Hello there!

[promdom]

Hi there! My name is Dan and I am new to the forum. I'm planning on purchasing a Northern blue tongue skink next week and wanted to join the community! I was also wondering if I could use untreated sterile topsoil as substrate, or would something like eco earth be better? I want a soil looking substrate. Thanks and I look forward to getting to know everyone!

[donkeybuff]

People have tried soil in the past, but it has proven to be too much of a hassle for them. I have never tried it myself, but I understand that it is not great for humidity and is much messier and dustier than plant/fiber based substrates. If you want something like soil, go with Zoo-Med Eco-Earth or Exo-Terra Plantation Soil.

[promdom]

Okay, thanks. I'm not completely against using aspen i just feel like it would be ingested a lot more when catching prey and is a lot bigger to pass through the digestive system if ingested.

[donkeybuff]

Blueys are actually quite versatile with their tongues, and they are able to push most large pieces of aspen out of their mouths while they swallow prey. Small pieces are not really a problem with the correct temperatures and diet. I feed live prey to both of my skinks, one on cypress and the other on aspen, and they have never had issues with eating substrate or impaction.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

People have tried soil in the past, but it has proven to be too much of a hassle for them.

Who?

[Coomassie]

I haven't used top soil for a BTS but I have for other reptiles. I find that it is better when mixed with something else because soil doesn't really have much structure to it. I have mixed it with sand mostly. I do like eco earth. It is an awesome substrate.

[donkeybuff]

People have tried soil in the past, but it has proven to be too much of a hassle for them.

Who?

Fourth and fifth post up from the bottom of the first page
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=21857&hilit=soil

[Scincoides]

I have a male northern on organic potting soil right now. There's a little cypress on top, but not enough to cover all the soil. Its working fine. A little dusty, but no other issues. I got a bunch of it for next to nothing and figured that I'd give it a try.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

People have tried soil in the past, but it has proven to be too much of a hassle for them.

Who?

Fourth and fifth post up from the bottom of the first page
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=21857&hilit=soil

Scott didn't say that he used it so that's just one person...
I've used a sand/soil/ecoearth mix with a layer of mulch on top. And I pleased with how well it worked.

[Richard.C]

Thats probablu the most natural wau for them in captivity ml,dry on top more moisture as they go down in layers,probably best bet for holding humidity to

Ive used potting soil and sand before,soil was dusty sand was quite good,just more tedious come cleaning time

[promdom]

Thanks for all the input. I'm probably going to go with either aspen or eco earth. I'm going to start with eco earth and try aspen at some point as well, see whichever works best for the skink and me.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

I would recommend cypress mulch as well. If I'm not using my mix I always use cypress mulch.

[donkeybuff]

I wouldn't recommend cypress mulch as well. If I'm not using my mix I always use cypress mulch.

I think you meant would. Not trying to nitpick, I just don't want anyone getting confused.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

That's like the fifth time now