Varanus99
11-16-2008, 09:04 AM
I got a PM about monitor substrates so I thought Id just post the reply here.
In the old days we used to keep monitors on newspaper. Heck, in the old days we kept everything on newspaper! As husbdandry improved we realized that paper is not the way to go for these animals. The old schoolers will remember their savannahs spending all their time trying to dig through the bottom of the cage.
Its generally agreed that some type of deep diggable substrate is your best bet when it comes to monitors. At least for most species. Or I should say it will work for all species but some will utilize it more than others.
First Ill tell you what I do then Ill throw out some other options. Ive tried a few things and this is what works for me.
I use a version of the Pro Exotics Home Depot mix which is 40% topsoil, 40% sand and 20% vermiculite.
I start with organic topsoil. You want to find one with no additives if you can. No fertilizer, no weird stuff, just dirt. This type of product is going to be loaded with junk like little sticks, rocks and what not. So I screen it over a hardwire screen. The screen I use is actually an old heavy duty fish tank screen. Its a bit of a pain and if someone has a better idea lemme know. I place the screen over a bin, dump the dirt on and shake/push the dirt through. What you're left with is a really nice fine soil. You wind up sifting out about half the bag! I throw the leftovers in my garden. Which is also where I throw my used, dirty monitor soil. Monitor poop seems to be good for plant life you should see my bushes!
Next I add the sand. I use cleaned playsand as its very fine and has no sharp edges. Make sure you get playsand, the stuff they sell for kids sandboxes. Then you just mix. I use a small trowel and my hands. The original mix was 50/25/25 but I found that too muddy so I use a little less dirt and a little more sand. Dont be afraid to tweak your ratios.
Then I add the verm. The verm helps to hold some moisture. Now you go hogwild mixing and try to get a nice even distribution.For those suffering from OCD out there (myself included) it doesnt have to be perfect. If a section has a little more sand then it should it will not kill the monitor instantly, LOL! Just do your best to get a good mix because that will help the next step.
Here's the tricky part. Adding water. You want enough water so its moist but not sopping wet. Bone dry soil wont hold a burrow. And too much water turns into a sloppy mudhole. So add water and mix slowly until you get the right consistency. I have a simple test which I have mentioned before in other posts. Grab a handful of substrate and squeeze. It should clump, stay together but no water should come out. Thats just about perfect.
Its a long, dirty process. My GF hates me when I do this since invariably dirt gets everywhere. I try to be neat but c'mon, its dirt! But the end result should be a very good soil which will nicely hold a burrow.
How deep will depend on the size of the animal. For ackies 10-12" seems to work just fine. You could go deeper if you're feelin' froggy but a foot seems like plenty to me. For medium sized animals like savs you will need around 2'. For the monsters you may need even more. But even if you cant provide more than 2' even that should satisfy their "need" move earth.
Maintaining your soil. Every so often you will need to add some water. I go by feel. How much you add will depend on how well your cage holds humidity. I pay particular attention to spraying under the cork bark hides, at least some of them. And the whole shebang will need to be watered from time to time so it doesnt dry out. If the TOP dries out thats fine but you want some moisture down below. I can usually tell that Ive waited too long when my lizards burrows start to cave in around the entrances. Then I add some water and mix. A small drain at the bottom is not a bad idea so any excess water can drain out and not fester down there. I also recommend turning the soil from time to time. Dont worry if you wreck a few burrows they will make new ones.
Some species, like water monitors, crocs and the tree monitors seem to appreciate a layer of leaf litter on top of the soil. And some folks just use straight up leaf litter with no dirt. I like the soil with leaf littler method. I dont use any leaf litter myself but Ive seen it used by many experienced keepers effectively.
So why all this dirt and hassle? Couple reasons. First, digging is a natural instinct of most species of monitors. They will dig shelters which will help them feel secure. And also provide nesting sites. Those moist burrows will help keep them hydrated so you wont have shedding or digestion problems. And its great exercise. Lets face it, even in a big cage running from one end to the other doesnt do much. To use my ackies as an example they can run the length of the cage in about .05 seconds. Are they really exercising? Probably not. But they can dig and dig and dig all day long. The dirt is like a hamster wheel. Its endless. Even though they really arent getting any where they dont know that, LOL!
And this is pure opinion but I think they enjoy it. I dont know if reptiles are capeable of that emotion. But damn do they look happy throwing dirt. Especially in a clean water bowl They LOVE that. Cuz they know the big moron will be along in a few to give them fresh water. Oh yes he will.
