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Member	Message
#2271937 Mason12 View Profile	Soil Is this soil good and safe for my Sav? It’s topsoil gardening soil by Ecogro.
07/02/12  04:31am
#2271938 Milkweed666 View Profile	Message To: Mason12   In reference to Message Id: 2271937  Soil Im not an expert but the contents sounded ok untill it said "compost".
07/02/12  05:12am
#2271939 Mason12 View Profile	Message To: Milkweed666   In reference to Message Id: 2271938  Soil ya i too noticed that, doesnt sound to good.. what do you think?
07/02/12  05:18am
#2271942 Adam L View Profile	Message To: Mason12   In reference to Message Id: 2271939  Soil That looks like the same top soil bag that I used for mine. Mix it with about 75:25 of Top Soil : Children’s Washed Play Sand.
07/02/12  07:16am
#2271943 Krusty View Profile	Message To: Adam L   In reference to Message Id: 2271942  Soil Sorry if this comes across to harsh, but why on Earth do you people keep buying potting soils and top soils that are made for plant nutrition? These really black dirts are a bad choice for multiple reasons....1. they stain up your animal and look horrible (least concern/aesthetics)....2. they are normally loaded with organic materials and nitrogenous type ammonia compounds that plants need to grow but cause a nasty smell like urine that builds up in a cage....3. they can be eye and mucosa irritants to the lizards and the crickets/food source. You really are better off getting a large rubbermaid bin and a shovel and go dig up some sandy, pretty soil that isn’t clay or black organic stuff. Sandy type inorganic soils like what you see in deserts is a better choice and typically can go get it for free. Try that stuff out instead vs these black, mucky plant soils sold at stores.
07/02/12  07:50am
#2271950 Aragarnn View Profile	Message To: Krusty   In reference to Message Id: 2271943  Soil plus when it says "ash" or "fly ash", that stuff is actually collected from excess dirt from coal mines. coal explosion from dynamite etc. doesnt sound exactly ideal.
07/02/12  10:58am
#2271952 Adam L View Profile	Message To: Aragarnn   In reference to Message Id: 2271950  Soil Where I live it’s almost all clay if you try to dig. What type of soil would you suggest if you were to buy it from a store (Home Depot or Lowes probably). I will still need to fill my 8x4 enclosure at some point so I would like to make sure I get the right stuff if that top soil isn’t OK. My current tank that my sav is in is around 50/50 with that top soil bag in the picture and sand. It has no ammonia type smell from what I can tell.
07/02/12  11:17am
#2271958 Mxracer View Profile	Message To: Adam L   In reference to Message Id: 2271952  Soil When buying bag’s of dirt alway’s read the material’s that are in it. I have only found one brand of bagged dirt that is just top soil, so it can be hard to find some times.
07/02/12  12:16pm
#2271973 Mason12 View Profile	Message To: Mxracer   In reference to Message Id: 2271958  Soil Well krusty are you just saying that natural sandy dirt like that is better just because ’it looks" better. Because i already bought 12 bags of this stuff and put it in. I hope it works fine
07/02/12  01:33pm
#2271979 Varanus_odom View Profile	Message To: Mason12   In reference to Message Id: 2271973  Soil Did you even read his post? Krusty gave you multiple reasons why, besides aesthetics. You bought 12 bags of garbage and could have avoided that by doing research for 5 minutes at the most.
07/02/12  02:11pm
#2271982 Krusty View Profile	Message To: Varanus_odom   In reference to Message Id: 2271979  Soil I swear that I write out these detailed posts and explain WHY and people don’t even bother to read them..... I mean really guys, it’s all explained up there on this post in detail with a friggin photograph of what is "good". At some point, people need to absorb this stuff or I am done writing it. Leading the horses to water but they won’t drink...... Dirt sold commercially at HD and Lowe’s is for GROWING PLANTS and has ultra-rich nutrients (nitrogen compounds similar to human urine) because that is what plants need to grow and develop. What lizards need is something inorganic (black= organic, pale colored=inorganic) that holds moisture, allows tunnels and nests to be dug and can act as kitty litter to help get rid of waste products. So when you ask me "what kind of dirt should I buy at HD?" after I just said "don’t buy dirt - it’s meant for plants. dig some up that looks like the picture", I really give up. Someone else can answer these redundant ?’s.
07/02/12  02:33pm
#2271985 Adam L View Profile	Message To: Krusty   In reference to Message Id: 2271982  Soil While I did read your post, I am unable to go dig up the kind of dirt in your picture. I was asking if they did sell a dirt that was similar because I thought there was a more than decent chance that they didn’t only sell the one type. I understand that it may have seemed as though I wasn’t paying attention but I am trying.
07/02/12  03:06pm
#2271995 Krusty View Profile	Message To: Adam L   In reference to Message Id: 2271985  Soil Google "landscaping store" where they sell "fill dirt" and rocks for decorating your yards. You can buy several types of basic sandy filler materials in bulk. You may need a pick up truck or large bins to haul the stuff away, but it’s like $13 to fill up a truck bed with nice sandy loam dirt most anywhere in the USA. Here in FL, I can either dig my yard a couple feet down to find nice sandy loam, or fill my truck up with some (and fill in my backyard’s holes!!!!). Look around. You do NOT want plant organic soils. You want something natural and sandy like the picture.
