Not Bp related but can someone help me?

Im wondering if i can use triple mix soil in a vivarium? The triple mix is peat moss, composted manure and humus.


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I would worry some about the bacteria in the soil mix. Are you doing live plants?

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Originally Posted by Phantomtip

I would worry some about the bacteria in the soil mix. Are you doing live plants?

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Ya


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Ive used organic soil mixes in a crested geckos enclosure so I could do live. It stunk up the house because the bottom of the soil stays saturated and doesnt have a release for excessmwater or nutrients. I would siggest ( and this is what I would do if I ever did it again) get some clay pots paint them with a non toxic paint to match the color of yoir sunstrate say coco husk, or glue moss on them to cover them, put saucers under them also. Plant your plants in that and you can take them out for watering the plants and water the plants in the sink and they can drain properly. The excess water will be in the saucers and get picked up by the moss and coco husk shouldn't be much. You can do all this with your weekly cleaning. This way you don't have all the stink, and bacterial growth. Oh and non toxic paints you can use like children's finger paints and mix colors till you get the one you want, and build up the substrate around them to hide the pot. Just let the paint dry WELL before putting it in your enclosure. This is just a suggestion. If plant roots are left saturated they will rot and add to the smell and the plant will die. Doing it this way you can inspect the plant, and trim it up some without stressing your pet as much. If I ever build my own enclosure I will be putting live plants in pots in there. I like the look of a more natural environment and I love plants. My husband laughs cause I will go out for milk and get a new plant too. I hope this helps

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Originally Posted by Phantomtip

It stunk up the house because the bottom of the soil stays saturated and doesnt have a release for excessmwater or nutrients.

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Were you using a drainage layer at all? Like a layer of hydroballs or something similar so the excess water had somewhere to drain to? That may have also helped with your rotting/stink issue.

To the OP, if you haven't already, I would suggest getting a copy of The Art Of Keeping Snakes. It is a great read concerning doing live vivariums. I got a copy off Amazone for a pretty decent price.

Drainage layer and drill a hole in the bottom (or very low in the back. Just make sure you're not drilling into tempered glass) so the water has somewhere to go if you have an accident or something. Use a bulkhead with a grate/filter and run PVC to a bucket or something to catch it.

Flooded substrate is not fun.

I have a 4" layer of hydroballs at the bottom of my plant terrarium, and a fountain over rocks....which creates a sort of biological filtration system. Theres never a smell from my terrarium at all....although its a plant only livingroom piece with no animals living in it.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/03/hahu7a8e.jpg

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Originally Posted by 4theSNAKElady

I have a 4" layer of hydroballs at the bottom of my plant terrarium, and a fountain over rocks....which creates a sort of biological filtration system. Theres never a smell from my terrarium at all....although its a plant only livingroom piece with no animals living in it.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/03/hahu7a8e.jpg

sent from my incubator

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I recognize that little ivy and that broadleaf, hmmm, wonder where you got those? :rolleyes:

It was called being young and dumb and not having acces to good research. I had gotten the poor thing from petsmart. I had it in a 29 tall tank with screen top. I used gravel under the soil, like you would for a little live plant container. After selling the poor thing because I couldn't care for it properly and was cleaning out that tank I was gagging the whole time. I learned my lesson. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH, then research again. I now have access to a lot of info that I didn't then. Last I heard that little crested had been bred a few times and was throwing gorgeous babies lol. I had bad dial up that took3 days to load 1 page lol and there wasn't as much info out there at the time.

I would check out information for setting up dart frog vivs. Basically you need to install a false bottom to prevent stagnation. I have a tank that already has a drain plug in the bottom, I'd search for one of those if I were you. It'll make your life a lot easier if you're in this for the long haul.