Cooking dirt?

[asphyxia]

Ok, now that the weather has changed from snow to rain, I am about to go out and steal some dirt for my black throat (The things we do for our herps) upon returning I want to prepare it for the tank

What is the best way to "Clean" the dirt ,cook, nuke, wash?

Thanks
Brian

[asphyxia]

4 big pales of dirt.... Check
1 set of dirty clothes... Check
1 messy van... Check
1 wife that thinks im nuts... check

knowing what to do with it... (now be kind)

at this point it seems to have a bit too much clay although it is much to wet to tell

Brian

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ha ha, I don't envy that at all!!!! Man oh man, that was me 3 weeks ago, for sure.


Don't sterilize your dirt. There's nothing in there that's bad for the monitors. You want all the bacteria and such. They make it so you'll never have to change the dirt again.

[KaHane]

Excactly as Jeff said:) No need to sterilize it. The bacteria that's in the dirt are beneficial bacteria and they will help break down minor wastes. But make sure you get your dirt from a non polluted secluded place, where you know there is no pollution or chemicals contaminating the dirt..... Best of luck with the dirt and blackthroat. I'm sure he'll love it:)

[asphyxia]

@#%&*@! I think the type of dirt I got is wrong...now that some of it has dried it is the hard light gray cement looking type??

So, What's the dirt on this, is this the right stuff, should i fix it up with soil and sand or start over at another construction site (@#$@)

Can someone show me a "dirty picture" of their dirt??

Good job I am not getting him untill Feb @ the show...

[Dom]

lol thats halarious .. i agree with Jeff though no need in either cleaning it or dysinfecting it .. again make sure its from a non polluted place ..

I don't have pics here .. but check out some of the monitor forums .. Jeff posted really good pics of his ackies diggin .. gives u a good idea..

As for the dirt .. the colour of the dirt does not matter that much .. more the consistency .. Ure looking for a dirt that will hold some humidity in it .. the top 1 inche to two inch will probably dry up from the heat lamp ... a dirt that the monitor can dig in and create a burrow as well as stand on it and not break the burrow .. I find finding correct dirt for a small monitopr easier than a large.. If its clay then its probably gonna be too hard . I simply do this .. If i can create a burrow with my hands then they can with their claws ..

Pack the dirt down and then go play i it and ull know if its fine or not lol

Take care
Dom

[Dom]

Just by curiosity Brian .... how were u planning on cleaning your dirt lol i can't even imagine how that would be possible..

[asphyxia]

....good question, what i think I had in mind was putting it in a strainer and rinsing it out removing all of the "Forin objects".

The dirt I got now spread out through the basement looks to me as if's too hard to dig in....I need to ditch it and start over...befor the nasty weather comes this aft.

In case of an emergency whats the best 2nd choice thats available at a garden store...how about that limestone gravel stuff?

[Dom]

at the store .. dirt .. not potting soil .. that would be a good temporary solution ..


I need dirt desperatly and went to the store and bought potting soil.. all I can say its crap! Now I got more good dirt from outside and it works lol!


Don't feel bad about looking like a mad man taking dirt from outside .. last tiem, i did three loads of about 200 pounds of dirt each time to try and fill my large savanah cage ..

LoL You know you're a herper when u spend all day searching the right dirt for your monitors lol

[Quervo]

I would steer well clear of construction sites for your dirt ... I shiver at the thought of the chemicals that are dumped in the process of building houses (or offices). Plus, most of the that "dirt" as you have discovered, will be clay and sand, probably not horribly suitable. I would say take a treck into the woods for your dirt.

[asphyxia]

Thanks Quervo Good point But remember, I am from Ontario
and everything is FROZEN

[Dom]

lol I know .. I need more dirt right now and can't get any!

Damm winter

[V.aw]

Sifting it in a mesh is usually what most monitor owners do to remove any rocks or debree.