Build a Bioactive Kit
Plan a bioactive setup around the needs of the animals and plants you keep. Choose compatible cultures and supplies individually from the links below.
Choose your cultures
Compare live isopods and browse springtail cultures. Check moisture, temperature and enclosure requirements for each culture, along with current availability.
Add habitat supplies
Oak and magnolia leaf litter provides surface cover and decomposing food for suitable cleanup crews. Browse available supplies and check exactly what each listing includes.
A bundle for two separate colonies
Our Two-Colony Starter Bundle includes 10 Dairy Cows and 25 Powder Orange/Blue Mix isopods. These are two separate cultures that must be housed in separate enclosures. It is not a complete enclosure kit; supplies are sold separately.
Check your plan
Read the beginner buyer’s guide and culture care guides before ordering. Contact us if you need help selecting cultures for your setup.
Choose the cleanup crew for the habitat
Start with the temperature, moisture and space required by your resident animal. Then compare cultures that fit those conditions. A cleanup crew cannot make an unsuitable enclosure safe for its inhabitants.
- Describe the setup: note its dimensions, substrate, ventilation and moisture pattern.
- Check compatibility: compare each culture’s care needs and consider whether the resident animal will eat it.
- Prepare cover and food: provide leaf litter and sheltered areas appropriate for the culture, rather than adding animals to bare substrate.
- Keep a reserve: a separate culture lets you observe colony growth and add animals later without depending entirely on the enclosure population.
- Keep checking conditions: inspect moisture, uneaten food and the resident animal regularly.
Isopods, springtails or both?
Isopods and springtails perform different roles within a suitable cleanup community. Isopods consume decomposing material; springtails graze on fungi and organic matter. Both still need the right habitat. Read the temperate springtail guide and compare the isopod listings before combining cultures.
Does bioactive mean maintenance-free?
No. Continue spot cleaning, remove excessive uneaten food, and address persistent mold or unsuitable moisture. A growing cleanup crew supports care; it does not replace it. For a first colony, start with our beginner buyer’s guide.