Substrate questions...

[lady_bug87]

I am thinking of changing the substrate that my lacertas are in. They have been on sand with misting and seem to do fine but its a little too dry and now that I know my female will breed I want something she will burrow in.

I have also tried a mixture of coco husk and sand, which was better but impractical

I was wondering what the verdict on top soil is for a substrate? obviously pesticide and herbicide free... the soil does not have to support plant life. it just has to stay moist.

[exwizard]

I just got ahold of some sphagnum moss as a humidity aid for the help of shedding but I really think this can be used as a primary substrate. Correct me if Im wrong because I still use newspaper primarily.

[lady_bug87]

spagnum wouldn't hold a burrow. Though my pair have enough relative humidity to be healthy the substrate is not doing well for them breeding wise.

[exwizard]

I understand that

[lady_bug87]

ok then I misunderstood.. sorry blame the baby brain.

[Gungirl]

I would think soil would be fine as long as it has no added chemicals.

[lady_bug87]

Yea I figured I just wanted to throw the idea out there. I dont want to mess with the coco because it doesn't hold a good burrow..

I should be able to get chemical free soil at a gardening store right?

[Gungirl]

I have no idea... Most places add one kind of chemical to it or another. Your going to have to do a bit of research unless you can dig some up from land you know has no chemicals on it then bake it to kill all the random things living in it.

[lady_bug87]

bah we'll have to see theres a nursery here maybe they'll know. I know they like to add fertilizer and nitrates as well as weed killer and pesticide

The search continues I guess. Worse comes to worse I can wait until I move and dig soil from my own land.

[CDN_Blood]

This is what I use for those which require/prefer substrate. It's great stuff :cool:

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb347/CDN_Blood/PlantationSoil.jpg

[Fredricks]

This is what I use for those which require/prefer substrate. It's great stuff :cool:

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb347/CDN_Blood/PlantationSoil.jpg

I also use this stuff for my cresties. It holds the moisture well and comes out when eaten. I was worried the first few times I saw them eat it, but it all came out fine. I just try to limit it by not puttin in a lot of crickets

[CDN_Blood]

It's great stuff for that - more roughage than harmful, and roughage is not only natural, it's helpful :cool:

<secretly wonders to himself if there's a tutorial here somewhere that shows how to strip IMG tags in responses to save space. I know how to deal with HTML, but not everyone does :P>

[Fredricks]

It's great stuff for that - more roughage than harmful, and roughage is not only natural, it's helpful :cool:

<secretly wonders to himself if there's a tutorial here somewhere that shows how to strip IMG tags in responses to save space. I know how to deal with HTML, but not everyone does :P>

Haha I didn't even think of it when I did it. I'm such a noob sometimes :p

There are a few "jungle" mixes you can get in bag form. All work wel. I have a couple up in my closet. Just don't keep any half open in a confined space they can go moldy

[lady_bug87]

I have that in my GTP enclosure and for the lacertas I actually found an additive-free black earth which is amazing for them to burrow in for my GTP when I change her enclosure to a larger adult one I will be using black earth as well since I want it to be a bio-active live planted vivarium

[CDN_Blood]

Be careful with actual earth - it will mould quickly if not tended to on a very regular basis :cool:

[lady_bug87]

Its true.

The good thing about the lacertas is they constantly dig and tend the soil themselves. Its the snake I would have to watch for mold

[CDN_Blood]

Yep, true enough - diggers help to keep things moving, which is not conducive to mold spores growing. The only problem spots would be anywhere that earth touches wood, but knowing Lacertas, I bet there's not stone they leave unturned, literally :)

[lady_bug87]

haha nope. we came home one day and they had dug out a whole half of the substrate from one side to the other. We could see the glass bottom of their tank... my female also buried my male hahaha