Re: long reply..................

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Posted by IGUANA JOE on June 10, 2000 at 16:24:28:

In Reply to: Sterile potting soil a question... posted by K~ on June 10, 2000 at 10:06:14:

the problem with potting soil is that it should be (in my own humble opinion) used solely in out-door enclosures.
here's why:
though it is sterile, it wont be as soon as an animal (i.e. your ig) will prowl on it. Potting soils can get soaked with feces, and is a pain in the @$$ to remove and add. with it, you can never be sure if you removed all the contaminations.
it is great for natural vivs, with real plants and all, but again, it does wonders out-doors. bacteria can form in the "soiled soil" it can stink considerably, and food scraps can be mixed in and covered with the dirt.

some people use it with geckoes often, but geckos tend to use ONE spot, and so the whole process is more controlled andeasier to deal with.

to be honest, I PREFER a substrate that can EASILY be REMOVED and STERILIZED (cleaned/washed/disinfected) than something that can harbor bacteria.

Some folks here may disagree with me, and may have no prblems with the ster. pott. soil,
which is GOOD, since i cant be right all the time on my point of views. But, MANY people do recommend to AVOID it.

Also, the INGESTION factor: some soil can be ingested along with a piece of food, multiple times. The iguana may also rub/ingest soil that has been contaminated by feces. The soil can also contain 'pumice' a volcanic-type rock (in small gravels) that can cause such intestinal impaction.

You may ask "why outside then?"
Well, outside, in a large rubber-coated wiremesh setup, fresh air circulates 360'. In-door, the air and humidity is all 'trapped' in a room, or the viv itself, even if there is some minor ventilation through holes or mini-fans. This concentration also aids the population of bacteria and parasites to mutliply.
In other words, it's not so sanitary!

Outside, the ig would majorly stay on branches, and eat up top as well, acting more naturally, while in-doors, as IMHO, they re often offered food on the ground.

Yet, it is true that outside the iguana can encounter bugs and mites, but then again, there are thousands of people who keep their animals outside all year long, and report no problems.

In the ULTIMATE IGUANA MANUAL, potting soils is under the "Never Use" category (pg 207), and i agree with the author.
On pg 215, he comments:
"... mites appeared after he [an owner] put potting soil in the iguana's habitat. Potting soil is fancy dirt, and has all of the negatives associated with dirt..."

Hope this helps!
:)

: All this talk on Sterile potting soil has me
: thinking that I might want to try it I do have a humidity
: issue with spazzy I use a humidifier for about an hour
: twice a day and it does provide 50% or so but I am wondering
: if this potting soil will help hold it in more....Here is the question
: with humidity and "dirt" can't you develop bugs or like little
: worms or something? perhaps a stupid question but I remember as
: a kid I tried to do a green house with soil, no particular
: kind and I had all kinds of little creepy crawlers from that....
: Just wondering... of course Spazzy will definately eat it too
: but perhaps after awhile she would stop...is it ok if they do
: eat it? Thanks all
: head bobs from spazzy.

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Re:Thanks so much..... K~ 06/11/00 (0)

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: the problem with potting soil is that it should be (in my own humble opinion) used solely in out-door enclosures. : here's why: : though it is sterile, it wont be as soon as an animal (i.e. your ig) will prowl on it. Potting soils can get soaked with feces, and is a pain in the @$$ to remove and add. with it, you can never be sure if you removed all the contaminations. : it is great for natural vivs, with real plants and all, but again, it does wonders out-doors. bacteria can form in the "soiled soil" it can stink considerably, and food scraps can be mixed in and covered with the dirt. : some people use it with geckoes often, but geckos tend to use ONE spot, and so the whole process is more controlled andeasier to deal with. : to be honest, I PREFER a substrate that can EASILY be REMOVED and STERILIZED (cleaned/washed/disinfected) than something that can harbor bacteria. : Some folks here may disagree with me, and may have no prblems with the ster. pott. soil, : which is GOOD, since i cant be right all the time on my point of views. But, MANY people do recommend to AVOID it. : Also, the INGESTION factor: some soil can be ingested along with a piece of food, multiple times. The iguana may also rub/ingest soil that has been contaminated by feces. The soil can also contain 'pumice' a volcanic-type rock (in small gravels) that can cause such intestinal impaction. : You may ask "why outside then?" : Well, outside, in a large rubber-coated wiremesh setup, fresh air circulates 360'. In-door, the air and humidity is all 'trapped' in a room, or the viv itself, even if there is some minor ventilation through holes or mini-fans. This concentration also aids the population of bacteria and parasites to mutliply. : In other words, it's not so sanitary! : Outside, the ig would majorly stay on branches, and eat up top as well, acting more naturally, while in-doors, as IMHO, they re often offered food on the ground. : Yet, it is true that outside the iguana can encounter bugs and mites, but then again, there are thousands of people who keep their animals outside all year long, and report no problems. : In the ULTIMATE IGUANA MANUAL, potting soils is under the "Never Use" category (pg 207), and i agree with the author. : On pg 215, he comments: : "... mites appeared after he [an owner] put potting soil in the iguana's habitat. Potting soil is fancy dirt, and has all of the negatives associated with dirt..." : Hope this helps! : :) : : All this talk on Sterile potting soil has me : : thinking that I might want to try it I do have a humidity : : issue with spazzy I use a humidifier for about an hour : : twice a day and it does provide 50% or so but I am wondering : : if this potting soil will help hold it in more....Here is the question : : with humidity and "dirt" can't you develop bugs or like little : : worms or something? perhaps a stupid question but I remember as : : a kid I tried to do a green house with soil, no particular : : kind and I had all kinds of little creepy crawlers from that.... : : Just wondering... of course Spazzy will definately eat it too : : but perhaps after awhile she would stop...is it ok if they do : : eat it? Thanks all : : head bobs from spazzy.

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