Timberline Top Soil ok for T’s????

[LlamaPack]

picked up some stuff I’ve seen recommended to me before, but this seems to be a very woody substrate, probably a bad idea to use, no?

 

[Mirandarachnid]

I got a bag of that recently. It looked about the same so I sifted it out, about 40% of it by volume was sticks and rocks. I’m waiting to do a cricket test before using it in an enclosure but there have been no crickets available in my city for the past two weeks.

It has been a massive headache, not buying it again.

 

[LlamaPack]

I got a bag of that recently. It looked about the same so I sifted it out, about 40% of it by volume was sticks and rocks. I’m waiting to do a cricket test before using it in an enclosure but there have been no crickets available in my city for the past two weeks.

It has been a massive headache, not buying it again.

Yep, I thought so, looking at pictures of T. stirmi’s natural habitat shows some very woody soil. If it’s a subadult should it be safe, or should I bust out the sifter just in case?

 

[Mirandarachnid]

Yep, I thought so, looking at pictures of T. stirmi’s natural habitat shows some very woody soil. If it’s a subadult should it be safe, or should I bust out the sifter just in case?

I would sift it. There was glass in mine.
And though the natural habitat may have woody soil, it is considered a hazard in an enclosure because they could climb to the top and fall just right on a sharp piece of wood. A general rule to be safe is to try and approximate the conditions of their habitat while eliminating hazards.

 

[LlamaPack]

I would sift it. There was glass in mine.
And though the natural habitat may have woody soil, it is considered a hazard in an enclosure because they could climb to the top and fall just right on a sharp piece of wood. A general rule to be safe is to try and approximate the conditions of their habitat while eliminating hazards.

Oh well, I’ll get to sifting I suppose, or maybe I can repurpose this one into a millipede habitat????

 

[Mirandarachnid]

Oh well, I’ll get to sifting I suppose, or maybe I can repurpose this one into a millipede habitat????

if you do sift I recommend a dust mask

I don’t keep millipedes but at minimum I’d do a cricket test to make sure it’s safe and free of pesticides. That kind of top soil is usually collected locally so there’s not really any consistency or quality control.

 

[fcat]

there have been no crickets available in my city for the past two weeks.

Yikes, any reason why?

 

[Mirandarachnid]

Yikes, any reason why?

The FedEx distribution hub in Memphis. I’ve gone to or called every pet store in my city that sells feeders (two big box retailers and two locally owned spots) and they all were waiting on the same shipment apparently.

 

[Dry Desert]

View attachment 466115
picked up some stuff I’ve seen recommended to me before, but this seems to be a very woody substrate, probably a bad idea to use, no?

That's not topsoil.

Topsoil is finely graded and is used for levelling lawns and patch repairs in lawns.

That's rubbish, I wouldn't use it or waste my time sifting it, I would return it.

If you want to be sure purchase Natural Organic Topsoil.

 

[cold blood]

Its fine to use...do you honestly think a t cares if there are little stones or wood in there? That stuff is about as natural as you get and its found in every bit of dirt every wild t lives on. Pick out the big stuff, but you shouldnt be worried about the dirt.

If you want to be sure purchase Natural Organic Topsoil.

I will never ever use any dirt with an "organic" label...IMO its a big mistake to do so. All...literally, ALL dirt is inherently organic, when you see that label, its not in reference to the dirt itself, its in direct reference to the additives...which are generally compost or manure....organic additives are something you want to avoid...unless you like flies and other bugs being attracted.

 

[Dry Desert]

Its fine to use...do you honestly think a t cares if there are little stones or wood in there? That stuff is about as natural as you get and its found in every bit of dirt every wild t lives on. Pick out the big stuff, but you shouldnt be worried about the dirt.


I will never ever use any dirt with an "organic" label...IMO its a big mistake to do so. All...literally, ALL dirt is inherently organic, when you see that label, its not in reference to the dirt itself, its in direct reference to the additives...which are generally compost or manure....organic additives are something you want to avoid...unless you like flies and other bugs being attracted.

Yes your T probably doesn't care about the quality of the soil.

However, we in Europe do, and take quality seriously.

That's why most of us use products like " Levingtons Natural Organic topsoil, which is freshly cut from green pasture land, not from the side of the road.

It clearly states on the bag that it " Does Not Contain Any Additives", and if required for plants additives will have to be used.

I use this in all my enclosures, including the Salamander ones especially as they have skin sensitive to any chemicals.

As suppose that could be one of the reasons Europe is way ahead of others in captive care and husbandry.

We don't buy crap and then try to turn it into something else.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Yes your T probably doesn't care about the quality of the soil.

However, we in Europe do, and take quality seriously.

That's why most of us use products like " Levingtons Natural Organic topsoil, which is freshly cut from green pasture land, not from the side of the road.

It clearly states on the bag that it " Does Not Contain Any Additives", and if required for plants additives will have to be used.

I use this in all my enclosures, including the Salamander ones especially as they have skin sensitive to any chemicals.

As suppose that could be one of the reasons Europe is way ahead of others in captive care and husbandry.

We don't buy crap and then try to turn it into something else.

Europe Organic must be different I tried usa Organic soil and it all molded. Many years ago. Maybe there’s a northern usa equivalent to yours that i don’t know about?
scotts topsoil I haven’t tried.

 

[Dry Desert]

Europe Organic must be different I tried usa Organic soil and it all molded. Many years ago. Maybe there’s a northern usa equivalent to yours that i don’t know about?
scotts topsoil I haven’t tried.

I can't speak for the rest of Europe regarding topsoil, I only know that if anyone in the UK purchased that rubbish that the OP had bought in good faith, it would have been returned within the hour and serious complaint procedure started.

As said topsoil doesn't contain stones or lumps of wood, it's graded to provide a nice rich loam, free of chemicals and definitely free of stones and lumps of wood.