Substrate - Dusty?

[MrBosc]

Hi all,

I bought some top soil and play sand for my Bosc and I used a 70/30 ratio. To quickly accomplish this I used a fairly large tin and for every 7 fills of top soil I done I would then add 3 lots of play sand to the top soil. However rather than the Bosc being able to burrow it's pretty much just like dust, what have I done wrong? In addition I should add I have not added any additional water to the top soil (if you have to add it that is)

Thanks for any replies

[BarelyBreathing]

I mix mine to a 60/40, and moisten it to depth. If you are losing moisture that quickly, you have an air leak in the enclosure. You need your enclosure to be 100% sealed.

[Pirarucu]

You need to add water or it won't stick together.

[MrBosc]

I mix mine to a 60/40, and moisten it to depth. If you are losing moisture that quickly, you have an air leak in the enclosure. You need your enclosure to be 100% sealed.
What did you mean by moisten it to depth mate? Also it's odd you should say that because although the vivarium isn't air tight I can still manage to hold the correct humidity with just one spray a day.

[MrBosc]

You need to add water or it won't stick together.
OK, I was actually wondering whether I should do that as I was putting it in because the top soil bag said "expand up to 25l when water is added". In that case is there a particular amount of water I should be aiming to put in there?

[Pirarucu]

Just dump water in, a fairly large range will work. You'll just have to experiment and figure out what works best with your dirt.
Essentially you want it to be mainly dry on the surface, but a half inch or an inch down it should be moist.

[MrBosc]

Just dump water in, a fairly large range will work. You'll just have to experiment and figure out what works best with your dirt.
Essentially you want it to be mainly dry on the surface, but a half inch or an inch down it should be moist.
Brilliant ill give that a to first thing tomorrow morning :) then hopefully he will actually be able to burrow rather than create a hole lol

Thanks for your help

[BarelyBreathing]

What did you mean by moisten it to depth mate? Also it's odd you should say that because although the vivarium isn't air tight I can still manage to hold the correct humidity with just one spray a day.

One spray a day is too much. In a properly sealed enclosure, I can maintain 90% humidity for weeks at a time without so much as a sprits.

When I talk about substrate being moist at depth, I mean that when you mix the substrate, it should be moist all the way through. The top, the bottom, the middle should all be just a little bit wet, so when you put it in the enclosure it is moist all the way to the bottom.

[MrBosc]

One spray a day is too much. In a properly sealed enclosure, I can maintain 90% humidity for weeks at a time without so much as a sprits.

When I talk about substrate being moist at depth, I mean that when you mix the substrate, it should be moist all the way through. The top, the bottom, the middle should all be just a little bit wet, so when you put it in the enclosure it is moist all the way to the bottom.
Unfortunately mine isn't air tight, I tapped down some cling film behind the air vents only to notice there is a slight gap on the joint on the one side. But on a positive note its just another thing that's made me want to build a new, bigger, cleaner and air right vivarium for January :)

[BarelyBreathing]

Have you tried insulating with styrafoam sheets?

[MrBosc]

Have you tried insulating with styrafoam sheets?
Never heard of the stuff, so please do go on :)

[BarelyBreathing]

You can buy it in any home improvement stores. They're just sheets of styrofoam used for insulation. They work wonderfully for holding in heat and humidity, and they are resistant to moisture so you won't have to worry about mold or mildew.

Here's an example:
http://www.universalconstructionfoam.com/images/dow-blue-board.jpg

[MrBosc]

You can buy it in any home improvement stores. They're just sheets of styrofoam used for insulation. They work wonderfully for holding in heat and humidity, and they are resistant to moisture so you won't have to worry about mold or mildew.

Here's an example:
http://www.universalconstructionfoam.com/images/dow-blue-board.jpg
Superb! That's next on my shopping list then :)

Thanks for your help, when I've added this with the added water to the substrate ill have to post an update and let you both know how its influenced the conditions :)

[BarelyBreathing]

Great, I'm looking forward to the update.

[MrBosc]

Great, I'm looking forward to the update.
Just a quick question while its still in my mind. If I insulate the insider of the vivarium, won't my Bosc shred it? He often tries climbing up the sides, so I was wondering if their sharp nails will shred it?

[infernalis]

Just a quick question while its still in my mind. If I insulate the insider of the vivarium, won't my Bosc shred it? He often tries climbing up the sides, so I was wondering if their sharp nails will shred it?

When you build, go with double walls and insulate between the boards.

http://www.rockyroost.us/Enclosure/insulate.jpg

[infernalis]

watch the part just after 2 minutes or so, I am watering my cage.

5tOQtCI80_U

[BarelyBreathing]

Just a quick question while its still in my mind. If I insulate the insider of the vivarium, won't my Bosc shred it? He often tries climbing up the sides, so I was wondering if their sharp nails will shred it?

You insulate the OUTSIDE of the enclosure.

[dnoy88]

On the enclosure I'm building I am planning on coating all the wood with a kilo primer so that it doesn't mold or mildew and silaconing all the seams so moisture doesn't leak out of it and using a rubber whether seal on the lid my question is will this be to air tight or will it be fine because I can always do away with the wheat her seal to let a little bit more air but I jst wanted what some of you thought as there are a lot of people here with more expierence with this than me and I want savanah to have a long healthy life

[MrBosc]

When you build, go with double walls and insulate between the boards.

http://www.rockyroost.us/Enclosure/insulate.jpg
Brilliant, mind you when January comes ill more than likely be adding a new post and hopefully have a thread combining lots of tips to use on my new build :) so for now ill not what you've said down :)

[MrBosc]

watch the part just after 2 minutes or so, I am watering my cage.

