Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know I have always been told to STERILIZE, STERILIZE, STERILIZE!, but recently I was discussing with somebody the benefits of the microorganisms living in dirt and plants taken from outside. I have heard that the organisns are beneficial and that they will help to get rid or harmful bacteria and decay waste. Anybody have any opinions on the subject??
Thanks
-Stage9

IF there are any good microbes from outside, there could just as easily be very bad things that can cause huge problems with your frog. it is better to spend a little money on decor from the store that you know is safe, than risk having to spend even more on a vet bill because the stuff from outside wasnt quite clean enough.

Soil contains a tremendous variety of bacterium, fungi, nematodes and protozoa along with a host of other micro-organisms. While some are beneficial, such as Azobacter vinelandii, in “fixing” nitrogen to be utilized by plants, others can be down right dangerous, such as Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, some of which have developed into strains that have developed resistance to the antibiotics, including vancomyin and methicillin, commonly used to combat them.
Personally, I would use substrate prepared for use within the vivarium only, as such is readily available and poses a lower risk to the flora and fauna within your vivarium, rather than use soil excavated from an unreliable source…

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947