This information comes from myself and a friend of mine that have spent some time in the horticulture business and this has proven to be very important to us.
Often I log on to these forums and read up on knowledge and until now have done nothing but learn and now I have knowledge to spread.
Throughout my experience I have come into many harmfull organisms in the soil I have used to grow my produce and flowers. Many of these organisms attack the plant starting with the roots and so on spread form here to the plant causing harmfull and much unwanted results. Now before you quit reading thinking this is a thread on plants and you think i am stupid or crazy let me elaborate.
Many times I see questions about a female dragon that is gravid and ready to lay eggs. To my astonishment I find people often give the best advice they can and it is really nothing more than unknowledgeable people trying to help when they should remain silent.(Breeders included)
First off this has nothing to do with the container used nor the heat but it does however deal with the substrate used to lay the eggs. Most people purchase a mixture of dirt from their local hardware store I.E. Lowes, Homedepot and the like.
These dirt mixtures are by far the worst thing anyone could do if not using the method in which I am about to explain in full detail. When purchasing these soils there is no guarantee in where the dirt comes from nor a method of regultaion for the contents. Many of these substrates are a mixture of sand and dirt along with many other things that are not listed and so on.
Many organisms in the dirt are lowering the lifespan of your pets and breeding dragons without you ever knowing it.
Their are numerous amounts of harmfull bacteria and they only thrive in the moist humid enviroment of the bag they are in while left in the sun to only speed the process. Now many soils contain beneficial organisms also which will naturally combat these harmfull species and provail. Unfortunately they usually must be added to the soil while the harmfull ones are already thriving.
Do you know what is in your soil % wise?
Here is a method find a large enough glass jar to hold around 1lb soil when it is half full that you have purchased. Add the soil to the jar and then add enough distilled water to fill the jar with about half filled with the soil. tighten the lid to the jar and shake vigorously for about 1 minute. Once this is done allow the jar to sit on an even surface for about an hour or even longer if you like. After this period the soil should have separated and will now show you the contents on different levels. Often I find most soils are around 60-70% dirt containing a certain % of sand and crustacean material (shells) along with this numerous seeds will float and you will even see dead bugs on the surface water.
Now you are probably going wow never thought of this and these are just the mixtures as you would need a microscope to see the true harmfull stuff (Bacteria).
Now how do I insure that the soil is 100% healthy for my egg baring female and what will give the best scenario for healthy off-spring.
This next method will seem pretty easy given you actually care to establish the best enviroment possible and actually only takes a few minutes and will do wonders in the long run. After all this typing the method is simple please microwave your soil for at least 3 minutes depending on the amount of soil used at one time this may take several rotations to complete as I dont know of a jumbo microwave. The sessions in the microwave will guarantee 100% sterile soil. As females lay their eggs a certaim % of bodily fluids is also exchanged the bacteria are hungry and when its all said and done the eggs are directly exposed to this enviroment. Not exactly the best start for something lacking natural immunities for the first few weeks of their new life. Caution you may want to use a old microwave and place it outside or in the garage as the soil will smell while cooking. I hope this helps and I hope I have changed many peoples methods as for the breeders this is a simple step to insure you are on top of your game. Have you ever had hatchlings die a few days after hatching. (Breeders you cant say no if you do your lying) BACTERIA.........
Often I log on to these forums and read up on knowledge and until now have done nothing but learn and now I have knowledge to spread.
Throughout my experience I have come into many harmfull organisms in the soil I have used to grow my produce and flowers. Many of these organisms attack the plant starting with the roots and so on spread form here to the plant causing harmfull and much unwanted results. Now before you quit reading thinking this is a thread on plants and you think i am stupid or crazy let me elaborate.
Many times I see questions about a female dragon that is gravid and ready to lay eggs. To my astonishment I find people often give the best advice they can and it is really nothing more than unknowledgeable people trying to help when they should remain silent.(Breeders included)
First off this has nothing to do with the container used nor the heat but it does however deal with the substrate used to lay the eggs. Most people purchase a mixture of dirt from their local hardware store I.E. Lowes, Homedepot and the like.
These dirt mixtures are by far the worst thing anyone could do if not using the method in which I am about to explain in full detail. When purchasing these soils there is no guarantee in where the dirt comes from nor a method of regultaion for the contents. Many of these substrates are a mixture of sand and dirt along with many other things that are not listed and so on.
Many organisms in the dirt are lowering the lifespan of your pets and breeding dragons without you ever knowing it.
Their are numerous amounts of harmfull bacteria and they only thrive in the moist humid enviroment of the bag they are in while left in the sun to only speed the process. Now many soils contain beneficial organisms also which will naturally combat these harmfull species and provail. Unfortunately they usually must be added to the soil while the harmfull ones are already thriving.
Do you know what is in your soil % wise?
Here is a method find a large enough glass jar to hold around 1lb soil when it is half full that you have purchased. Add the soil to the jar and then add enough distilled water to fill the jar with about half filled with the soil. tighten the lid to the jar and shake vigorously for about 1 minute. Once this is done allow the jar to sit on an even surface for about an hour or even longer if you like. After this period the soil should have separated and will now show you the contents on different levels. Often I find most soils are around 60-70% dirt containing a certain % of sand and crustacean material (shells) along with this numerous seeds will float and you will even see dead bugs on the surface water.
Now you are probably going wow never thought of this and these are just the mixtures as you would need a microscope to see the true harmfull stuff (Bacteria).
Now how do I insure that the soil is 100% healthy for my egg baring female and what will give the best scenario for healthy off-spring.
This next method will seem pretty easy given you actually care to establish the best enviroment possible and actually only takes a few minutes and will do wonders in the long run. After all this typing the method is simple please microwave your soil for at least 3 minutes depending on the amount of soil used at one time this may take several rotations to complete as I dont know of a jumbo microwave. The sessions in the microwave will guarantee 100% sterile soil. As females lay their eggs a certaim % of bodily fluids is also exchanged the bacteria are hungry and when its all said and done the eggs are directly exposed to this enviroment. Not exactly the best start for something lacking natural immunities for the first few weeks of their new life. Caution you may want to use a old microwave and place it outside or in the garage as the soil will smell while cooking. I hope this helps and I hope I have changed many peoples methods as for the breeders this is a simple step to insure you are on top of your game. Have you ever had hatchlings die a few days after hatching. (Breeders you cant say no if you do your lying) BACTERIA.........