Re:Thanks so much.....

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Posted by K~ on June 11, 2000 at 19:21:31:

In Reply to: Re: long reply.................. posted by IGUANA JOE on June 10, 2000 at 16:24:28:

I agree with what you wrote it makes sense!!!
This is why I asked to see if anyone had the same thoughts
I did. Thanks again~~
Head bobs from Spazzy

: 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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: I agree with what you wrote it makes sense!!! : This is why I asked to see if anyone had the same thoughts : I did. Thanks again~~ : Head bobs from Spazzy : : 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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