Is Potting Soil Toxic to Reptiles? [Answered]

When you are an exotic pet owner (not your regular dogs and cats), you tend to get the thought that you want your pet to have the best possible life which is closest to its natural habitat and cycle. It is a good way to bring up your pet – especially for reptiles.

Your cold-blooded friend would love the area, in particular, so you must make the base of the enclosure, the soil, with the best possible option.

Normally, potting soil is not toxic to reptiles, but it can have components like styrofoam bits and vermiculite which can be hazardous to your pet.

Continue reading this article if you want to know more about why you shouldn’t be using potting soil.

Table of Contents

Is Potting Soil Toxic To Reptiles?

Generally, potting solid would not be the best for reptiles as it often contains chemicals from pesticides, fertilizers, vermiculite, and even styrofoam bits that can be harmful to your cold-blooded pet. There is also no way to determine which of these has substances mixed in, so I would not recommend you go for potting soil.

Otherwise, anything that is plain soil from the ground without any other added materials can be used for reptiles.

When Can I Use Potting Soil For Reptiles?

If you cannot find specific substrate base soils for your reptile enclosure, or simply just are in a situation where your only option is to use potting soil, you can simply choose to sterilize it.

Sterilizing gets rid of harmful organisms and bacteria and pathogens which make the soil chemical.

The following methods are a few ways in which you can safely sterilize regular soil for your reptile friend.

1. Steaming

The easiest way to sterilize soil is to steam it. You can do it using a pressure cooker or with an open pan and foil. To get rid of all the toxins in the soil, you should steam it for at least 30 minutes or until the temperature is 180 degrees (82 C).

Pressure Cooker:

Step 1: Pour several cups of water into a cooker.

Step 2: Place a shallow pan of soil (around 4 inches), covered with foil inside the cooker upon a rack.

Step 3: Close the lid without the steam valve and keep it heated at 10 pounds pressure for 15-30 minutes.

Open Container:

Step 1: Pour around an inch of water into a clean container and place the pans of soil (covered with foil) on a rack in the water.

Step 2: Close the lid and boil, with a crack open just enough to prevent pressure.

Step 3: Once the steam is gone, continue boiling for 30 more minutes and then allow the soil to cool.

Step 4: Keep it covered with foil until the time of use.

Note: Be careful of steaming manure (nitrate-rich soil) in the pressure cooker as it can cause an explosion.

2. In a Microwave

Step 1: Fill the container you are using with moist soil. A quart-size with a lid is preferred as we will not use foil for this method.

Step 2: Poke some holes for ventilation in the lid.

Step 3: Heat the soil for around 90 seconds per couple of pounds on full power.

Step 4: Tape up the vent holes and allow the soil to cool until it is time to use.

You can also microwave many containers at once if your microwave is big enough. You can also use polypropylene bags for keeping the soil with the top left open for ventilation. When you use these tools instead, make sure to heat the soil for 2 – 2.30 minutes on full power (in a 650-watt oven) and then close the bag to let it cool.

3. In an Oven

Step 1: Put about 4 inches of soil in an oven container (you can use a glass or metal baking pan), covered with foil.

Step 2: Keep a meat (or candy) thermometer in the center and bake at 180-200 F (82-93 C). Remember to stay in this heat range as anything above that can cause toxins.

Step 3: Remove the container and let it cool. Remove the foil only when it is time to use it.

What Soil Is Safe For Reptiles?

Potting soil may not be the ideal terrarium mixture for a reptile enclosure, but there are other soil and substrate bases that you can use as a replacement. Following are some recommended soil and substrate bases for reptile enclosures.

Coir

Coco coir is a substrate base made out of coconut husks and is highly fibrous. It is a highly stable and reliable material and you can find it in brick, chip, powdered, and many other forms. From my experience, I feel like powdered form works the best for reptiles as it gives them a natural feeling of home.

It is easier to have better drainage with larger chips, but if you use the powdered form, you can easily add plants to the terrain, which is beneficial for the natural ecosystem and habitat of your reptile.

Aquarium Soil

Fish are just as, or perhaps even more sensitive than reptiles and aquarium soil is made so that it fits the fragility of these beings. It is chock full of minerals, has better drainage, and is also good for the growth of plants. Aquarium soil for reptile enclosures is produced in dry pellet shapes and lasts for years.

What is best is that aquarium soil is good just as it is and you would not have to mix something extra for it to work. Some people even prefer it for its black aesthetics, which gives a clean look to the terrarium.

Sphagnum Moss

Sphagnum Moss is a type of terrarium substrate that is getting quite popular as an option these days. It is similar to coir in its water-retaining abilities and also has other beneficial properties like reducing bacterial growth and slowing down the rate of decaying in plants.

It is good to be used as a terrarium base as it is, but can also be mixed in with other soils to lighten its toxicity. However, it is not the best for plant growth as it has no nutrients.

Final Thoughts

Although they may not look like it, reptiles are very sensitive animals who need a lot of care when kept as pets. It may not be the best to get the soil for your enclosure from just anywhere, so make sure to check out the things I have warned against in this article.

Rest assured, I hope that this article has been informational to you and you build a great little enclosure for your reptile friend!