Substrate questions: potting soil ?

[Molch]

Hi all,
some of my herp book recommend potting soil, others warn against it since it may contain perlite or vermiculite and fertilizer.
However, if you use organic potting soil without any perlites or fertilizer, would that be okay - or if not, why so?

[smashtoad]

Potting soil without the stuff you mentioned can be fine, maybe cut it with some sand and/or coir depending on the type of frog you're setting up.

Personally, I am a strong believer in small gravel topped with sphagnum. There is no easier way to create a waterfall than burying your pump (wrapped in black fibglss screen) in gravel. Many plants love to grow in sphag, and this removes the need for a false bottom...which is a major payne. Can I get a brit-toe wit exta gokkamallee sauce?

This tank has been set up for over two years and is nothing but gravel and sphagnum. It has three yellow terribilis in it. This photo is actually pretty old, and now the sphagnum has died off and been replaced by some species of moss that grew out of the sphagnum. You can see the beginning of it on the flow log in the center of the picture. Sphagnum has all sorts of little surprises in it...I love the stuff. And as long as you don't over bio-load the tank, it never needs replacing...just pile more on top. Peace.