Some folks who do not use dirt have worried about keeping it clean. I spot clean the cage daily. If I see poo I remove it. I scoop out the whole poo area to remove as much undesireable material as possible. But I cant get all of it, obviously. If you have deep enough dirt a warm, humid enclosure is a boon for beneficial bacteria. Similar to inoculating a fish tank. The bacteria will help to breakdown the poo. Sometimes my lizards will poo and Ill tell myself "Ok, Ill clean up tomorrow" and I come back and its just gone. Now, Im not suggesting you let it get rotten. I do a complete overall 1-2 times a year. You can tell by the smell. After a while it will start to smell funky. Time for a change. Also it will depend on the size of your animals. Ackies dont need to be changed as often as say an adult blackthroat who throws horse-sized poos. And honestly a healthy monitor is a tank. While I certainly suggest keeping them clean a tiny bit of leftover poo isnt going to do a damn thing. Thats just reality. You have to shoot a healthy monitor to kill it. With a good sized bullet. I think the benefits of the soil outweigh the fact that you cant keep it 100% sterile like a hospital room.
Now, if you simply abhor the idea of all that dirt in your house...and trust me even in a small 4x2 cage you're talking a SERIOUS amount of dirt to hit 1 foot...you can use cypress mulch or as I mentioned leaf little as a bedding. But I would still provide a box, a humidity hide if you will, filled with soil. Even if your animals arent breeding these boxes will give them a chanc to dig and are easier to maintain. Although I believe there is no real subsitute for an entire cage floor loaded with substrate.
Side note: Dirt is very heavy. Make sure your cage is strong enough to hold it or you could split the sides. Also, unless you're Hercules forget about moving it. I have my cages on furniture dolleys which work great as I can wheel them around. A 6' trough loaded with a 1' of dirt can weigh over half a ton. No joke.
Ok. Let say you hate the idea of buying dirt and want to collect your own. You can do that just a few things to consider. As always you need to find a good burrowing dirt. Which means you will probably have to dig. Dry riverbeds seem to be a good place to find heavy clay laden soil which digs great. I would only do this in a rural area where you are sure the soil isnt contaminated by pesticides, fertilizers or nuclear waster. Although a three headed monitor could be cool. Then you have to consider what you're bringing home. Bugs or bug eggs could be in your dirt. And it will most likely be loaded with rocks, sticks, tin cans and old hypodermic needles (LOL). So sifting is a must. Who knows you may get lucky and find some good "clean" soil but dont bet on it.
Construction sites are another good place. When they dig out a foundation once they get past the topsoil they usually hit this beautiful orangish dirt which looks really good to me. Ive considered trying some of that but so far havent had the courage to ask the foreman if I can take like 20 five gallon buckets of dirt. But you could give it a go.
Landscaping and mason yards often have a wide variety of dirt and pulverised stone that you might be able to use or mix together. Just try to avoid anything with sharp edges or added colors.
Ok I think thats about enough dirt talk for a Sunday morning. Stay tuned for my next nail biter: Shoelaces:Their history and what they mean to you.
:lol:
In the old days we used to keep monitors on newspaper. Heck, in the old days we kept everything on newspaper! As husbdandry improved we realized that paper is not the way to go for these animals. The old schoolers will remember their savannahs spending all their time trying to dig through the bottom of the cage.
Its generally agreed that some type of deep diggable substrate is your best bet when it comes to monitors. At least for most species. Or I should say it will work for all species but some will utilize it more than others.
First Ill tell you what I do then Ill throw out some other options. Ive tried a few things and this is what works for me.
I use a version of the Pro Exotics Home Depot mix which is 40% topsoil, 40% sand and 20% vermiculite.
I start with organic topsoil. You want to find one with no additives if you can. No fertilizer, no weird stuff, just dirt. This type of product is going to be loaded with junk like little sticks, rocks and what not. So I screen it over a hardwire screen. The screen I use is actually an old heavy duty fish tank screen. Its a bit of a pain and if someone has a better idea lemme know. I place the screen over a bin, dump the dirt on and shake/push the dirt through. What you're left with is a really nice fine soil. You wind up sifting out about half the bag! I throw the leftovers in my garden. Which is also where I throw my used, dirty monitor soil. Monitor poop seems to be good for plant life you should see my bushes!
Next I add the sand. I use cleaned playsand as its very fine and has no sharp edges. Make sure you get playsand, the stuff they sell for kids sandboxes. Then you just mix. I use a small trowel and my hands. The original mix was 50/25/25 but I found that too muddy so I use a little less dirt and a little more sand. Dont be afraid to tweak your ratios.
Then I add the verm. The verm helps to hold some moisture. Now you go hogwild mixing and try to get a nice even distribution.For those suffering from OCD out there (myself included) it doesnt have to be perfect. If a section has a little more sand then it should it will not kill the monitor instantly, LOL! Just do your best to get a good mix because that will help the next step.
Here's the tricky part. Adding water. You want enough water so its moist but not sopping wet. Bone dry soil wont hold a burrow. And too much water turns into a sloppy mudhole. So add water and mix slowly until you get the right consistency. I have a simple test which I have mentioned before in other posts. Grab a handful of substrate and squeeze. It should clump, stay together but no water should come out. Thats just about perfect.
Its a long, dirty process. My GF hates me when I do this since invariably dirt gets everywhere. I try to be neat but c'mon, its dirt! But the end result should be a very good soil which will nicely hold a burrow.
