Substrate - Dusty?

MrBosc · 12-17-12, 05:10 PM

Hi all,

I bought some top soil and play sand for my Bosc and I used a 70/30 ratio. To quickly accomplish this I used a fairly large tin and for every 7 fills of top soil I done I would then add 3 lots of play sand to the top soil. However rather than the Bosc being able to burrow it's pretty much just like dust, what have I done wrong? In addition I should add I have not added any additional water to the top soil (if you have to add it that is)

Thanks for any replies

BarelyBreathing · 12-17-12, 05:17 PM

I mix mine to a 60/40, and moisten it to depth. If you are losing moisture that quickly, you have an air leak in the enclosure. You need your enclosure to be 100% sealed.

MrBosc · 12-17-12, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

I mix mine to a 60/40, and moisten it to depth. If you are losing moisture that quickly, you have an air leak in the enclosure. You need your enclosure to be 100% sealed.

What did you mean by moisten it to depth mate? Also it's odd you should say that because although the vivarium isn't air tight I can still manage to hold the correct humidity with just one spray a day.

BarelyBreathing · 12-17-12, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBosc

What did you mean by moisten it to depth mate? Also it's odd you should say that because although the vivarium isn't air tight I can still manage to hold the correct humidity with just one spray a day.

One spray a day is too much. In a properly sealed enclosure, I can maintain 90% humidity for weeks at a time without so much as a sprits.

When I talk about substrate being moist at depth, I mean that when you mix the substrate, it should be moist all the way through. The top, the bottom, the middle should all be just a little bit wet, so when you put it in the enclosure it is moist all the way to the bottom.

MrBosc · 12-17-12, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

One spray a day is too much. In a properly sealed enclosure, I can maintain 90% humidity for weeks at a time without so much as a sprits.

When I talk about substrate being moist at depth, I mean that when you mix the substrate, it should be moist all the way through. The top, the bottom, the middle should all be just a little bit wet, so when you put it in the enclosure it is moist all the way to the bottom.

Unfortunately mine isn't air tight, I tapped down some cling film behind the air vents only to notice there is a slight gap on the joint on the one side. But on a positive note its just another thing that's made me want to build a new, bigger, cleaner and air right vivarium for January

fuzzhc · 01-07-13, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

I mix mine to a 60/40, and moisten it to depth. If you are losing moisture that quickly, you have an air leak in the enclosure. You need your enclosure to be 100% sealed.

Probably a daft question here, so does this mean no air vents either at the top or bottom of the viv either?

infernalis · 01-07-13, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzhc

Probably a daft question here, so does this mean no air vents either at the top or bottom of the viv either?

Yes it does mate.

When I first built my enclosure, I kept losing humidity and the thing kept drying out quickly, I was bewlidered, putting all that work into such a cage and it still didn't work right.

It was suggested to me to seal up every single crack, seam, joint or wiring passage with sealant, so I did,,, I even put a rubber strip around my door.

It worked a charm, the humidity shot up, the dirt stayed moist and I have not looked back since.

Pirarucu · 12-17-12, 05:22 PM

You need to add water or it won't stick together.

MrBosc · 12-17-12, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

You need to add water or it won't stick together.

OK, I was actually wondering whether I should do that as I was putting it in because the top soil bag said "expand up to 25l when water is added". In that case is there a particular amount of water I should be aiming to put in there?

Pirarucu · 12-17-12, 05:45 PM

Just dump water in, a fairly large range will work. You'll just have to experiment and figure out what works best with your dirt.
Essentially you want it to be mainly dry on the surface, but a half inch or an inch down it should be moist.

MrBosc · 12-17-12, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

Just dump water in, a fairly large range will work. You'll just have to experiment and figure out what works best with your dirt.
Essentially you want it to be mainly dry on the surface, but a half inch or an inch down it should be moist.

Brilliant ill give that a to first thing tomorrow morning

then hopefully he will actually be able to burrow rather than create a hole lol

Thanks for your help

BarelyBreathing · 12-17-12, 06:08 PM

Have you tried insulating with styrafoam sheets?

MrBosc · 12-17-12, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

Have you tried insulating with styrafoam sheets?

Never heard of the stuff, so please do go on

BarelyBreathing · 12-17-12, 06:12 PM

You can buy it in any home improvement stores. They're just sheets of styrofoam used for insulation. They work wonderfully for holding in heat and humidity, and they are resistant to moisture so you won't have to worry about mold or mildew.

Here's an example:

MrBosc · 12-17-12, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

You can buy it in any home improvement stores. They're just sheets of styrofoam used for insulation. They work wonderfully for holding in heat and humidity, and they are resistant to moisture so you won't have to worry about mold or mildew.

Here's an example:

Superb! That's next on my shopping list then

Thanks for your help, when I've added this with the added water to the substrate ill have to post an update and let you both know how its influenced the conditions