Let's talk dirt(y)!!

[deranged chipmunk]

I think the most overlooked component in a living vivarium is the dirt, or soil. Everybody always recommends ABG mix, which is an excellent choice, but, do you know why you are putting it in? Has anyone used any alternative soils? (Besides me?)

So let's talk dirt people. What are you favorite soils? What things do you stay away from? Have soil questions? Ask away!!! (I may even be coerced to share my soil recipe)

[kueluck]

The only thing I've used in the planted tanks is a combination of coco fiber and organic potting soil. I am going to be using the ABG mix in the new viv I'm working on and excited to see how well this stuff does. My favorites are ferns and I want this to have a woodsy feel to it.

[Tongue Flicker]

I'm using a sterile laterite soil mixed with bio-activated coco fiber now to grow semi-aquatic plants. Can't visualize a concept for my tank frog yet so i could use it there

[Mentat]

I'm using a sterile laterite soil mixed with bio-activated coco fiber...

What is "bio-activated coco fiber? "

[deranged chipmunk]

I keep a lot of rare (to the US hobby) plants, mainly from Borneo and Indonesia, so I make a mix that is very acidic to mimic their natural environment. I tried a version of ABG mix previously and I just didn't get the plant growth I wanted, so I started experimenting. It also helps when you have a few friends who work in the horticulture field to bounce ideas off of.

I have considered utilizing laterite for an extra boost of iron, but with everything else I have in the mix, I don't think it's really needed.

[deranged chipmunk]

If I am think of the same thing he's talking about Carlos, it's cocofiber fortified with bacterial. Living soil essentially.

[Mentat]

If I am think of the same thing he's talking about Carlos, it's cocofiber fortified with bacterial. Living soil essentially.

So you would add aquarium denitrifying bacteria (or something else) to the coco fiber? Interesting !

[Tongue Flicker]

A matured coco fiber mixed with a little bit of everything i.e. springtails, isopods, earthworms, mealworms, beetles, roaches, mites and really small millipedes. Quite commonly used as reptile substrates. Not sure if they'll be safe enough for frogs so i usually use them for my lizards and my plants

[flybyferns]

For my PDF tanks and the potted plants in the tree frog enclosures:
I use ABG ( from Josh's) w/ a few little modifications:
I always break up the sphagnum ,even remove some of it ( it never seems to be milled enough)
I add aquarium/filter activated charcoal.
I add additional slightly crushed leaf litter

After it's modified ..it is stored in a ( non air tight) plastic container

I add this modified soil as needed into the enclosures from time to time

I dampen the soil prior to adding it

This same exact soil is used in my springtail and isopod cultures
The only differences is ..........there are additional -BIG -chunks of charcoal and ( un-crushed) leaf litter in the culture containers
I do not separate springs and ispopds -
I feed them different food ( green zucchini for the pods and yeast for the springs)

[DigitalPunk]

I used the standard ABG mix initially for my tanks. Partly due to it being so highly recommend. I am now in the process of experimenting and adding various things to it, but have nothing definitive to add to the intelligent conversation. I was lucky enough to have Bill's recipe shared with me.

I currently have a big tub of ABG mix, but I shredded the Sphagnum moss a lot and added some crushed leaf litter to it. It has Springtails in it and they are fed with Bakers Yeast. This soil was used in the new dart tank around the plants roots. I also have a smaller tub of ABG that i mixed with 1 part top soil/manure. I have some Springtails and isopods in that as well. I will test it with plants and see how I like it.

[deranged chipmunk]

I love how this is so varied. There's really no single correct way to do it.

Paul, did you taste the manure to make sure it was organic? You should ALWAYS taste manure before using it

[DigitalPunk]

I love how this is so varied. There's really no single correct way to do it.

Paul, did you taste the manure to make sure it was organic? You should ALWAYS taste manure before using it

I always taste my Manure to make sure it is organic. Pro tip - If it tastes like **** it is the real deal!

[Bombina Bob]

the thing i have always done in my terrariums dirtwise is using coconut fiber with moss and fern spores mixed in, I user mosses collected from outdoors and they thrive in the terrarium, the ferns take a few months to actually spring up from teh ground but they need up to 100% humidity with glass tops.

[deranged chipmunk]

And as a side note, I feed my springtails yeast, and my Isopods get eggshells, potato slices and any other veggie scraps I have left over from cooking.

[poison]

My general substrate choice is "bio-active" play-sand/organic topsoil mix.

Bio-active is referring to the organisms that live with in the soil such as isopods, springtail, roaches, worms ect. But the main part is the soils natural bacteria that turns waste matter/ organic material back into soil. you can turn pretty much any soil type bedding into a bio-active environment.

There are a few articles online that talk more about it Bio-active Substrate | Gecko Time

You can also check out the book "the art of keeping snakes".