Backyard dirt

[P. Novak]

Would it be alright to use dirt from straight out the backyard for my black throat? No pesticides or anything.

 

[Galapoheros]

When I tried that, I would eventually start getting a sulfur break-down kind of smell. I don't know what kind of dirt you have though. I think all the live plant roots and other organisms take care of that but maybe those things, esp. plants die when you bring the dirt inside. Then maybe the organic stuff starts to rot. But maybe I just had the natural dirt too wet. I don't know, it was many years ago since I tried that. I've had no problems with desert soil though since there is very little organic stuff in it. Sorry for all the "maybes". You could lay out a sheet of plastic on the ground and throw the dirt on top in a thin layer and let it bake there in the sun if you were worried about some parasitic nematode or something like it, don't know if that would even be a problem.

 

[kingfarvito]

bake it for ~30 mins at 350

 

[P. Novak]

Yea I was planning on baking it, but I just wanted to know if it would be alright to use.


Before I go to bake it and everything, I wanted to know if anyone has any other substrate they'd reccomend to me for a black throat monitor. Right Now I'm using Cypress mulch, but I am unable to locate anymore if it without spending alot of money.

Thanks in advance

 

[P. Novak]

So no one has an alternative? What about top soil?

 

[Galapoheros]

I think you would get the rotting smell with top soil too. They put a lot of organic stuff in there for plants I believe. You could use of mix of sand and coco fiber, ..maybe experiment with the ratio mix. The sand firms it up so the monitors feet won't sink in the sub like if would with straight coco fiber.

 

[JayzunBoget]

I am such a traitor to my profession!! I work at a pet store and we sell bed-a-beast and eco-earth, already cheap stuff and good for most situations, humid or dry.
Well, go to your local florist and ask for bricks of coco coir. It's exactly the same stuff, only at $1.50 to $2 a brick. Each brick covers 3-4 square feet.
Add to that the increased safety factor and that's a deal that's hard to beat!!