Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this topic is beat to death, but was wondering if anyone here had any ideas or contacts regarding soil/substrate for ackies.

I've used topsoil/sand mix before...eh, ok but not so great in my opinion. I do see pics of enclosures with that red, poor quality soil that seems to work great.

I'm stuck in the northeast, so at this time of year its tough to even find topsoil. any ideas would be great. No, i will not go outside and dig up soil. I think that unless you live in the stix your asking for trouble. (ya never know whats been dumped or has leached through from surrounding areas)

I dig up soil from my Backyard.

Decomposed granite is available from rock quarries in various grades. Many have used that with success.

Topsoil is also available from landscape suppliers and mixing it with peat moss creates a very suitable substrate. I never mixed it with sand but the loam of the soil inconjunction with the peat creats a very absorbant substrate that may need thinning with sand.

What didn't you like?

My suggestion would be find something that works in the spring and order a cuple yards extra to last through times of need in the winter.
-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.3 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.11 Red Bearded Dragon's
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child

the sand and soil just seemed to gradually seperate. Too much sand seemed to bother them too since it would stick all over if the cage was remotely damp.

yea i tried the decomposed granite...its not available in the northeast (or at least in my searching).

If you are trying to breed them and need a substrate suitable for nesting then soil/sand mix is probably the best. It is heavy, takes a lot of experimenting to get it right and can be a pain but it works the best. As far as the sand and dirt sticking on them and the cage this is just par for the course. A dirty monitor is a happy monitor.

If you aren't overly concerned with breeding you can probably get away with just sand, cypress mulch, or a small amount of dirt. So long as the rest of the husbandry is good these substrates will "work" but aren't ideal. I live in the NE also and have just dug up soil from my backyard. I've never been to particular about it being toxic or bug free or anything. I never baked it or washed it. Heck all types of animal live in it with no problems. Perhaps I've just been lucky I don't know.

I guess it comes down to what you feel like working with and what types of results you want to acheive. You can keep them alive on newspaper if you really want to.