Bioactive enclosures imitate a natural environment and are becoming increasingly popular with ball python keepers. Bioactive enclosures rely on the inclusion of elements such as live plants, leaf litter, moss, and 'custodians' in the form of springtails and isopods such as tropical woodlice to mimic an ecosystem in the enclosure. The 'custodians' live in the substrate – typically a mixture of coconut husk and natural soil – and help to break down waste produced by the snake, including shed skin, which can help with cleanliness and upkeep.