substrate

Astigma · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject: substrate

i was told leef litter makes a good substrate becouse its what the live in in the wild

Rick · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject:

I think it may depend on what the natural foilage is in Argentina compared to the natural foilage where you live. Keep in mind leaves do not hold waste as well as some normal substrates and could mold easy when wet.

I do not know the pros and cons but figured I'd toss something out there to get the discussion going.

Rick
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Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

YorkOC · Valued Member Joined: Oct 09, 2005 Posts: 101

Not too sure but I would agree with Rick. I use creature travelers soft chips. Have been using them ever since I got my tegu. They work great last real long if you spot clean and the owner is super nice. Here is the link if anyone is interested. http://www.creaturetravelers.com/Products/ProductsGroups/pages/reptiles2.htm

Art360 · Member Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 35 Location: Tennessee

I just use small size bark from Lowe's. One bag is 24 sq feet 1" deep for 3 bucks. You could expose the tegu to lot's of unexpected insects if you just rake your yard and pour your gatherings in the enclosure.

Johelian · Retired Mod Joined: Nov 22, 2004 Posts: 848

Rick is right - naturally leaf litter would decompose over time when wet. Tegus in the wild wouldnt have to live all day in soaking, rotting leaf matter - they would be able to move away to drier terrain. Since the leaves wont hold moisture, the water would gather in the bottom of the cage, making it permanently wet; while you need a high humidity, you dont want them in constant contact with standing water or rotting leaves

Also, naturally the leaves would be aired by the wind, drying them out and making them suitable for bedding under the right conditions. Unless you have a really good breeze going through your enclosure, they will just stay wet and eventually break down. Consequently, I wouldnt say they are any use for a tegu housed indoors at all; outdoors may be a different matter, but again, Im sure there are better materials out there.

Englishtegu · Valued Member Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Posts: 111 Location: UK

I have used leaf litter as a substrate with blue tongue skinks. If you put in a deep layer, you will find that the surface leaves are very dry, but the lower ones stay damper.

Owing to all the activity, the soon turn into a soil-like leaf mould. this actually holds moisture very well, and so soon you have a damp soil underneath a layer of dry leaves. You just keep topping up with fresh leaves.

The basic problem is the volumes of leaves that need to be collected. I gave up in the end. I'm using bark chips for my tegus.

Having said that, if you throw in a sack of leaves over the top of whatever substrate you are using, I'm pretty sure they will love you for it....

Cheers,
Mark.