Cypress mulch .

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by Skumbo

what brand is that? how is it for humidity? my main reason for cypress is that it holds humidity well, im not huge on it otherwise

The original mulch block is the brand. I find coco husk works great for humidity and doesn't mold. Pain in the but to get it dry enough to use in the enclosure once you rehydrate it. I usually bake mine on cookie sheets.

[BlindOne]

Originally Posted by maximus30576

Blind One , does the bag you have say blended cypress or 100 percent cypress..

Blended.....I can't find anything that says 100% Cypress

[Caylan]

I'm with Korbin, Coco mulch can hold humidity really well, or if you can dry it(does take a while, it even works as a dry substrate. I do the same thing the $5 50L blocks instead of the $10 7L ones lol. No chance of any other bark in this stuff, and no toxins. For it often holds more humidity then I want lol. So no worries there. I make about an entire tote full of it and just replace as needed. Lasts a long time, never molds. Smells good actually. My bloods use it as a hide pretty much. Best stuff for snakes needing high humidity!

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by Caylan

I'm with Korbin, Coco mulch can hold humidity really well, or if you can dry it(does take a while, it even works as a dry substrate. I do the same thing the $5 50L blocks instead of the $10 7L ones lol. No chance of any other bark in this stuff, and no toxins. For it often holds more humidity then I want lol. So no worries there. I make about an entire tote full of it and just replace as needed. Lasts a long time, never molds. Smells good actually. My bloods use it as a hide pretty much. Best stuff for snakes needing high humidity!

Coco husk is also amazing for absorbing urine. The poop is a little harder to find though.

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by BlindOne

Blended.....I can't find anything that says 100% Cypress

DONT USE BLENDED

for one, it probably has nasty critters in it, but at best it has softwoods (cedar, pine, etc) whose oils will poison your snakes.

if you cant afford 100% online or something, youre much better off just using paper towels until you can find safe substrate.

[youngster]

If it's been kiln dried even cedar will not hurt your snake, all the oils go bye bye in the drying process.

Can't stress that enough.

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by youngster

If it's been kiln dried even cedar will not hurt your snake, all the oils go bye bye in the drying process.

Can't stress that enough.

i guarantee you they aren't testing for if they removed all the oils, and not all will go away when kiln dried, its much better to just avoid it all together given you have the options, considering the kind of poison wood poising will give wont be immediate and by the time you notice your snake will pretty much be dying

[BlindOne]

Originally Posted by Skumbo

i guarantee you they aren't testing for if they removed all the oils, and not all will go away when kiln dried, its much better to just avoid it all together given you have the options, considering the kind of poison wood poising will give wont be immediate and by the time you notice your snake will pretty much be dying

I appreciate your concern but I've been using the same mulch for about 5 years now and haven't had any issues with my 20+ snakes. I know another breeder who's used the same mulch for years with his 200+ animals and no problems.

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by BlindOne

I appreciate your concern but I've been using the same mulch for about 5 years now and haven't had any issues with my 20+ snakes. I know another breeder who's used the same mulch for years with his 200+ animals and no problems.

See that's the thing, it could be *slowly* poisoning your snakes, and you wont notice until they die a few years earlier than you would have expected, its not something that's going to happen quickly at all.

My grandfather was a woodworker for nearly 50 years and was diagnosed with wood poisoning in the late 90's after working with it every day (unfinished) for most of his career. He started developing rashes and chills and got really sick, actually ended up in the hospital for a week before they figured out what was wrong..
You can become increasingly sensitive to irritants, as that's the nature of histamine reactions.

Some individuals are resistant too it and others are very sensitive, its the same with any organism, so you may run into a snake that is much more sensitive than your other snakes. You also develop more sensitivities the more you are exposed to things you are only moderately allergic to (and therefore don't notice symptoms until its too late).

I'm just saying.. you may run into problems in the next few years, maybe never... maybe only with a few snakes... but its a decision I would never make.

(Its also possible you got lucky and your blended brand has no softwoods, but I know some do have cedar and whatnot in them)

[Terranaut]

This stuff os what I am currently using. 100% Cypress

[KORBIN5895]

How does it deter weeds?

[Kiljosh]

I use a blend of about 20% cypress 80% aspen in my king's enclosure. Anymore than that and the humidity goes to like 80% when I change his bedding. Humidity NEVER moves. It bounced all around when I was using just Aspen(and spraying).

My ball python gets a 100% Cypress. Hold's 60% humidity for about 5 or 6 hours then drops a percent every 2 or 3 hours.

I have used coco fiber for my old MBK but it got real dusty. The skink we just got is currently on it though.

[Terranaut]

Lol. Blocks the sun from shining on them I guess. It must work. I have no weeds in my snake vivs

[Kiljosh]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

It must work. I have no weeds in my snake vivs

Truly lol, but imagine one day you wake up and go to check on your little guys, and there's a seedling sprouting in the tank.

[Terranaut]

Better be the good stuff