Whats Wrong with Top Soil?

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

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