I use white oak leaves, leaf compost, organic topsoil, sand, dirt from the yard, and big chuncks of rotted wood filled with isopods, milipedes, wood lice, and substrate mites... We also have colonies of superworms in the dirt as well...
This is a great way to keep monitors... Bio active substrates are the way to go with most species, not just monitors... No real cleaning is required as the natural bacteria and insect life break down waste within a day... No fecal smells in the cage at all Some of our cages have had the same dirt in them for over 5 years with no traces of fecal matter... When the leaves start to break down, we just add fresh ones on top...
Here are some photos..
Yellow Ackie
Box turtles in brumation bin
Clump of the soil when picked up...
Reply With Quote