bag of organic topsoil can be purchased for only a couple of dollars at big box garden center, though you may need to sift through it and remove small potentially hazardous stones that cause a risk of impaction.

My first experience with an organic topsoil set up containing larger animals was a large plastic sweater box containing two Tiger Slamanders. The set up was simpoly soil and leaf litter. I purchased several 50 lb bags for about 10 bucks, expecting to change it frequently, but was surprised when week after week the terrarium still smelled like fresh soil, which was ideal as the Salamanders had carved out a rather elaborate tunnel system.

I have never been a fan of coco fiber since my first experience with it after purchasing my first pacman frog. It lasted longer than sphagnum moss but the degree to which it seemed to dirty my large and attractive frog made for a less than ideal display enclosure. Topsoil has far less a tendency to stick to every square inch of an amphibians flesh.