5tOQtCI80_U
Ahh I see, there's me going and getting the right substrate and not even watering it making it useless to burrow lol. And that roll in mid air was very Kool :) and I really like the way you could pull the other one away so the other one could eat very placid and tame :)

[MrBosc]

You insulate the OUTSIDE of the enclosure.
Lol, should have thought of that :)

[War Machine]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/95935-diy-monitor-enclosure.html

Have a read through that mr Bosc.. I've been slacking, but I will have it done soon, but there is enough there to give you an idea.

[BarelyBreathing]

On the enclosure I'm building I am planning on coating all the wood with a kilo primer so that it doesn't mold or mildew and silaconing all the seams so moisture doesn't leak out of it and using a rubber whether seal on the lid my question is will this be to air tight or will it be fine because I can always do away with the wheat her seal to let a little bit more air but I jst wanted what some of you thought as there are a lot of people here with more expierence with this than me and I want savanah to have a long healthy life

You use polyurethane.

[MrBosc]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/95935-diy-monitor-enclosure.html

Have a read through that mr Bosc.. I've been slacking, but I will have it done soon, but there is enough there to give you an idea.
That is a superb tutorial War_Machine, and wow that vivarium is Huge! how are you getting on the with vivarium anyway mate? I was in a hurry to go out but I have a look through your thread and seem obviously the first few pics, and also seen a second lot but I never went any further than that :)

[War Machine]

Thank you, I just finished up my 2nd coat of sealer, this weekend I will be insulating the walls and finish them with some laminate floor boards.

[MrBosc]

Thank you, I just finished up my 2nd coat of sealer, this weekend I will be insulating the walls and finish them with some laminate floor boards.
Brilliant, will look so good when it's finishes not to mention I think your Sav is going to be chuffed with a new mansion of a house =] I spent like 2 hours yesterday sorting his substrate out only to again realize the substrate isn't deep enough so really want to get cracking on this new build (Y) Are you posting more updates on your previous thread btw?

[War Machine]

Yes I will when I make some good headway, and the enclosure is for a black throat, not a sav :) it's only a grow up tank for him until he gets bigger

[millertime89]

when deciding on insulation, check out the insulation batts, they're plastic wrapped strips of insulation that are about 4 inches thick and make install a breeze.
Shop Johns Manville 7-Pack 93"L x 15"W x 3-1/2"D 15-R Fiberglass Insulation Batts at Lowes.com (http://www.lowes.com/pd_356851-1722-EFK002_4294858103__?productId=3426708&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_avg_rating%7C1&facetInfo=)

[MrBosc]

Yes I will when I make some good headway, and the enclosure is for a black throat, not a sav :) it's only a grow up tank for him until he gets bigger
Wow, if that's a grow up tank he must get Huge! my Bosc would absolutely love it in that size, I'd put so many things in the for him to climb up as well :) do you have a rough finish date for your new set up?

[MrBosc]

when deciding on insulation, check out the insulation batts, they're plastic wrapped strips of insulation that are about 4 inches thick and make install a breeze.
Shop Johns Manville 7-Pack 93"L x 15"W x 3-1/2"D 15-R Fiberglass Insulation Batts at Lowes.com (http://www.lowes.com/pd_356851-1722-EFK002_4294858103__?productId=3426708&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_avg_rating%7C1&facetInfo=)
Thanks for posting that, I shall bear that in mind when coming to insulate the new viv :)

[fuzzhc]

I mix mine to a 60/40, and moisten it to depth. If you are losing moisture that quickly, you have an air leak in the enclosure. You need your enclosure to be 100% sealed.

Probably a daft question here, so does this mean no air vents either at the top or bottom of the viv either?

[infernalis]

Probably a daft question here, so does this mean no air vents either at the top or bottom of the viv either?

Yes it does mate.

When I first built my enclosure, I kept losing humidity and the thing kept drying out quickly, I was bewlidered, putting all that work into such a cage and it still didn't work right.

It was suggested to me to seal up every single crack, seam, joint or wiring passage with sealant, so I did,,, I even put a rubber strip around my door.

It worked a charm, the humidity shot up, the dirt stayed moist and I have not looked back since.

http://www.chompersite.com/husbandry/glue.jpg

http://www.chompersite.com/husbandry/seal.jpg

http://www.chompersite.com/husbandry/doorstrip.jpg

[fuzzhc]

Cool man.

As you have built a nice big viv I take it there wont be any problems with them gettin fresh air, I mean when you open the doors enough will enter to last them. But what about for my smaller one at 4x2x2 will the same apply? Or do you think one vent down the bottom willbe ok?

Tbh with 3 vents at the moment my humidity holds at about 60-75% for about a week or 2 but I suppose it can always be improved :D...... Until I build a bigger one in the coming couple of months that is

[infernalis]

Cool man.

As you have built a nice big viv I take it there wont be any problems with them gettin fresh air, I mean when you open the doors enough will enter to last them. But what about for my smaller one at 4x2x2 will the same apply? Or do you think one vent down the bottom willbe ok?

Tbh with 3 vents at the moment my humidity holds at about 60-75% for about a week or 2 but I suppose it can always be improved :D...... Until I build a bigger one in the coming couple of months that is

If your soil is staying moist (down deep) then you have no problems.

As for air requirements, think about this, how much airflow is happening down in those burrows?

Reptile oxygen requirements are really low, I know of at least one person who locks his monitors in their cage while he vacations, and they are always doing just fine when he returns.

He's also been doing it for over a decade with the same two monitors.

[fuzzhc]

I suppose.

I knew that monitors were slow breathers but never really thought of it like that before.

Think ill block off 2 just now then and leave one just to see how that fairs :D