Advice on Orchid bark and plantation soil .

[Zincubus]

Your views on using plantation soil in a snake viv (BRB) .

I understand that it's ideal in keeping the humidity up but I've also *read that it CAN be very messy , getting in the *water bowl and all over the snake ( and you when handling) .*

Maybe it's only messy if it is kept too dry ?? * *I really don't know .

Any thoughts on this substrate ??

My second choice would be orchid bark but that may mean feeding the BRB in a separate container so he doesn't swallow the bark with his rat .

Thanks .

[Lankyrob]

I use reptibark in all my vivariums - great for humidity and i just put a plate in the viv and feed the snake on there to avoid ingestion.

[whoaxmary]

It's messy if kept to wet. I use this sometimes with my bp, The only issue I've run into in the water bowl...But I rinse out each out each critters water dish daily so it's not really that big of any issue.

[TeaNinja]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I use reptibark in all my vivariums - great for humidity and i just put a plate in the viv and feed the snake on there to avoid ingestion.

i do the same thing with my repti bark and coconut husk shred mixture, only i don't bother with a plate and put the rat directly on the substrate. i've never had a problem.

i try to at least make sure the rodent is dry though, so no substrate actually sticks to it.

[Zincubus]

What do you guys/gals feel about using damp sphagnum moss as a substrate ??

Would that be just too damp for the BRB ..??

[Lankyrob]

I use it in humid hides - wouldnt personally use it all over tho.

[sassy_snake_lady]

Originally Posted by Zincubus

What do you guys/gals feel about using damp sphagnum moss as a substrate ??

Would that be just too damp for the BRB ..??

I used it all over in a RUB. You squeeze it out so it's not dripping, just damp. It worked very well but I just decided to use it in a large humid hide rather than all over as I wanted her to have some dry areas in the RUB too.

[TeaNinja]

i've heard moss is great for humid hides but it can dry out super bad if you use it as full substrate. you'll have to spray it very often to not have it dry out mega bad.

[brylecc1989]

I use eco-earth (coconut fiber) in my brb's tank with sphagnum moss. I have the moss kinda piled up in a corner about half inch thick and also inside a ceramic log hide from petco. Usually my brb is just burrowed in the open sphagnum in the corner. I mist it about every other day and it keeps my humidity at a consistent 70-80%. Just what works for me

[Teckdragon]

The fir bark and and a water dish will be sufficient for a BP. No need to bother with coco fiber or moss. Leave that for amphibians.

[Zincubus]

Originally Posted by Teckdragon

The fir bark and and a water dish will be sufficient for a BP. No need to bother with coco fiber or moss. Leave that for amphibians.

This set up is for a BRB , incidentally .

[Jay]

Originally Posted by TeaNinja

i do the same thing with my repti bark and coconut husk shred mixture, only i don't bother with a plate and put the rat directly on the substrate. i've never had a problem.

i try to at least make sure the rodent is dry though, so no substrate actually sticks to it.

Do not take this advice. I would go with what ever substrate meets your snakes need for looks it personal preference. If you use loose substrat take the extra second and put a plate under it.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Originally Posted by Zincubus

What do you guys/gals feel about using damp sphagnum moss as a substrate ??

Would that be just too damp for the BRB ..??

That would be fine for a BRB. Your not going to achieve the 90% humidity mark for long with out some kind of moss. Coco husk (the thin layered one) and Moss of any kind 60% Coco husk, 40% Moss and you cant go wrong, i promise. (speaking in terms for a BRB)

[TeaNinja]

Originally Posted by jay0133

Do not take this advice. I would go with what ever substrate meets your snakes need for looks it personal preference. If you use loose substrat take the extra second and put a plate under it.

i wasn't giving any advice, i was just stating what i do. even if i do put a plate in the viv the snakes drag it off the plate onto the substrate so it's pointless.

to each his own.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by TeaNinja

to each his own.

Not when you are responsible for providing correct care, its just a pointless lazy unnecessary risk to take.