Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi,
I just got back from home depot where i asked a person that works there about topsoil(i was getting topsoil for the new substrate that robyn@proexotics suggested)they brought me to a rack that had topsoil and potting soil. i told the guy that worked there(who was an extremely slow talker) thati needed a topsoil/sand/vermiculite mix, so he told me just to get potting soil because there is all of that put together. i read all the ingredients, topsoil, humus, sand, vermiculite, perlite, peatmoss, and sum other supposedly all natural stuff. I was wondering if this is a danger at all? how deep should the substrate be? is there a chance of it caving in on him?
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delbalso

The whole soil substrate and adding water idea is waaaay to comlicated i think i will just return the soil and try sand. does any one have any suggestions on sand? and has anyone had any problems with sand?
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delbalso

The problem I was having with sand is that they would consantly be digging around in corners as if they wanted to burrow. This is why I took Robyn's suggestions, and they are working great for me. It takes patience and dedication to try and create an environment that stimulates and engages your Uro.
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

Then is Potting soil an OK substrate(the same stuff i mentioned before)? and also what do you have to do to keep it moist
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delbalso

My experience with sand has been OK so far but I am rather new to UROs with just a few months. I read in a few places that ornates (which I have) are OK with sand because they tend to 'dig under' objects as oppossed to burrowing. The only drawback so far for me has been cleaning the toes. My guys seem to like to use their food as a playground and a bed which can cause a problem when they drag the moisture onto the sand. It will build up on their toes. I have to clean them up every once in a while.

you see Uros "dig under" stuff because the setup is innappropriate to make burrows. given a good substrate, they make crazy burrows!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

The reading that I have done suggests that ornates live in rocky areas and prefer to spend time in crevices and below rocks. I understand that lots of uros like to burrow but do does that apply to ornates?

Ornates burrow just fine. we have offered a setup with both burrows and crevices. they are lizards, they enjoy both, but certainly the burrows most of all.

if you only offer playsand, which doesn't dig well or burrow, you won't know...

then again, i am not really following any printed Uro literature or theory, i am just reading the animals and listening to what they are telling me, or trying to : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

scroll down and read my posts of the last month or so, i go into the soil substrate with moderate depth (no pun intended : )

straight potting soil is very poor. it doesn't do anything well. use the mix as listed on our sites FAQ, or dig your own diggable, burrowing dirt. potting soil, play sand, bed a beast, and dried boogers are not acceptable substitutes, and they don't work nearly the same : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

I was wodering if any special precautions can be taken to prevent impaction, in general and with the soil substrate
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delbalso

the answers are there : )

i have never had an impaction problem with a lizard. with proper temps and setup, you shouldn't either.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles