Can I Compost Gecko Manure?

15 years ago

My new housemate has several geckos in a dirt-floored terrarium. When she changes the soil, can the manure (guano?) go in the compost bin? I use the compost in my vegetable garden.

I can't find the answer on the web! I am thinking it's kind of like guano, so yes, but I also have reptiles & salmonella associated in my head.

My go-to list says no to meat-eater manure. Geckos eat grasshoppers. Hmmm....are insects meat? Chickens eat bugs.

Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

billhill
15 years ago
Monkeygirl, I think a small amount of gecko manure, relative to the size of your compost bin, will be alright. Just wash your hands and use normal hygiene practices when handling manures of any kind. - Bill Hill
dchall_san_antonio
15 years ago
Any kind of manure can go into a compost pile. I can't think of a better place for it.
Related Discussions
How can I add manure/compost when plants are already up?
Q
Comments (6)
What I have been doing is loosening up the soil close around the plants. Sometimes about an inch deep, and maybe 2 "deep a little further back, then putting on the manure, and mixing it in. But I dont think you would have to do that. I would think the rains would wash the nutrients down around the roots. I did it because my soil is so bad, and I am trying to loosen up the packed clay. I seen a huge difference in my plants in just a few weeks. Tammy
...See More
Where can I get quality composted chicken manure?
Q
Comments (1)
Go to this link, click on your state and then county. Call your CES agent and ask who and where chickens are being raised in your area. Contact the "chicken house" owners about the manure. Here is a link that might be useful: CES Agents
...See More
Can I add 5 months old horse manure compost to the garden beds?
Q
Comments (2)
Sometimes manure producers make big piles that are not necessarily well managed compost piles. If the manure was just piled up it may not have composted aerobically in the center of the pile, so it may not be 'finished' compost. The best way to tell is by appearance and odor. If you see poop apples, or it smells like poop, it might need some additional curing time with more air. If you don't see poop or bedding material (straw etc.), and the aroma is earthy and compost-like, it's ready to use.
...See More
Mushroom compost, kraal manure or chicken manure?
Q
Comments (3)
The best advice can only come from someone who knows what your current soil is like and what it lacks. But here are some differences between the amendments. Mushroom manure adds organic material without a lot of nutrients, so you might say it is fairly "nutrient neutral". It would be good in most soils, particularly if they are either sandy or full of clay and in need of additional organic material. You would then add other amendments or fertilizer to balance any nutrient deficiencies in the soil. The risks are low and it is helpful for many soil types. Lifestock manure when well composted also adds organic matter but is also high in nitrogen. So it is like adding compost + a high nitrogen fertilizer. It is a good choice if you need the nitrogen. But the manure has to be well composted before you add it to the soil. If you add horse or cow manure directly to the soil the ammonia and salts that are released as it begins to decompose can be too much for your plants and burn them. It can take 9 months to a year before the manure has composted down to the point where it is safe. So find out how it was produced. Chicken manure is livestock manure on steroids. It is higher in nitrogen, which can be a plus if that is a deficiency you need to address. Again, it has to be composted (or "aged") before it is safe to add to an active garden. In short, if you don't know your soil shortcomings, mushroom manure is always the safe bet - especially if you are going to use a specific rose fertilizer to supply nutrients. If you are going to fertilize anyway, then the potent livestock or chicken manure may be overkill.
...See More
californian
15 years ago
Any kind of manure can be composted, even your own. But manure from carnivoires is going to stink really bad and could have disease germs in it. Why do people keep asking if different kinds of stuff can be composted? If it came from a plant or animal it can be composted, period.
User
15 years ago
Some not all reptiles are natural carriers of pathogens that would not go well with use in any garden that you would eat the food. Yes, any manure can be composted but some animals carry things that should preclude being put in compost. Think of Hep C.

This is why you can not find baby turtles for sale anymore.
dchall_san_antonio
15 years ago
But manure from carnivoires is going to stink really bad and could have disease germs in it.

Have you been within a few miles of a feed lot recently? Grass eater's manure stinks pretty good, too...and has germs in it.

Why do people keep asking if different kinds of stuff can be composted?

Because every spring the magazines hit the shelves with articles about composting which tell readers to not use certain materials in their compost.

Some not all reptiles are natural carriers of pathogens that would not go well with use in any garden that you would eat the food. Yes, any manure can be composted but some animals carry things that should preclude being put in compost.

One of the reasons for composting and the decomposition of waste materials is to grow a population of microbes that decompose the diseases. This must work or else we'd all be sick from some dinosaur disease that has not gone away.
MonkeyGirl
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the responses. I know that any manure can be composted. Heck, dead bodies can be composted. But the question was one of safe composting for a food garden.

I think I'll stick on the safe side by leaving the gecko manure out of the compost.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES The Poop Scoop: Enrich Your Soil With Good Old Manure

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Get over the ick factor already — this natural super-ingredient for soil has so many benefits, you'll wonder why you ever went chemical

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Get on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)

By Matt Kilburn

Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load

Full Story

112

HOUSEKEEPING 10 Chores You Can Whip Through During Commercials

By Becky Harris

Use ad time for getting tasks done, and it’s like fast-forwarding your house into cleanliness

Full Story

112

GARDENING GUIDES Houzz TV: Make a Worm Bin for Rich Soil and Happy Plants

By Annie Thornton

A worm-powered compost bin that can fit under a sink turns food scraps into a powerful amendment for your garden. Here’s how to make one

Full Story

BATHROOM DESIGN Should You Install a Urinal at Home?

By MyFixitUpLife show

Wall-mounted pit stops are handy in more than just man caves — and they can look better than you might think

Full Story

178

EDIBLE GARDENS Natural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden

By Abundant City

Use these techniques to help prevent the spread of weeds and to learn about your soil

Full Story

213

FARM YOUR YARD How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants

By Annie Thornton

Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy

Full Story

EARTH DAY Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater

By Greywater Corps

Reducing home water waste means lower bills and a healthier planet. Here's how to set up a greywater home irrigation system that can help

Full Story

110

GARDENING GUIDES How to Design a Garden That Lasts

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Climates are changing. Wildlife is evolving. Can your garden keep up?

Full Story

SPRING GARDENING How to Grow a Rose Garden in Pots

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Everything can come up roses, even without a plot of soil in sight. This step-by-step guide to growing roses in containers shows you how

Full Story

Can I Compost Gecko Manure?

Comments (6)

billhill

dchall_san_antonio

Related Discussions

californian

User

dchall_san_antonio

MonkeyGirl
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Can I Compost Gecko Manure?

Comments (6)

billhill

dchall_san_antonio

Related Discussions

californian

User

dchall_san_antonio

MonkeyGirlOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

MonkeyGirl
Original Author