can i keep a common garter snake on plantion soil

[Spankenstyne]

the potting soil we get here is not coconut husk, and doesn't say that it contains it either. I can also see other things in it, of unknown origin. So I will continue to stick with an alternative I know is safe here.

"Plantation Soil" I mean, not potting soil.

Yeah I'd also steer clear of potting soil with unknown stuff. It's more the fertilizers & additives I would be worried about than anything. If you get fertilizer & additive free stuff many folks have used it successfully.
Lotsa ways of keeping these awesome snakes but if something's already working really well for ya why change up?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Plantation soil? Never heard of it. what the heck is that?! lol!

I thought that by plantion soil, he meant potting soil... maybe I was off a bit on that one... haha! I have never heard the term plantation soil in my life!

[drache]

there - it's the same stuff as coir, or compressed coconut fiber - just another fancy name
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product...oducts_id=2275

[infernalis]

Potting soil? I guess you could, but I wouldn't... It comes moist and will probably harbor a lot of bacteria. It's also going to come with unknown bugs and such living in it. Then once it dries, it will be extremely dusty, which is VERY bad for the respiratory tract of your snake. But you would need to let it dry because your snake can't be in moist dirt all the time. That will give him scale rot. Many potting soils also are made with chemicals and such in them, and even if they say they are not... you just don't know what's really in it, because it's such cheap stuff... and for putting plants in. I would recommend against it.... potting soil is for plants. Get some aspen shavings, (no pine or cedar!) repti-bark, coconut fiber (this is very similar in looks to potting soil but it's clean) newspaper, newspaper pellets, wood pellets, carefresh, cage-carpet... anything but sand... cat litter... (or potting soil!)

I agree fully, Bagged dirt is not an ideal substrate.

[ConcinusMan]

It is the same and is fine for garter snakes. "Plantation soil" is just coconut fiber substrate.

[infernalis]

Now I feel stupid as heck.

[ConcinusMan]

I didn't know either till just now. Never heard of it. I thought we were talking about dirt from a cotton field.

[infernalis]

Funny thing, Zoo Med calls theirs "Eco Earth" and I use a ton of it.

[Holly]

It is the same and is fine for garter snakes. "Plantation soil" is just coconut fiber substrate.

Yup, that's the stuff. I buy the big 3 brick pack.

[Spankenstyne]

You can get the same stuff a lot cheaper at places like Home Depot, usually labelled as "Beats Peat" or some other name. The garden centers of those kinds of stores will have it. It's the same thing but in bigger bricks for a lot less money, it just hasn't been re-branded and marked up for the pet trade. Canadian Tire also has a different brand as well for those of us in the Great White North