Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok so i've been looking at all the pictures and reading alot of postes about dirt and substrate in general. what i've noticed is that...
a. the dirt must be fine and have some small rocks in it.
b. must hold good moisture.
c. must be able to hold a burrow.
and then i was thinking well were can i get that kind of dirt?
well my dad is kind of a wine geek. he makes wine, judges wine and even created a wine making program(winerymaster). well anyway
he said that at vinwards they use that kind of dirt. i've also heard that river bed dirt works well and Pro exotic uses pink breaze. all these dirts are very similar.

well what i guess im asking is, am i on the right track or did i not understand the information given? i love my animals and i want to provide them with the best dirt posible.
talk soon
Alex Oliver

Sounds like you're on the right track, except for the small rocks. Not sure how important that is. In fact, with all the dirt flying around in my Water's cage, it would probably be annoying to hear the constant clicking of rocks on wood. Now the big test is to get some and see how your monitors like it. If they dig and burrow and generally just get dirty, you're doing good. Good luck!
Billy

>>ok so i've been looking at all the pictures and reading alot of postes about dirt and substrate in general. what i've noticed is that...
>>a. the dirt must be fine and have some small rocks in it.
>>b. must hold good moisture.
>>c. must be able to hold a burrow.
>>and then i was thinking well were can i get that kind of dirt?
>>well my dad is kind of a wine geek. he makes wine, judges wine and even created a wine making program(winerymaster). well anyway
>>he said that at vinwards they use that kind of dirt. i've also heard that river bed dirt works well and Pro exotic uses pink breaze. all these dirts are very similar.
>>
>>well what i guess im asking is, am i on the right track or did i not understand the information given? i love my animals and i want to provide them with the best dirt posible.
>>talk soon
>>Alex Oliver

the rock content is not important to have. the smoother the better, screen it if you can...
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

i've also heard to stay away from clay dirt why? will it stane the animal?
thanks
Alex Oliver

In my quest for the "perfect dirt", I have tried many different native soils here in NY, as well as potting soil, potting soil/peat/sand mix, and I have yet to really find something around here that clumps very nicely and holds burrows nicely. I was at a little cousin's baseball tournament the other week, and I noticed the consistency and properties of the clayish substrate used on the diamond might be great for my aussies. It packs down nice, will probably hold burrows very well, and clay retains moisture very well, i think. I have been calling all of the landscape supply and stone supply companies here in new york, and none have been able to locate anybody who has it or distributes it. SO, I am debating whether or not to make a commando mission up to the schoolyard to raid me some baseball diamond dirt. I really don't feel like going to jail for this, so if somebody thinks that this clayish dirt would not be good, let me know now... it could save me some embarrassment and my perfect legal record... thanks, and I look forward to your thoughts on this clayish dirt. Take care,

BM

Clay is bad, they don't like to nest in it. I don't think it "breathes" enough, for lack of a better word.

I remember we had clay when we lived in Indiana, the moles had trouble with that stuff!
-----
Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

I know of a pile of "different" looking soil when compared to the garden soils around here, I think I'll grab some from there and experiment. Thanks for your help, now I totally see the problem that clay would create. It is rather dense, and would not allow it to breath.

BM