How deep will depend on the size of the animal. For ackies 10-12" seems to work just fine. You could go deeper if you're feelin' froggy but a foot seems like plenty to me. For medium sized animals like savs you will need around 2'. For the monsters you may need even more. But even if you cant provide more than 2' even that should satisfy their "need" move earth.
Maintaining your soil. Every so often you will need to add some water. I go by feel. How much you add will depend on how well your cage holds humidity. I pay particular attention to spraying under the cork bark hides, at least some of them. And the whole shebang will need to be watered from time to time so it doesnt dry out. If the TOP dries out thats fine but you want some moisture down below. I can usually tell that Ive waited too long when my lizards burrows start to cave in around the entrances. Then I add some water and mix. A small drain at the bottom is not a bad idea so any excess water can drain out and not fester down there. I also recommend turning the soil from time to time. Dont worry if you wreck a few burrows they will make new ones.
Some species, like water monitors, crocs and the tree monitors seem to appreciate a layer of leaf litter on top of the soil. And some folks just use straight up leaf litter with no dirt. I like the soil with leaf littler method. I dont use any leaf litter myself but Ive seen it used by many experienced keepers effectively.
So why all this dirt and hassle? Couple reasons. First, digging is a natural instinct of most species of monitors. They will dig shelters which will help them feel secure. And also provide nesting sites. Those moist burrows will help keep them hydrated so you wont have shedding or digestion problems. And its great exercise. Lets face it, even in a big cage running from one end to the other doesnt do much. To use my ackies as an example they can run the length of the cage in about .05 seconds. Are they really exercising? Probably not. But they can dig and dig and dig all day long. The dirt is like a hamster wheel. Its endless. Even though they really arent getting any where they dont know that, LOL!
And this is pure opinion but I think they enjoy it. I dont know if reptiles are capeable of that emotion. But damn do they look happy throwing dirt. Especially in a clean water bowl They LOVE that. Cuz they know the big moron will be along in a few to give them fresh water. Oh yes he will.
Some folks who do not use dirt have worried about keeping it clean. I spot clean the cage daily. If I see poo I remove it. I scoop out the whole poo area to remove as much undesireable material as possible. But I cant get all of it, obviously. If you have deep enough dirt a warm, humid enclosure is a boon for beneficial bacteria. Similar to inoculating a fish tank. The bacteria will help to breakdown the poo. Sometimes my lizards will poo and Ill tell myself "Ok, Ill clean up tomorrow" and I come back and its just gone. Now, Im not suggesting you let it get rotten. I do a complete overall 1-2 times a year. You can tell by the smell. After a while it will start to smell funky. Time for a change. Also it will depend on the size of your animals. Ackies dont need to be changed as often as say an adult blackthroat who throws horse-sized poos. And honestly a healthy monitor is a tank. While I certainly suggest keeping them clean a tiny bit of leftover poo isnt going to do a damn thing. Thats just reality. You have to shoot a healthy monitor to kill it. With a good sized bullet. I think the benefits of the soil outweigh the fact that you cant keep it 100% sterile like a hospital room.
Now, if you simply abhor the idea of all that dirt in your house...and trust me even in a small 4x2 cage you're talking a SERIOUS amount of dirt to hit 1 foot...you can use cypress mulch or as I mentioned leaf little as a bedding. But I would still provide a box, a humidity hide if you will, filled with soil. Even if your animals arent breeding these boxes will give them a chanc to dig and are easier to maintain. Although I believe there is no real subsitute for an entire cage floor loaded with substrate.
Side note: Dirt is very heavy. Make sure your cage is strong enough to hold it or you could split the sides. Also, unless you're Hercules forget about moving it. I have my cages on furniture dolleys which work great as I can wheel them around. A 6' trough loaded with a 1' of dirt can weigh over half a ton. No joke.
Ok. Let say you hate the idea of buying dirt and want to collect your own. You can do that just a few things to consider. As always you need to find a good burrowing dirt. Which means you will probably have to dig. Dry riverbeds seem to be a good place to find heavy clay laden soil which digs great. I would only do this in a rural area where you are sure the soil isnt contaminated by pesticides, fertilizers or nuclear waster. Although a three headed monitor could be cool. Then you have to consider what you're bringing home. Bugs or bug eggs could be in your dirt. And it will most likely be loaded with rocks, sticks, tin cans and old hypodermic needles (LOL). So sifting is a must. Who knows you may get lucky and find some good "clean" soil but dont bet on it.
Construction sites are another good place. When they dig out a foundation once they get past the topsoil they usually hit this beautiful orangish dirt which looks really good to me. Ive considered trying some of that but so far havent had the courage to ask the foreman if I can take like 20 five gallon buckets of dirt. But you could give it a go.
Landscaping and mason yards often have a wide variety of dirt and pulverised stone that you might be able to use or mix together. Just try to avoid anything with sharp edges or added colors.
Ok I think thats about enough dirt talk for a Sunday morning. Stay tuned for my next nail biter: Shoelaces:Their history and what they mean to you.
:lol: