Hello! I’m trying to figure out what is better for bioactive set-ups: top soil or potting soil? I’ve seen some people say only using potting soil and others say use whatever, but I can’t find any info about why one might be superior to the other.

amazingpetenclosures:

I believe it has to do with what goes into the soil, as in the components make up the soil. So long as there’s no fertilizer (including perlite), it should be safe for your reptiles. The kind of soil you use probably makes more of a difference to the plants you plan to use and the environment you want to create than it does to your animal. I, however, don’t know the pros and cons of both well enough to venture an opinion one way or the other, as far as which I’d suggest.

I’m sure there are others here that would be happy to weigh in though 🙂

You don’t want just soil, you need something to lighten it up a bit. First, you want dirt, and by that I mean something that’s just decayed organic matter. No added fertilizers, absolutely no perlite. Compost can also work. To that, add coco chips or coco fiber. A big handful of activated charcoal will eventually stop being activated, but can keep any initial stink levels down a bit. Some people use orchid bark as another additive. 

It’s also a good plan to cover the substrate over in leaf litter, for two reasons. First, it provides a layer of substrate that springtails can breed in, and they’re great cleaners. Second, it helps keep whatever’s in your setup from accidentally eating the dirt. Oak or magnolia leaves last the longest, but most hardwood leaves work out fine. If you can gather them from somewhere you know doesn’t have any pesticides, you can stir them around in a pot of boiling water to sterilize them. I suggest you spread them out in the sun for a bit beforehand to chase all the bugs out so you don’t boil a lot of bugs.