Substrate brands?

[catprincx]

Hello! im in the process of upgrading my Northern Blue Tongue Skink's enclosure and i want to go bioactive. I have my ball python on a bioactive set up and i had bought a premade bioactive substrate mix which costed a lot. This time i want to diy the substrate mix going with 70/30 topsoil and play sand. I wanted to double check if the brands i picked out were safe to use.
For topsoil im thinking of going with Timberline top soil and Quikrete playsand
I also saw a video of someone using lava rock as their drainage layer which i think i will do as well.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Maybe @Alex and the Redfoot can help you?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello! im in the process of upgrading my Northern Blue Tongue Skink's enclosure and i want to go bioactive. I have my ball python on a bioactive set up and i had bought a premade bioactive substrate mix which costed a lot. This time i want to diy the substrate mix going with 70/30 topsoil and play sand. I wanted to double check if the brands i picked out were safe to use.
For topsoil im thinking of going with Timberline top soil and Quikrete playsand
I also saw a video of someone using lava rock as their drainage layer which i think i will do as well.

Probably, you will see the same advice on substrates as for the tortoises:
1. Don't use store bought top soil (as it's non predictable what goes in the bag - chemicals treated plants, toxic plants, garden waste including hair, nails etc.). The bulk of the substrate can be coco coir as it's safer. You can also use some "reptile marketed" soil and orchid bark to add organics to the mix. Also some sterilised leaf litter can be added.
2. Besides play sand you may add some clay (e.g. ZooMed Excavator Clay) to better hold burrows.
3. Drainage layer is less common for arid and semi-arid bioactive substrates but does no harm. Lava rocks are heavy (you can a little to main substrate body, though) and make drainage with expanded clay (LECA). Make sure to place a good screen/fake bottom over drainage layer - skinks really love to dig.

Check what people use for bearded dragons - northern blue-tongued skinks come from similar areas (e.g. SerpaDesign on YT).

I own an Indonesian BTS and substrate I use is different (it's a tropical rainforest specie). For my bearded dragon I've just sourced and baked dirt from the outside (we have sand/clay soils here), and mixed some orchid bark, lava rocks and leaf litter to help with aeration and didn't make drainage. Not super happy with the results yet - cleanup crew is doing fine but some succulents have died off (I will see if grasses will do better).

(I'm not an expert in bioactives at any point )

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Drainage layer is less common for arid and semi-arid bioactive substrates but does no harm. Lava rocks are heavy (you can a little to main substrate body, though) and make drainage with expanded clay (LECA). Make sure to place a good screen/fake bottom over drainage layer - skinks really love to dig.

I too prefer LECA in my enclosures for the weight (I currently keep a bioactive with only isopods and springtails etc.)

 

[catprincx]

Probably, you will see the same advice on substrates as for the tortoises:
1. Don't use store bought top soil (as it's non predictable what goes in the bag - chemicals treated plants, toxic plants, garden waste including hair, nails etc.). The bulk of the substrate can be coco coir as it's safer. You can also use some "reptile marketed" soil and orchid bark to add organics to the mix. Also some sterilised leaf litter can be added.
2. Besides play sand you may add some clay (e.g. ZooMed Excavator Clay) to better hold burrows.
3. Drainage layer is less common for arid and semi-arid bioactive substrates but does no harm. Lava rocks are heavy (you can a little to main substrate body, though) and make drainage with expanded clay (LECA). Make sure to place a good screen/fake bottom over drainage layer - skinks really love to dig.

Check what people use for bearded dragons - northern blue-tongued skinks come from similar areas (e.g. SerpaDesign on YT).

I own an Indonesian BTS and substrate I use is different (it's a tropical rainforest specie). For my bearded dragon I've just sourced and baked dirt from the outside (we have sand/clay soils here), and mixed some orchid bark, lava rocks and leaf litter to help with aeration and didn't make drainage. Not super happy with the results yet - cleanup crew is doing fine but some succulents have died off (I will see if grasses will do better).

(I'm not an expert in bioactives at any point )

Thank you for the reply!
I was scared of using topsoil but since i will need a lot and im not trying to break the bank and ive seen so many people say its ok. Wasnt sure if i was being overly paranoid.
So would 70/30 coco coir and playsand work? mix in some reptisoil? or like a 70/20/10 coco coir, playsand and excavator clay?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

70 percent of coir is probably too much - you'll get a really humid environment. I would try 50/20/20 mix (or 50/30/10). But don't take my words for granted Get a second opinion on BlueTongueSkinks Reddit.

As of topsoil, I can't recommend specific brand as I'm not in US and tortoise keepers here on TFO mostly don't use it. However, if you have non-fertilized dirt/loam/desert outside you can get substrate there (make sure to bake it).

 

[catprincx]

70 percent of coir is probably too much - you'll get a really humid environment. I would try 50/20/20 mix (or 50/30/10). But don't take my words for granted Get a second opinion on BlueTongueSkinks Reddit.

As of topsoil, I can't recommend specific brand as I'm not in US and tortoise keepers here on TFO mostly don't use it. However, if you have non-fertilized dirt/loam/desert outside you can get substrate there (make sure to bake it).

Thank you for the info!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thank you for the info!

You are welcome! Keep an update, please, once you set it up. And the "skink tax", of course

P.S. - that's my guy after successful roach hunt