07/02/12  04:49pm
#2272051 Adam L View Profile	Message To: Krusty   In reference to Message Id: 2271995  Soil A quick note, I checked the bag of Top Soil that I used since I had bought 2 of them and it was not the same one that Mason used. It doesn’t appear to have any list of contents on it anywhere other then Top Soil so I guess that is at least a good sign for the time being.
07/03/12  09:17am
#2272084 Mdf View Profile	Message To: Krusty   In reference to Message Id: 2271995  Soil Justin i think it’s because new keepers associate good plant growth with good monitor growth!! :) pesticide free sandy soil substrate/soil riverbed soil, sand mixed with soil 50/50 not potting soil & make it deep before Krusty jumps off his monitor cages!! :) the soil is the very simple part but often over looked, the hard part is putting it in the cage
07/03/12  04:35pm
#2272091 Ejwebber View Profile	Message To: Mdf   In reference to Message Id: 2272084  Soil A wheelbarrel, ramp, or lots of 5 gallon bucket trips! hahaha!
07/03/12  05:49pm
#2272404 Mdf View Profile	Message To: Ejwebber   In reference to Message Id: 2272091  Soil hello Erin nice to see your still looking in!! :)
07/06/12  06:02pm
#2272457 Ejwebber View Profile	Message To: Mdf   In reference to Message Id: 2272404  Soil I have to. Even though Ezra is gone, I still have more learning to do for when I can pick up an Ackie or Argus someday from Justin. I must lurk and learn. :). I still have my Leo’s but have removed the male to his own encloser. I have a very nice female but have no plans to breed this year. They are not monitors but are perfect for me at this point in time. I love them. Take care Mark! These are older pics from when I first got her but she still looks the same. :) Erin
07/07/12  04:25pm
#2272522 Mdf View Profile	Message To: Ejwebber   In reference to Message Id: 2272457  Soil yea you have to keep watching & learning, i’m waiting till i can get a vivarium inside the house, not in the garage/loft & every other add on room i’ve tried with varying degrees of success!! take care! :)
07/08/12  12:01pm
#2275038 Bigmossy22 View Profile	Message To: Krusty   In reference to Message Id: 2271995  Soil Krusty I’m in fl too north fl the dirt is a sandy type I’m assuming that like you said is fine to use and will hold borrows well?
07/31/12  12:27pm
#2275045 Krusty View Profile	Message To: Bigmossy22   In reference to Message Id: 2275038  Soil Yes, I like FL sandy loams. If it’s too much like beach sand, add in a couple coco-peat bricks and it holds better. North FL has some early clay like in GA and you can get nice burrows with that sort of blended beachy sand x clay that is ochre colored. That’s excellent stuff I use sometimes.
07/31/12  12:47pm
#2275049 Bigmossy22 View Profile	Message To: Krusty   In reference to Message Id: 2275045  Soil Thanks so much krusty Deff will get to digging a hole lol since I hear you are one of the best people for advice here 2 questions I was going to cycle his lighting 12 on 12 off well 12 hrs with a night light or should I do it similar to the cycle of the days in the summer and winter some days longer than nights and vice versa. And a night light was wondering if a tube black light or a red bulb I really don’t want to look like the gates of hell are opening in my living room at night but want to simulate their natural lighting as much as possible at night thanks again
07/31/12  01:31pm
#2275053 Krusty View Profile	Message To: Bigmossy22   In reference to Message Id: 2275049  Soil You don’t need heat or lights at night here. It’s plenty hot, unless your cage is in a 65F room. I shut vents to a/c and room holds 78-82F year round. Lights on 10-12 hrs max.
07/31/12  01:49pm
#2276045 Arashikage1 View Profile	Message To: Krusty   In reference to Message Id: 2275053  Soil Hey Justin, I get using an inorganic soil for more xeric species like ackies, flavis, savs, and the like, but what about the more "forest dwelling" species? Peachies, melinus, tree monitors... Do you think they are looking for the same type of dirt especially for nesting? Or would they prefer a soil with more organic material? Thanks. Mike W
08/08/12  03:53pm
#2276174 Krusty View Profile	Message To: Arashikage1   In reference to Message Id: 2276045  Soil Mike - if I feel they want something less sandy, I mix coco coir fiber and leaves in.
08/09/12  07:40am
#2276176 MikesMonitors View Profile	Message To: Arashikage1   In reference to Message Id: 2276045  Soil Mike I use a mix of hardwood fines (a really fine mulch, not cypress) and sandy loam for "forest" Monitors (Jobiensis, Prasinus, Beccari as well as other species). These fines are available at any landscaping supply here in IL.. I’ll try and post a photo soon. Mike
08/09/12  08:58am
#2276197 Arashikage1 View Profile	Message To: MikesMonitors   In reference to Message Id: 2276176  Soil Sweet, thanks guys. Mike W
08/09/12  10:40am

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