Let's talk dirt

[Leefrogs]

I'm frustrated with plantation soil. No make how long I nuke it, I always end up with long bodied knats. They like the viv, almost refuse to leave, when I shooo them out, that's where they hang, trying to get back into that warm environment.

I used it for cricket laying soil, same thing. Hatching more khat/flies than crickets

Next time I want to try bed a beast, or something.........


Any stories or preferances shared would help everyone.

[DonLisk]

I haven't had any problems with the Zilla Jungle Mix but have had bug issues with Eco Earth and Plantation Soil.

I still like the Plantation Soil over the Eco Earth but if I had a choice it would be the Jungle Mix.

[Kisa]

I've had the same problem with my Tiger Legs viv (Plantation Soil) but haven't noticed anything in Bruce Campbell's where I've used Jungle Bed.

Anyone know about Eco Earth? That's what I'm using on the big build.

[Leefrogs]

I swear I nuked that stuff for 10 minutes. It had to be 200 degrees. Crazy, what kind of bug can survive being smashed, dehydrated, being packaged and nuked.

Thanks Don, I'll change it when I find zilla mix.

[DonLisk]

Only thing with Zilla Jungle Mix is the does have fir sticks in it but it packs down tight, less dirt on the frogs, and haven't had bug issues in the Red Eye tank, knock on wood.

Eco Earth is ok but sticks to the Whites like glue. I have a ton of leaf liter and that is also covered in the Eco Earth as it would be with Plantation Soil too.

[JSG]

Ginger, why don't you try to freeze the buggers? And I don't mean just put the whole lot in a bag and in the freezer for a day or two. Some time ago I posted a thread of a lady who used warm ice (frozen nitrogen) to kill off all unwanted bugs in her viv. This will be so much easier for you should you bag the soil and then expose it to the nitrogen. If what ever is in the soil do not freeze rock hard solid and dies, then the lack of oxygen caused by the melting nitrogen will surely suffocate them!
And then you can add any bugs you desire afterwards as the nitrogen dissolves quickly and leaves nothing bad behind which will be bad for the frogs or live plants for that matter. As a matter of fact, this lady said that her plants exploded with live after the nitrogen treatment!

[Leefrogs]

hmmm. Nice. That's a good back up plan. But changing brands of dirt is first. Although, changing it all out is a pain. My baby annae's are really irritated by these flies that seem to them seek out.

[Kisa]

Eco Earth is ok but sticks to the Whites like glue. I have a ton of leaf liter and that is also covered in the Eco Earth as it would be with Plantation Soil too.

Too bad I already bought three bags of the stuff...but I have a bunch of moss and leaf liter I plan on covering it with, hope that works. Bruce C. hated it in his old tank when he got all dirty, and I hated it too. I love my frogs nice and clean. ^ ^

[Rabbit87]

We use Coconut Fiber Dirt for our Sonoran Desert Toads. They love it. We also use it for our Emperor Scorpion. Seems to be pretty versatile. Clean up is easy and you don't have to heat it up at all. You can get bricks from the pet store or bags of it from lowes, home depot or any garden supply store. We have tried various other substrates and this is our favorite!

[Socrates]

I take soil from my own back yard (we don't use any chemicals on my lawn, nor do my neighbors). And I get mosses from family property in WI. I then mix the soil with coco fiber and put the live moss on top of that. Seems to work the best for me.

[Leefrogs]

I tried mosses from outside, I dip them in bleach water first. I'm scared of chytrid... And I thaught our moss up here needs a dormant period? What do you do to prep and clean yours? And do you have to change it out because of dormancy?

[Socrates]

Sorry for the delay in responding. But ya the moss actually stays active all year round. Also what I did is I quarantined the different mosses in separate containers for about a month. All I did was changed the soil/coco fiber mixture it sat on and I also gently wiped the moss with a damp towel regularly to remove any possibly surface microbes. Yes there is always the possibility of chytrid, but that could happen with just simply having a window open. So I wouldn't worry too much, just be sure to get the moss from a pesticide/herbicide/fertilizer free area and that is away from any roads/farms. And again in regards to dormancy, just keep the temps above 50 degrees and keep it damp and it will stay active. Hope this helps.