>>we build snake vivariums a lot. you don't want anerobic bacteria, you want hetatrophic bacteria. "A" will not compete with pathenogenic bacteria; saleminella (sp) where "H" will.

DeVosjoli DOES mention that you don't want a waterlogged substrate because you will get an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria. Even in a well-balanced soil, if you have a salmonella positive animal actively shedding the pathenogenic bacteria in it's feces, regardless of your cleaning regimen the animal will still be able to reinfect itself.

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>>blisters is the least of your concerns. too much himidty is the soil means you didn't build it right: false bottom is the only way you should approach any of these types of vivariums for larger herps; water dragons, boas, chondros etc. your soil mix should drain and pack well but still offer the plants like philo and alocasia to grow well. build any burows above the soils moisuter line.

Blister disease should be one of his main concerns because it is far more dangerous than an imbalance in his soil bacteria. It sounds like he has a viable soil mix that is well-drained and offers his animal the ability to make burrows. Furthermore, many animals dig or use burrows well down into the more moisture-laden levels of the soil. The chief use of a burrow is for shelter and more often than not a place of refuge with a higher humidity level than found above ground. Gopher Tortoises are a great example of burrowers and the Indigo and Diamondback Rattlesnakes that share those burrows because of their more moderate temperatures and higher humidity levels. Also, whether Philodendron or Alocasia can grow in a soil mix is not the be-all end-all of judging whether you've got the mix right. In my experience both of those plants would grow on a cinder block if you watered them enough.


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>>you largest concern should be finding the waste and if you don't establish the nitrogen cycle properly, with "H" bacteria and NOT "A" then mold, pathenogenic bacteria and on are going to create RT infections...that book is not right at all.

I don't know if you've read DeVosjoli's book or not, but he clearly mentions the need to regularly remove the bulk of animal wastes and then stir the soil so that microbes deeper in the substrate can begin breaking down the remaining waste products. He also mentions that lack of attention to these details WILL result in growth of undesirable bacteria.

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>>Contact me by phone or email but in reality don't belive all that book says.

I think DeVosjoli's book is fine as written. It's a basic book covering many aspects of naturalistic vivarium design and his concepts regarding bioactive substrates are all sound ones that have been in use by the terrarium folks for last 100 years or more.
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Matt Campbell
25 years herp keeping experience
Full-time zookeeper
Personal collection - 21 snakes (9 genera), 20 lizards (4 genera), 6 chelonians (2 genera)

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