Question about Eco earth substrate

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Cookie_Gecko

New member
I am thinking of switching to Zoomed eco earth for the substrate as they looks more natural and nice but since they are loose substrates in a moist environment so I am kind of worry about if i going to get those pest like wood mites, spring tails (I know spring tails are good but I just dont like it) or any other bugs will occupy in the eco earth from time to time? I Personally dont want to see those organisms crawling in the enclosure.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Cookie_Gecko said:
I am thinking of switching to Zoomed eco earth for the substrate as they looks more natural and nice but since they are loose substrates in a moist environment so I am kind of worry about if i going to get those pest like wood mites, spring tails (I know spring tails are good but I just dont like it) or any other bugs will occupy in the eco earth from time to time? I Personally dont want to see those organisms crawling in the enclosure.
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Eco Earth's coco fiber is an excellent substrate for cresties! I use it for my crestie George.

Spray the enclosure generously 1x per day at night. Let it dry out during the day. That prevents mold.
 
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Cookie_Gecko

New member
Yes they are good but is it going have pest like wood mites, soring tail or any other bugs in the substrate from timr to time?
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Cookie_Gecko said:
Yes they are good but is it going have pest like wood mites, soring tail or any other bugs in the substrate from timr to time?
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If you wish, bake any wood from outside as a precaution! You could also wash any wood with Dawn dish detergent and water.

I don't see how any bugs could get into your crestie's substrate. Insects gotta have some source.
 
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Cookie_Gecko

New member
Ok i will get the eco earth first then I will think about for the woods! I am getting the eco earth for a 12 x 12 x 12 cage so how many eco earth do I need?
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Cookie_Gecko said:
Ok i will get the eco earth first then I will think about for the woods! I am getting the eco earth for a 12 x 12 x 12 cage so how many eco earth do I need?
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A crestie definitely needs more height than 12 inches for a life-long home. They love to climb and survey their kingdom. :)

Eco Earth comes in compressed bricks and loose. The bag of loose Eco Earth coco fiber may be enough.

Scroll through this link beyond the first page for more info:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-summary-tips-february-2015-a.html#post440148
 
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acpart

Well-known member
Get one compressed brick and hydrate all of it. Use enough to get it to a 2-3" depth. Put the unused stuff in a zip lock and it will stay OK. When your crestie gets bigger and you go to a bigger enclosure, you will have more to use if necessary. I assume you're going to do a drainage layer as well (expanded clay balls to about a 2" depth --you can get them at any hydroponics store-- with a layer of vinyl mesh on top and then the eco earth). I don't replace my eco earth. There is a chance you will end up with springtails. I don't know how they get in there, but they seem to appear. Here's the thing-- they are very tiny and unless you go in there with a flashlight looking for them you will not notice them. They will help break down the poop and they will not infest your house.

Aliza
 
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Cookie_Gecko

New member
What do you mean by drainage? I am not going to keep any plant in enclosure. So the springtail just going to apprear from out of no where?
 
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acpart

Well-known member
There's a chance that if you just put eco earth in and mist daily that the substrate will get saturated with water and stay too wet. I do have an enclosure with a different species of gecko that I lightly mist every evening. It doesn't have any drainage layer and it seems to be fine. You could start out in the small enclosure with no drainage layer and see how it goes. If the substrate always seems soaking wet, you could put in the drainage layer when you move your crestie to a larger enclosure. I don't know enough about springtails to know where they come from. Maybe they are on plants and that's how they get into the enclosures. All I know is that I have never bought any springtails, yet there they are!

Aliza
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Cookie_Gecko said:
What do you mean by drainage? I am not going to keep any plant in enclosure. So the springtail just going to apprear from out of no where?
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Some people use what Aliza describes for drainage. That means (from bottom up)

  1. 1st layer some Hydroton clay culture balls
  2. Weedblocker cloth layer that lets water pass through to the Hydroton
  3. Top layer Eco Earth coco fiber
That's an excellent system especially if you live where it's dry. You "water" the substrate once in a while. The water passes through the coco fiber into the Hydroton clay balls. That adds humidity to the environment.

I've not found it necessary for my crestie. He usually sheds very well.

I live in the Pacific Northwest. My home always has adequate humidity for cresties. I do use these layered substrates for other humidity-loving geckos.
 
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Cookie_Gecko

New member
So I dont really need a drainage? For the springtails, can they get out of the enclosure? I did some research about the springtails and grain mites that they are came from the substrates. I am thinking of is there any other substrate that doesnt carry these little things? lol
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Cookie_Gecko said:
So I dont really need a drainage? For the springtails, can they get out of the enclosure? I did some research about the springtails and grain mites that they are came from the substrates. I am thinking of is there any other substrate that doesnt carry these little things? lol
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Is it dry or humid where you live?

Did you find out what springtails need to survive?

I use straight Eco Earth's coco fiber for my crestie -- no drainage at all. There have never been any springtails inside. I use coco fiber in other enclosures too. I have never seen any springtails!

So -- Eco Earth does not "carry" springtais. Coco fiber by itself is a poor medium for plants.
 
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Cookie_Gecko

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
Is it dry or humid where you live?

Did you find out what springtails need to survive?

I use straight Eco Earth's coco fiber for my crestie -- no drainage at all. There have never been any springtails inside. I use coco fiber in other enclosures too. I have never seen any springtails!

So -- Eco Earth does not "carry" springtais. Coco fiber by itself is a poor medium for plants.
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My place is gets very dry when is comes to winter due to the heat system. This is the reason I want to switch to eco earth because I dont need to mist the cage many times in a day.

I dont know that much about springtail acutally.
 
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Cookie_Gecko

New member
Just bought the eco earth two days ago and just finish putting them in the tank today. I soaked too much water in it so it is still so damp right now. by the way how do I clean the inside of the tank with the eco earth in it?
 
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