can i keep a common garter snake on plantion soil

[ConcinusMan]

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

Same here. It's not very cheap either.

Thanks for that info about home depot. I'll have to check it out.

[infernalis]

I get it from a store called easypet, it's cheaper than any other substrate from them, and it ships well since it is a brick.

[ConcinusMan]

Oh wow. I just received 2 digital thermometers from easypet! Went through amazon.

[infernalis]

I will look, I have been using their ebay store.

Flat rate $10 shipping, so I abuse it.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

wow, and here i thought he meant potting soil. Never heard of plantation soil before now!

But still... don't use potting soil!!!

[ConcinusMan]

Not even temporarily. Bad stuff. Newspaper works fine in a pinch but don't use potting soil or any dirt for that matter.

When I first adopted Jewels she was on dry potting soil. It didn't smell good, it was very dusty and she kept making sneezing noises. It was definitely irritating her respiratory tract. It took about a month off of that stuff for her to clear up.

[infernalis]

I have used plain soil from outside, but I planted grass in the cage so it was quite nice actually.

It's hard to maintain, so I don't bother anymore, substrate is cheap enough. Or in a real pinch newspaper, paper towel, an old tee shirt, all work.

[ConcinusMan]

An indoor lawn for your garters. Now that's different. But still, think clean and dry. Coconut fiber (plantation soil) is an excellent choice, looks natural, and is good for the snakes. Resists mold, bacteria, etc. but still looks like natural earth. Its also absorbent and feces are easy to clean out since it clumps.

It's no problem at all to keep it damp part time (I do that on the cool side) and it wont mold or grow bacteria if you are diligent about cleaning out feces regularly. Always use your nose and smell the tank daily. There should be no foul smell or urine smell. If there is, you need to spot clean, or replace all of it.

Like I said, try to keep it dry but this is a good material if you need to keep part of the tank moist. It won't mold unless it's fouled by excrement.

Newspaper, paper towel, old tee shirt, or even a Shamwow is better than anything from outside. Dirt is dirt. Ever wonder where dirt gets it's taste and smell? mold and bacteria. Don't use it. Don't eat it either.

[infernalis]

Yeah, but think about this, who spot cleans the vivs in nature??

They live on dirt everywhere but in captivity.

Now if someone would just make a tiny little lawn mower.

[drache]

Dirt is dirt. Ever wonder where dirt gets it's taste and smell? mold and bacteria. Don't use it. Don't eat it either.

not to start a big argument or anything, but as long as dirt hasn't been fouled up by humans adding chemicals, it's actually really good stuff
there are a number of special dirts that are used for healing, and even the ordinary kind has been shown to contain some kind of microbe or enzyme that reduces depression, which explains why digging in the dirt makes people feel better