Sand/Soil!

AdamSoS · 16-02-2009, 08:02 PM

Well.. i have been using wood chips so i finally decided to put in sand/soil in.

And..bloody thell they LOVE it! In the Open top table i have a big seed tray for the soil/sand and already the female has dug down a bit and the male seems to like it also.

In the vivarium its mostly sand/soil with paper underneath till i get pond liner.
And the younger ones in the viv..well.. its just a joy to watch them run around it all the time..

Really has made my day to see them rushing around and making a mess.. Photo's will follow soon

(Btw all four are hermann's

)

**Bindi** · 16-02-2009, 08:05 PM

That's great! It's a much more natural substrate for them

anna m · 16-02-2009, 08:08 PM

Glad they like it

**Alan1** · 16-02-2009, 09:03 PM

That's great. If their eyes get irritated you could just go with 100% soil. Some people have had this problem but it depends on how sandy the soil is itself I think

AdamSoS · 16-02-2009, 09:06 PM

Thanks Cal, I would say im using 60/40. Will keep an eye how they behave with it but had no problems with any soil/sand near there eye's as yet.

Suggest giving the soil a few sprinkles of water daily?

**Alan1** · 16-02-2009, 09:12 PM

I found that the problem with the sand was when they'd been through the water, the sand would stick to their faces and get in the eyes but the soil seems to be bigger particles and doesn't do it so much. I sometimes spray water on the soil but it dries in minutes and it can blow the bulb if you get water on the surface of it (so it says in the instructions anyway)

AdamSoS · 16-02-2009, 09:37 PM

Thanks for the help Cal, glad its a step in the right direction i hope

alotoffluff · 16-02-2009, 09:58 PM

Thats great! As long as they are having fun!

wilsonathome · 16-02-2009, 09:59 PM

can't wait for pics

MrD · 16-02-2009, 10:33 PM

Mine are really starting to enjoy the change too!! At first they didn't really do anything different, but now they are digging and getting soil everywhere?!

It's cool they seem to be enjoying it!! The only thing is they don't seem to be wondering around as much as they were before?! But I am hoping it's a settling in thing. And I am hoping to get a bit more light into the enclosure... it's still a bit dark in the cooler side!

16-02-2009, 08:02 PM	#1
AdamSoS Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Worcester Posts: 396	Sand/Soil! Well.. i have been using wood chips so i finally decided to put in sand/soil in. And..bloody thell they LOVE it! In the Open top table i have a big seed tray for the soil/sand and already the female has dug down a bit and the male seems to like it also. In the vivarium its mostly sand/soil with paper underneath till i get pond liner. And the younger ones in the viv..well.. its just a joy to watch them run around it all the time.. Really has made my day to see them rushing around and making a mess.. Photo's will follow soon (Btw all four are hermann's )

16-02-2009, 08:05 PM	#2
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	That's great! It's a much more natural substrate for them __________________

16-02-2009, 08:08 PM	#3
anna m Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,091	Glad they like it

16-02-2009, 09:03 PM	#4
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	That's great. If their eyes get irritated you could just go with 100% soil. Some people have had this problem but it depends on how sandy the soil is itself I think

16-02-2009, 09:06 PM	#5
AdamSoS Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Worcester Posts: 396	Thanks Cal, I would say im using 60/40. Will keep an eye how they behave with it but had no problems with any soil/sand near there eye's as yet. Suggest giving the soil a few sprinkles of water daily?

16-02-2009, 09:12 PM	#6
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	I found that the problem with the sand was when they'd been through the water, the sand would stick to their faces and get in the eyes but the soil seems to be bigger particles and doesn't do it so much. I sometimes spray water on the soil but it dries in minutes and it can blow the bulb if you get water on the surface of it (so it says in the instructions anyway)

16-02-2009, 09:37 PM	#7
AdamSoS Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Worcester Posts: 396	Thanks for the help Cal, glad its a step in the right direction i hope

16-02-2009, 09:58 PM	#8
alotoffluff Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: greenwich, london, previously born and brought up in Kent! Posts: 2,127	Thats great! As long as they are having fun!

16-02-2009, 09:59 PM	#9
wilsonathome Member Hatchling Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: south wales Posts: 632	can't wait for pics

16-02-2009, 10:33 PM	#10
MrD Member Hatched Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 415	Mine are really starting to enjoy the change too!! At first they didn't really do anything different, but now they are digging and getting soil everywhere?! It's cool they seem to be enjoying it!! The only thing is they don't seem to be wondering around as much as they were before?! But I am hoping it's a settling in thing. And I am hoping to get a bit more light into the enclosure... it's still a bit dark in the cooler side!

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