Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm trying to find some soil I can use with my WTF's for plants. I know all the important stuff like no fertilizers or styrofoam. The plant nursery sells potting soil that has nothing added to it, but it has this stuff called "perlite," which looks like styrofoam balls (it's about the same size). The nursery people tell me it's actually igneous rock, so it's organic. My question is, is this going to be safe to use or not?
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My froggy website: http://members.fortunecity.com/civicchick

I would try to avoid anything with perlite in it, i havent ever tryed it so personally i just dont know too much about it except that i was told to avoid it. you can try organic compost, thats what works best for me. the plants grow like crazy, and it has no fertalizers in it. i just pop it in the microwave (mmmm....love the smell of cooked dirt...) to kill any nasty bugs living in it and its good to go!
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0.1.0. Leo
1.1.0. WTF
0.1.0. Irish Setter
2.2.0. Holland Lop Bunnies
1.1.0. House Cats
Too Many Fish!

you should not use anything with perlite in it. I use top soil mixed with peat moss. THe peat moss is not the concern but hte soil is. I live on Long Island and there is a company called LI compst they sell to home depot and stuff and it is guaranteed to have NOTHING added. I have been using it for a while and I really like it. THere is stuff out there it just may be hard to find but it is worth it when you do. GOod luck

Christina
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0.0.1 Hatchling Indian Star Tortoise (Sitara)
1.1 Russian Tortoise (Willy & Mikey)
0.1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1.0 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
0.0.2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
0.0.1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
0.0.1 Big Eyed Tree Frog
0.0.2 Bubbling Frog
0.0.2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
0.0.3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Dwarf Megophrys
0.0.2 Rainbow Burrowing Frog/Ornate Hopper
0.0.1 Asian Blue Webbed Gliding Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Albino Pacman Frog
0.1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
0.2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
0.3 mice
0.1 dog (Holly)
2.0 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

Perlite is indeed organic, and as such is not toxic to amphibians. However, due to its size and shape, frogs can accidentally ingest it when they are hunting for their food and can thus cause gastro-intestinal impaction (like other items that size including gravel etc).

I have 3 different kinds of live plants growing in my cage, and I buy expandable dirt from PetCo. It comes in a plastic wrappning and I don't remember the name of it, but when youput it in water it expands to about 3 times its size and covers the bottom of my frog tank perfectly, with enough depth to put the plants in, and the plants have not died on me yet! It's natural, so it doesn't have any fertilizer, or those white styrofoam balls in it. When I expand it, I make sure to use treated water so there's no risk of getting anything absorbed in there I don't want. I find it by the water dishes and branches of cage furniture for reptiles/amphibians.

Just thought of something...go to www.petco.com, click on reptiles on the top, then look at the options for cage equipment, decor, etc and click on substrate, it's the very last one. Then click over to page two once it starts showing you the bark and sand, and there's expandable dirt products for under $5.00.

Expandable substrate is often referred to by experienced herpetoculturists as "Bed-a-Beast" (one of the brand names). It is usually comprised of coconut fiber. Many of the herpetoculturists also agree that it is the best kind of substrate for a vivarium with frogs.

Cool, I'll have to check that out! The local reptile specialty store sells "safe" dirt, but they sell it in like a 1 gallon ziplock baggie for $3.00.....that's why I was trying to find something else!
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My froggy website: http://members.fortunecity.com/civicchick