Soil mold? Bio-Active Substrate

[nepoez]

Hi there, my 1 foot soil substrate smells kinda musky... what should I do? How do I prevent it from being moldy?

Also, kinda contradicting myself here. I'm trying to start a bio-active substrate. Wouldn't that mean I need mold in order to have thins break down in the soil? Is it unhealthy for the lizard or myself if the soil is bio-active, hence moldy?

Thank, I'd really like to get some help from people using soil and especially bio-active soil in here. More detail the better thanks!

[jarich]

Can you tell us what the substrate is now and what the conditions are in the enclosure? For instance, what is the enclosure? What temperature and humidity is it normally? What mix is the substrate? How are you keeping it moist? Have you added any plant or bug life?

[lady_bug87]

Also are you using a drainage layer?

[nepoez]

thx.

- 4x2 foot base 3ft high box, top sealed
- 1foot of soil/sand sand is 25% about. earth worms in it(i lack roly polies and sping tails cuzz noone in canada sells them)
- I don't have any drainage layer
- I just dump water in but not soak, the soil is just moist and I have tried to grow plants
- 130F basking spot on right side
- coldest on left is 75-80F but gets warmer as u go right, in middle is like 85-90, really depends on where u go, there's a gradient
- the heat is produced with 1 ceramic emmiter because night time temp can fall here, and 1 120w MVB UVB next to it which produces the 130F basking spot.

so far i don't see any mold but sometimes I smell something kinda musty but I see no mold.

I have 2 boxes like this(water proof by the way of course). 1 is waiting for baby sav, the other has a baby colombian tegu and he loves this env, he's super active, wakes up at 7am, eats, drinks, and then roams and tries to escape for about 6-7 hours.. then digs or returns to tunnel that he made.. shed is super smooth falls off almost as 2 pieces withing 3 days.

But I just dunno if this type of soil is sustainable and I don't wanna kill my reptiles!

thx!

[Chu'Wuti]

What kind of soil is the soil portion? It probably should be about 50% ground peat moss (the kind they sell for soil amendment with NO additives). The peat is fairly acidic and will help prevent molds or other bad things from growing in it.

Also, are you stirring it weekly? You don't have to stir all the way to the bottom if there's a drainage layer--which there should be--but do stir at least the top 4-6 inches with a cultivator or fork. I don't know whether you can grow pothos in there with the tegu; though pothos (Epipremnum aureum is the most common) is pretty tough, the constant digging and burrowing would probably keep even pothos from surviving.

You also need some springtails or other isopods in the soil to produce adequate bioactivity. Philippe de Vosjoli wrote an excellent book about natural vivaria for a number of species; it's called The Art of Keeping Snakes, but the basics of natural vivaria would be much the same for any species of animal. You might find the book helpful in ensuring that your substrate is bioactive. More info: The Art of Keeping Snakes (Advanced Vivarium Systems): Philippe De Vosjoli: 9781882770632: Amazon.com: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Snakes-Advanced-Vivarium-Systems/dp/1882770633/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1363361020&sr=8-4&keywords=philippe+de+vosjoli)

Good luck!

[nepoez]

thx! yes it's just an organic no additive soil from the garden shop. I have not stirred it since I don't wanna destroy the tegu's tunnel. I'll check out that book... thx! I also don't know where to get spring tails or isopods... also what's a potho?

[Aanayab1]

nepoez: I had the same issue... it lasted 3-5 weeks then worked itself out. I am also attempting the self contained ecosystem. In my personal opinion I would not disturb the substrate by mixing, the reason is: your lizard/monitor spent time deciding where to build his/her home/burrow. Why dig that up? I would only imagine having to rebuild a home weekly could be stressful to the animal. digging looking for prey and better homes should be enough substrate mixing. Another point being that in the natural biotope of every species on this planet there is mold, mildew, algae, fungus and lichen. I would think that as long as you are opening the enclosure to do your daily maintenance and in turn letting in fresh air there should not be any respiratory issues.

Oh and the best place to find spring tails and isopods is dart frog/poison arrow frog web sites. However you must keep in mind that spring tails and isopods staple diet is decomposing plant matter, so be sure to have an area of moist dead tree leaves, grass, alfalfa or what not until they have enough time to establish a good colony or you will just be throwing money away. I have noticed my bugs once established moved to the decaying branches, bark and sticks.

Pothos is any of various tropical lianas of the genus Scindapsus. Basically a type of tropical plant that does well in vivariums.

[nepoez]

Aanayab1 thanks!

so in your response you are indicating:

- Leave my substrate the way it is
- add isopods and spring tails from frog websites(do u have a canadian site for me?)
- add dead leaves? what kind?

thx!

[Aanayab1]

Yes that was the main points but please remember that is what works for me and not scientifically proven.

Get leaves from dart frog place as well. I'll shoot you a PM on a Canadian site. I am not sure if they sell the bugs but they can most likely point you in the right direction if they don't.

[poison123]

Get leaves from dart frog place as well. I'll shoot you a PM on a Canadian site. I am not sure if they sell the bugs but they can most likely point you in the right direction if they don't.

You can just get leaf litter from outside.

[nepoez]

it's -10C out and all snow haha plus insecticides is unknown factor.. check out the flag next to my name lol, not one of the lucky ones living in a country that can escape snow if u choose to.

[poison123]

it's -10C out and all snow haha plus insecticides is unknown factor

ah ok then.