View Full Version : Where to get dirt?
Little Wise Owl
05-01-12, 03:57 PM
Silly question but where do you get your soil/dirt/sand substrates from? What type of soil do you look for if buying it? What sort of dirt do you look for if getting it from outside? Do you treat it? lol
UNLEASH YOUR INFORMATION
Wiggles92
05-01-12, 04:01 PM
If you plan on buying soil & sand, then buy it by the truckload in order to save a ton of money over bagged soil & sand. Personally, I plan on ordering screen topsoil and sand by the truckload when I start working on the secondary grow-out for my Nile monitors as the dirt that I have by me seems to be unsuitable for their substrate.
BarelyBreathing
05-01-12, 05:37 PM
I use a 60/40 mixture of Eco Earth (purchased at any pet store) and children's washed play sand (Home Depot). Other people dig it up from creek beds.
infernalis
05-01-12, 06:22 PM
I drive my pickup out back and take a shovel after the creek bank.
No need to sanitize or treat dirt, insect larvae, eggs and essential bacteria are all pretty good things to have.
Little Wise Owl
05-01-12, 07:30 PM
I think I'm gonna have to go with what you do, Wayne. I want a more natural substrate for my tegu. Cypress Mulch is nice but I imagine the real stuff holds burrows better. Could I plant lives plants in with her?
Bradyloach
05-01-12, 07:32 PM
yes you can! they will get ruined but you can. i would just get lots of fake plants
Little Wise Owl
05-01-12, 07:35 PM
I think I'm gonna try real plants and see how much damage she can do. lol
infernalis
05-01-12, 07:59 PM
yes you can! they will get ruined but you can. i would just get lots of fake plants
Bad idea.....
Here is why, the first time any food scent transfers to the fake plants, your lizard will try and eat them.
Chomper used to try and eat plastic and cardboard from our yard, just because worms touched them.
at least if Cassie eats real plant material, it won't get her sick.
BarelyBreathing
05-01-12, 08:12 PM
I've never had that problem, but I've had three monitors go out of their way to destroy them. I quit using them.
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