The begining of the biosoil tank

[geckolabs]

Well it looks like they're enjoying it anyway, so it should be more than fine

If you end up feeling it like it needs clay, the exoterra excavator would be fine to throw into the mix, even though it itself isn't bioactive, per say.

And I'm loving those wood pieces you're finding!

 

[DadCoy]

yea, the woods behind the house backs up to a creek, right were it flows into the river so all kinds of stuff is out there. the big pice I actually found when I wa digging a hole for some dirt

 

[DadCoy]

Watching these guys hunt is worth doing the bio-active setup....to see their natural behavior come out is amazing..
I have new found love for them they are awesome to watch.
as soon as the light goes out(only have a "sun" heat and uvb bulb) they will pop out of hiding and go to town on whatever critter I throw in there, Dubia, crickets or mealworms they lay on the "basking rock" for a couple hours and then they "explore". the basking rock is 105 when on and temp of rock stays righ around 95 for a few hours after light goes off, which is another natural behaivior to lay on the heated rocks from the sun, I have a ceramic heat emitter on dimmer switch which when light is off keeps it 81* all night. cool side of tank is 80* and hot side is 95 with 105 basking.

when light goes on in the morning they come over and bask for about an hour and then they go to their hides for the day, and then do it all over.

pics of Klaus hunting crickets:

 

[DadCoy]

Updates....When I started project, I was only going to have 2 tangerines....read on.
This is the setup for my 2 tangerines and the "normal" I rescued. it had no toes on any foot from bad sheds, and I just couldn't stand seeing it in the pet store anymore so I offered the owner $25(he had $60 on it). 1 male tangerine, 1 female tangerine and the rescue is a female. This is my display "Pet" tank. I have a dozen eggs in incubator, I am going to be keeping the 2 best females and purchasing a male that is hatched sometime this season, hopefully a giant raptor to add to the tangerine line. Haven't fully decided yet..