IMO the use of live plants in a bio active set up is fantastic, but only suitable for slender snakes such as green bush snakes, and garters, unless the plants are really stout and can support the weight of the snake. This often ,means that the larger / longer the snake, the thicker the stems and leaves have to be.

The issue with Royals is that even at 4' the snake will weigh between 2kg and 3kg, and being heavy bodied, has quite some mass. For most plants that will fit into a 4' viv, an adult royal will flatten them. Even plastic plants can get trashed....

In the wild Royals are often found in open grassland or open woodland, so replicating that with some thick stout branches is probably the better idea. Drape a few plastic vines in the corners or over the branches and it would look really good.

For inspiration check out this kids YT channel... we could all learn a thing or two about husbandry from his setups https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgS_R7NpxaBfonG19wcMzAQ?&ab_channel=Jensen%27sReptiles

 

Yeah leave viv open with heat on for a few days and will dry out. Easier to add moisture than take it out, as I've recently found out the hard way!

 

Also, do you know of any live plants that can be used, rather than plastics? Don’t want to go fully bioactive yet


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As the others have said not many plants will survive the heavy bodied nature of the python. One option is to have the main body of the plant out of reach of the python and allow it to spread across the enclosure. A good plant is a pothos, they can spread and multiply very easily so if it is damaged you can start from scratch quickly.

TM

 

So just leave viv open for a couple of days to ventilate well?

 

Yes give it a mix and vent well. Orchid bark is a great substrate for species needing high humidity the initial spike can be short lived with height heat and good ventilation. Then steady the temps out after a mix and should sit about right.

 

Ventilation will be the key to solving that.