What's the best substrate?

[tHeGiNo]

Bark mulch, would you mind explaining why this is good? I am just curious, as if they use it, I am sure there is something right about it and I would like to switch to it myself.

[Ron]

I started with Carefresh went to paper towel then to newspaper and back to Carefresh. The paper towel and the newspaper didn't have the odor absorbing ability that I needed since my snakes were in my dinningroom. If you have a small collection I would use Carefresh. I would stick to Carefresh exclusively but they recently rasied their price by 35%. I have an order for some aspen chip, aspen shaving and a product that I believe is similar to Carefresh. I would love to try triple chipped cyprus mulch if I could find it, anyone have a source?

[Jeff_Favelle]

I have found that aspen sucks lemons because Balls need higher humidity than most people think and anything over 15% humidity causes aspen to mold like a son of a b........

[Clownfishie]

Where do you buy your bark mulch Jeff? I've been thinking of switching from newspaper in a couple of the enclosures, just to give something else a try... I've been thinking that it would be a lot easier to just have to spot clean than to have to take everything out of the enclosure just to get the newspaper out, and then put everything back in again....

[Invictus]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
I have found that aspen sucks lemons because Balls need higher humidity than most people think at anything over 15% humidity causes aspen to mold like a son of a b........

Depends on how well ventilated the area is, and how often you change it out entirely. I have a BCI in shed right now, so I've been misting him heavily... but the tank is very well ventilated, so no mold has formed yet, and I've been misting the same aspen shreddings for a week now.

However, if you need to maintain high humidity (as I did with the asian elaphe, rainbow boas, etc) you're right - aspen sucks beyond belief. I had the blue beauties in it for TWO DAYS before the aspen grew its own green fur coat.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ha ha, mmmmmm green furrr....

Well if I added more ventilation, that would defeat the purpose of my high humidity, so the point is moot moot moot!

Jen, you were JUST here!! How the he!! did you post so fast? Oh, maybe you posted before you came over? That would explain it. Ha ha, I guess so because I just showed the mulch. Ok, not enough sleeeeep. I'm outtie...............

[Jeff_Favelle]

Jen, I should have given you a sample of the bark to try. Damn, sorry girl! But then again, I have a couple more Rainbows here for you, wink wink!! I'll throw in the mulch for FREE!! LOL!

[maiden_canada]

hey guys thanks for all your input, I think ill be switching soon to cypress or bark mulch. jeff, i live in victoria too where do you get your bark mulch from? home depot or just a gardening shop

[sapphire_moon]

Ya, the repti bark I got ONCE came with those wonderful little black spots......

[Clownfishie]

LMAO Jeff! Yes, I posted that just before I left for your place... lol. As for the rainbows -- let's let me get THESE ones paid off first, eh? We'll talk about free mulch then... lol...

I too am interested where you get it from though -- I looked at Canadian Tire on the way home and they had jack squat... I wonder what the people who looked in my car and saw a seat full of snakes thought Hehe...

[Jeff_Favelle]

Heh heh, retail is for suckers. I have an account (through work) at a plant-wholesale place. I'm getting a palette of it soon. We might even re-bag it ourselves and then re-sell it with our label on it.

I'll keep you updated.

[HetForHuman]

if you want to get reptibark cheap go to your local greenhouse and buy what is called orchid bark, it is the exact same as repti-bark but without the expensive name.

I paid $30.00 canadian for a 60 litre bag of the stuff, and it was alot of wood chips.

[sapphire_moon]

when you pick up the mulch do you have to sterlize it in any way? if so how do you do it?

[HetForHuman]

i was just told to rinse the stuff off before using it but thats it.

I ended up not using any of it, because i started using paper towel and newspaper. Much easier to use in my opinion.

[sapphire_moon]

yes easier, but we are building a custom enclosure for my bp and I wanted to use something that looked nicer than the presidents face.......if ya know what I mean.