Substrate argh

[millmoss]

So coco fiber alone is just too sticky on everyone. I'm planning on using a mix of coco fiber, soil, and some cypress mulch, based on a thread I saw around here. However, organic soil with nothing harmful added is difficult to find!

I'm wondering about organic humus. I found this:

http://generalhydroponics.com/site/gh/docs/prod_labels/ancientforest.pdf

And would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

 

[crickit785]

What species are you using this for? I think cypress mulch would be a bit abrasive to a salamanders skin and could possibly cause impaction if swallowed. I use a mix of top soil and tree fern substrate in my tiger sals terrarium. Once moist the tree fern substrate is very soft. This works great for plants aswell if you plan on having any? She also loves burrowing around in it.

 

[millmoss]

What brand of topsoil are you using, and where can I find tree fern substrate - again, the brand would be really helpful.

I have some ambystoma (spotted and marbled) and some slimies. The coco fiber sticks to them to the point where I worry about it, and I looked up a substrate mix on here that recommended a blend of coco fiber, topsoil, cypress mulch, and a little bit of sand. But finding topsoil without a bunch of additives is near impossible.

 

[randok]

I've also had some issues finding topsoil. One place I found it only had huge bags that I don't have room for in my place.

I managed to find a potting soil that has been working out well. It's African Violet Mix made by E.B. Organics. The ingredients are Aged Fir (Softwood) Bark, Redwood Compost and Sand.

It also is soft when wet, works well enough for me without coco fiber, but I do add some leaves for hides for my Noto eft. It doesn't stick to him like the coco fiber did.

 

[Jan]

I would be cautious of any 'potting soil' mix....too often they contain unsuitable products. I am suspect of 'redwood' compost. Redwoods are conifers and conifers contain volatile oils. That is why pine, cedar, etc bark and products should not be used - the oils are toxic.

Regarding coco fiber - it is not harmful to fossorial salamanders. For topsoil, look at places like Home Depot and Lowes. You just want topsoil....no additives such as fertilizer, perlite, peat moss, vermiculite, etc - just dirt. Myself, I have gone to using only blocks of reconstituted coco-fiber (Eco Earth and Bed-a-Beast).....my fossorial sals live well into the double digits. I use about 3 quarts of treated water for each brick - sometimes a little more or a little less water - there is block to block variability. You want it moist but not to the point you can wring out water.

 

[randok]

Ah shoot, thanks Jan. Luckily nothing bad has happened to my eft, even after a couple of weeks. I've promptly removed the potting soil and am back to searching for top soil.

 

[crickit785]

I belive the brand name of top soil I use is Earthgro. I just get it at walmart or my local hardware store. I use the Exoterra tree fern substrate, I buy it online.