Herpetoculture Inc

Many recommend top soil for bioactive vivariums —

Top soil should never be used in a reptile or amphibian enclosure. The reasons for this are two. First, top soil (AKA mineral soil, or “dirt”) compacts quickly and easily. As it compacts it drives the air out of the substrate which destroys the aerobic (oxygen using) bacteria. Without that type of bacteria our substrates go anaerobic, which stinks and stops the decomposition we need for healthy vivariums.

Thats why those who recommend top soil also recommend it be mixed with a number of other materials that makes it less likely to compact. But since top soil does no particular good in a vivarium, why use it in the first place? Bags of top soil are often actually labeled with a warning that the product should not be used in containers – it doesn’t get much clearer than that!

Second, top soil in the US contains whatever pathogens were found in the ground where the soil was dug. That means you can needlessly introduce parasites like mites, ticks or round worms, viruses like snake fungal disease or pathogenic bacteria into your vivarium by adding top soil. (1)

The confusion seems to originate from the fact that “top soil” in Europe can be a very different product than what traditional has been called top soil in the US. It may be sanitized, for example, or contain additives that make it less problematic in a vivarium. And recently there have been products introduced to US markets that are labeled top soil that are probably more similar to some of the European products.

But since “soils” do us no good, we dont need to worry about too many details. If the bag says top soil, or if the ingredients say soil, leave it.

Potting MIX, not soil, is what you are looking for.

1.) https://ag.umass.edu/home-lawn-garden/fact-sheets/bagged-potting-mixes-garden-soils-for-home-gardeners

• Essential Feeding Tips for Garter Snakes: Separating Fact from Fiction
  Are you feeding your garter snake the right diet? If you’ve been confused by conflicting advice online, you’re not alone. Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all. Quick Start… Read more: Essential Feeding Tips for Garter Snakes: Separating Fact from Fiction
• Review of the EcoFlex Mojave 36″ Cage
  Over all this appears to be a good, sturdy cage – at a very low price. I am impressed with its build quality and a couple key features often lacking… Read more: Review of the EcoFlex Mojave 36″ Cage
• Costs and Links for 4×2 Cage Construction
  It’s much less expensive to build a nice, but simple 4x2x2 cage than it is to buy one. And depending on which cage you buy, your home made cage may… Read more: Costs and Links for 4×2 Cage Construction
• Why is Ball Python Care So Abysmal?
  I recently got kicked out of a big ball python group. I joined out of curiosity and was immediately surprised at 1.) How many BP keepers seemed to want to… Read more: Why is Ball Python Care So Abysmal?
• The Easy, Fast and Effective Way to Treat Snake Mites
  There is a lot of confusion and misinformation about snake mites and how to get rid of them. This 5 minute read will explain the best way to attack the… Read more: The Easy, Fast and Effective Way to Treat Snake Mites
• Are We Wrong about Humidity Requirements for Emerald Tree Boas and Green Tree Pythons?
  Debate continues around the humidity requirements of green pythons and emerald tree boas. In part, I think, because there are some misunderstandings about the role of humidity in the snakes’… Read more: Are We Wrong about Humidity Requirements for Emerald Tree Boas and Green Tree Pythons?
• Why Hybridize Eastern Indigo Snakes?
  1. What Are We Protecting?2. The Benefits of Hybridization3. The Fears of Hybridization There is a lot of concern over my plan to produce hybrids from Eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon… Read more: Why Hybridize Eastern Indigo Snakes?
• The Herp Hobby 2.0 is Coming … Many are not gonna like it.
  There is some understandable terror rippling through the herp business these days. The reaction to my last post on the subject made me realize the fear has caused some to… Read more: The Herp Hobby 2.0 is Coming … Many are not gonna like it.
• Working Groups for Reptile and Amphibian Standards of Care in the US (draft)
  Introduction The Facebook Page is here for more info:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555253836773 In general humans seem to be increasingly concerned over the quality of care we provide our pets. Even improvements for livestock… Read more: Working Groups for Reptile and Amphibian Standards of Care in the US (draft)
• Shall We Kill Invasive Wildlife?
  Killing invasive wildlife is almost always a political act, not a biological one. Im annoyed by the people on Reptile ID groups, and elsewhere, that advise people who post pictures… Read more: Shall We Kill Invasive Wildlife?
• A Nearly Perfect Snake Cage for Nearly No Money
  You need very little of what is often suggested “` This Guide will walk you thru the simple steps needed to create a nearly perfect snake cage – and explain… Read more: A Nearly Perfect Snake Cage for Nearly No Money
• The “Diverse Diet” Myth
  The pursuit of diversity in our pets diet may be doing more harm than good! I decided to write about this topic of diverse (or varied) diets for reptiles –… Read more: The “Diverse Diet” Myth
• Wild Caught, Big Breeder, Pet Store and Imported Herps?
  Is it Ethical to Buy Wild Caught or Imported Reptiles and Amphibians? — Catching Wild Reptiles and Amphibians I think its great that there seems to be a trend towards… Read more: Wild Caught, Big Breeder, Pet Store and Imported Herps?
• Whats Wrong with Tall Cages
  The design flaws inherent in tall cages — On the surface it seems like sound advice – arboreal reptiles and amphibians should be provided tall cages. But in most cases,… Read more: Whats Wrong with Tall Cages
• Poisonous VS Venomous
  Why BOTH are often correct — Its become a rather obnoxious trend on social platforms that when ever anyone mentions a poisonous snake, some know-it-all jumps in to correct them.… Read more: Poisonous VS Venomous
• What’s Wrong with Thermostats
  Mostly we don’t need them — Most every care sheet you read will instruct you to incorporate a thermostat of some sort into your vivarium design. So maybe its surprising… Read more: What’s Wrong with Thermostats
• Are Ball Pythons Arboreal?
  Ball pythons are not a semi-arboreal species, even though they have been found off the ground. — The short answer is no, Python regius, the ball or royal python is… Read more: Are Ball Pythons Arboreal?
• The Sun
  The Role of Radiation in Herpetoculture — The sun bathes the earth in heat and light – radiation. Our animals have evolved over millions of years in an intricate dance… Read more: The Sun
• Nitrogen, Nitrates and Nitrites
  Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! —- After a lot of years trying different substrates for herps, I found a good quality potting mix to be simply the best.… Read more: Nitrogen, Nitrates and Nitrites
• Managing Substrate Moisture
  A Critically Important and Often Misunderstood Aspect of our Hobby — The substrate in our vivariums has some important duties. But they can not perform these duties if they have… Read more: Managing Substrate Moisture
• When and How to Use Mist and Rain Systems
  Misting and Fogging Systems are Often Misused — There is a place for overhead precipitation systems in herpetoculture – fog, rain or mist – but they are not common. The… Read more: When and How to Use Mist and Rain Systems
• Why Drainage Layers Suck
  There is almost never a good reason to use them — I dont think there is any aspect of modern herpetoculture quite as ridiculous as the drainage layer. Incorporating a… Read more: Why Drainage Layers Suck
• The Humidity Mystery
  Humidity should come from substrate, not misting — How often have we read of a keeper complaining that they cant get their enclosures to the humidity levels stated on care… Read more: The Humidity Mystery
• Are Clean-up Crews a Waste?
  CUCs are largely a waste of time and money — I think it will come as something of a shock for some to learn that the whole “Clean-up Crew” thing… Read more: Are Clean-up Crews a Waste?
• What’s Wrong with Coconut Husk Substrate?
  These waste products from the coconut industry are not good substrates — There are a lot of different coconut husk products sold as substrate for our enclosures. These are a… Read more: What’s Wrong with Coconut Husk Substrate?