#beaglesan

No problem! I’d suggest shopping around and finding what the cheapest options are for you, as it may depend on what you can find locally or what you can get free shipping on, as well as the price of these products.

Drainage layer options:

Zoo Med Hydroballs

Exo Terra BioDrain

Hydroton Hydroponic Grow Rock

Growstone GS-1 Hydro Stones

LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate)

NEHerp LDL (lightweight drainage layer)

Josh’s Frogs False Bottom

TheBioDude Drainage Layer

Egg Crate

Gravel

Some of the hydroponics materials may be cheaper since they are not aimed at animal keepers.

If you absolutely can’t afford another drainage layer material, gravel is possible. You can use aquarium gravel. However, gravel is extremely heavy, and also doesn’t have capillary action which the other, porous drainage layers do.

Here is how to create a simple egg crate false bottom: (Page One, Two)

Here is a more complex build incorporating PVC pipe supports.

For IDing wild isopods (and other inverts) I usually use BugGuide! It is North American-centric; I am not sure of equivalent sites on other continents.

I have bought mine from several sources. I can’t recommend Bugs in Cyberspace enough; he’s extremely knowledgeable, very nice and friendly, and has a variety of species. He’s local to me, so is my main source online. He also has supplies so you can buy everything in one place.

I have also purchased from various vivarium stores, such as Josh’s Frogs and NEHerp. They have the micro species available. 

Other sources include Roach Crossing and Glass Box Tropicals.

I’ve also done some trading between private hobbyists!

Finally, a couple of my species were collected in my back yard. I didn’t have to roam far afield to find them. 

I do have experience with drier bioactives; I’ve been practicing with my bioactive roach cultures that prefer it drier. However, I haven’t done a reptile in one yet; I’m waiting for my AP enclosure to get here so that I can set up my leo’s. 

If you want to mix your own substrate, a good starting point for a drier to arid bioactive enclosure is 50% topsoil, 25% sand, 25% decomposed granite. It may need to be tweaked depending on the individual ingredients, as they can vary from one product to the next (especially topsoil). 

I’m confused abt this entire ask considering it sounds hella similar to a round of annoying af “hate” anons I got from someone who doesn’t know how to unfollow and move on, before I turned Anon off...

However the second part of this was seemingly unrelated so......

We’re not quarantined. We’re “social distancing.” Only going in public if required by our job or to get something we really really need at a store or whatever (we’re super trying not to, one trip and get everything ya need and then lock up). We’re not locked inside, we can go out and take a walk, go drive around. I’m staying in a hotel with 2 of my friends (friend got kicked from her dorm Bc of coronavirus) and we’re just scrapbooking and watching Harry Potter.