Description
Bioactive Terrarium & Vivarium Background Clay – Natural Background Builder
This bioactive terrarium & vivarium background clay is a natural alternative to foam, silicone, and fibre-based background systems. Designed for planted and bioactive setups, it allows you to build realistic, moisture-active backgrounds that support plants, microfauna, and natural habitat structure without the mess, fumes, or artificial look of expanding foam.
Unlike foam backgrounds that require carving, coating, and sealing, this natural vivarium background builder clay is applied only where you need it. You retain full control over shape, texture, and planting zones, resulting in a background that looks and behaves more like real rainforest substrate rather than a sealed decorative wall.
Why Use Background Builder Clay Instead of Expanding Foam?
- More natural finish: mimics soil, root banks, and forest walls rather than carved foam.
- Greater control: apply precisely and sculpt texture as you build.
- Cleaner workflow: no over-expansion, carving dust, or sealing stages.
- Plant-ready surface: easier to establish mosses, climbers, and epiphytes.
Bioactive-Ready & Dart Frog Safe
This bioactive terrarium background clay is designed for use in planted vivariums and terrariums. Once placed in and plants, moss or seeds attached it is suitable for use in dart frog vivariums and other amphibian, reptile, and invertebrate enclosures.
The formula includes plant-beneficial macronutrients, helping mosses, ferns, shingling plants, and epiphytes establish more successfully on vertical or semi-vertical surfaces compared to inert foam backgrounds. This makes it especially useful in bioactive vivarium backgrounds where long-term plant health and humidity stability matter.
Ideal Uses
- Terrarium and vivarium background walls
- Creating planting pockets and ledges
- Attaching cork bark, wood, and hardscape
- Moss walls and planted vertical backgrounds
- Naturalistic hides and visual barriers
Easy to Shape, Easy to Plant
The clay-based consistency makes this plant-ready terrarium background builder easy to work with:
- Mould by hand or tool for organic contours
- Press in texture for soil, root, or rock detail
- Create shelves and pockets for live plants
- Anchor mosses and climbers directly into the surface
This makes it ideal for keepers looking to build a natural vivarium background that supports plant growth rather than just displaying it.
Key Features
- Bioactive terrarium & vivarium background clay
- Natural foam and silicone alternative
- Dart frog safe once fully cured
- Plant-beneficial macronutrients to support establishment
- Mouldable and controllable application
FAQs – Bioactive Terrarium & Vivarium Background Clay
Is this background clay safe for dart frogs?
Yes. This bioactive vivarium background clay is described as dart frog safe as it has no volatiles to ‘cure’ unlike silicone, foam or glue
Can plants grow directly on this terrarium background clay?
Yes. The clay includes plant-beneficial macronutrients and provides a more supportive surface than inert foam. Mosses, climbers, and epiphytes can be pressed directly into the background during setup, with roots establishing over time.
Is this better than expanding foam backgrounds?
For most planted and bioactive vivariums, yes. Natural background builder clay offers more control, a more realistic finish, and avoids the typical foam workflow of carving, coating, and sealing.
How long does the background clay take to cure?
It does not need to cure! This is 100% natural and uses a neat physics trick to bond. Plants can be pressed in immediately !
What does the clay bond to?
It adheres well to common vivarium materials including glass, cork bark, wood, and many hardscape surfaces. Always apply to clean, dust-free materials for best results.
