Is this Soil Appropriate?

Little Wise Owl · 10-20-12, 04:49 AM

I have two bags of this that someone in the family bought. It doesn't claim it has anything in it other than it's "Natural" and "Weed Free". It's priced at $2.60 a bag which is the usual price of pure soil here. This will be used for a tegu, btw.

Vigoro | Garden Soil - 28.3 Litre | Home Depot Canada

infernalis · 10-20-12, 08:19 AM

I cannot seem to find any sort of ingredients analysis anywhere.

Gatorhunter1231 · 10-20-12, 09:26 AM

If it garden soil then it will be loaded with organic material. Usually to rich in my experience. Tegus dont seem as picky with their dirt.
Oww garden dirt that's loaded with organic material can stink because it organically breaks down.

Little Wise Owl · 10-20-12, 12:46 PM

I'm having a tough time finding soil that includes its ingredients and is just soil... I would use my backyard's soil but at this time of year, it's turning into heavy, frozen mud and is hard to deal with.

Who knew it'd be so hard to find pure dirt.. lol

infernalis · 10-20-12, 04:31 PM

so, dig some up, bring it in, within a day or two it will dry some.

iBaman · 10-20-12, 04:33 PM

100% Sphagnum peat moss. that's what I'm going to use in my t's cage. I have it around for my venus fly traps, as they are VERY picky about soil. I figure if they can grow in it, it shouldn't harm T's =D

AjaMichelle · 10-20-12, 08:00 PM

I don't know if this interjection is warranted but Venus fly traps and other plants with similarly modified flowers prefer nutrient-poor soils. The modified flowers (or 'traps') aren't produced if the plant is getting needed nutrients from the soil. I believe said plants also prefer a more acidic soil as well.

Is nutrient-poor, acidic bedding ideal for tegus? The folks I know use cypress mulch.

iBaman · 10-20-12, 08:05 PM

Exactly, if it doesn't have nutrients in it, there isn't going to be anything to harm the pet...fertilizers, plant food, the like. Just my line of thought!

AjaMichelle · 10-20-12, 08:09 PM

Ah I see what you were getting at! That's a good way of looking at it!

I was thinking of it from a monitor perspective. My savannah monitor rubs her food on the ground and thereby takes in trace minerals from the soil.

iBaman · 10-20-12, 08:12 PM

Ohh, that does make a lot of sense. I didn't know they did that. Nutrients in soil may be a little more important for you, then...maybe mix cypress mulch in with it?

AjaMichelle · 10-20-12, 08:14 PM

Do tegus rub food on the ground before consumption?

iBaman · 10-20-12, 08:16 PM

no clue...my collection is limited to pythons and a T xD (boyfriend is scared of lizards after having an iguana snuggle with him while he was asleep)

AjaMichelle · 10-20-12, 08:31 PM

Aw that's too bad!

I'm a lizard kind of lady but have never kept Tegus.

iBaman · 10-20-12, 08:33 PM

see, and I LOVE lizards and geckos and the like...I think beardies are sweet, and Iguanas are my absolute favorite lizard...they have such a unique personality!

Little Wise Owl · 10-20-12, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AjaMichelle

Do tegus rub food on the ground before consumption?

Yes. They eat sort of like monitors do. They also wipe their faces in the dirt after eating.