A question about mulch/wood chips

[Psyche]

so far ive just been using newspaper and ive decided i want to use bedding. i know petsmart sells it but ive seen several people who just give away huge amounts of mulch/wood chips. i wanted to know if i were to get some how would i treat it so that its ok to use for my snakes?

[theapexgerman]

Why not just aspen or reptibark aspen cheaper than reptibark I use repti bark for most of my snakes

[Gungirl]

I would never buy un bagged mulch for my snakes vivs. You never know what chemicals are in the color dye or what insecticides they spray on it. Stick to what you know is safe.

[BarelyBreathing]

First off, what type of animal are you housing?

Second off, I hate the word "mulch" being used for reptiles. Mulch is a gardening item, not a pet substrate, and is very often mixed with chemicals. Why the pet industry calls cypress bedding "mulch" is completely beyond me. It creates the illusion (and yes, I've sadly heard of this happening) that any mulch can be used as bedding, and keepers will go to Home Depot, see "mulch", and purchase it because it's much cheaper than what you can get at a pet store. A few weeks later they have a dead animal.

[Psyche]

alright thank you guys it was just an idea i had. which do you prefer/suggest: cypress or aspen? (i dont know the difference)

[alessia55]

I'd stick with ReptiBark... like Kat said, bags of mulch have usually had some sort of chemicals and you might not know what's safe in there.

[theapexgerman]

Reptibark is like the best but aspen absorbs better tho

[Xanafein]

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/af/af223cc5-4540-405b-9eaf-8fc4149c7f80_300.jpg


I use this, I spent a month asking around, and doing some research of my own, this is the exact same coconut husk that they sell you at pet stores for an arm and a leg

6 bucks for 8 Lbs


Its cheap and effective, My retic really loves it, since its so cheap i lay it down thick, and she likes to dig around and rearrange it

[alessia55]

Reptibark is like the best but aspen absorbs better tho

Actually, aspen will mold faster if it's kept too humid. On the other hand, ReptiBark is ideal for reptiles that need higher humidity levels since they absorb humidity and then release it over time.

[theapexgerman]

Why I use reptibark for the more humidity reptiles and aspen for my corn snake and a few others but either or is very good

[BarelyBreathing]

Cypress, ReptiBark, or Eco Earth. Aspen molds quickly.

[Xanafein]

Yeah and the Eco Earth Is the same as the 8 lbs bag i linked you guys to


If you like Eco Earth get that stuff, Just remember to get a gigantic tub to let it expand in it needs a bit more space than the tiny pet shop bricks

[theapexgerman]

I never had any issue with aspen getting mold but then again I use it for less humidity snakes

[BarelyBreathing]

I never had any issue with aspen getting mold but then again I use it for less humidity snakes


Even then, be careful. I used to use it on my Kenyans, then I noticed that it would start to mold under the water bowl (and I change it every other day).

[theapexgerman]

Yea I always check under the water bowl number one spot I just like aspen for my corn and mountain king brings out the color reptibark just hides there color

[Gungirl]

I use aspen for my corn and never have any issues. I also have mixed aspen in with my cypress for my bp and boa with no issues. I check on them daily and have yet to see any mold.

[Terranaut]

I like to mix my substrate but haven't quite found the perfect blend. The last time I did a 100% replacement I tried a 100% cypress multch from a garden store that was recomended to me. It is 1/10 the cost of Reptibark and realy holds moisture well. I used it out of the bag no mixing. Great stuff but a little chunky for smaller snakes. My adult boas like it but my king isn't tunneling near as much as with some o the blends I have made and my little gopher the same. So tonight I plan to make a couple blends using cypress and coco husk the some of that with eco earth. I will post about it later in the enclosure section.