Dangerous pet products that should never be used for pets

[Starbuck]

Originally Posted by Mhawk151

I have heard on numerous occasions that cedar bedding is toxic to reptiles. But I recently started thinking about the food items that they ingest on a regular basis almost always lives in cedar bedding. It is not a substrate that I use for my pets but the local pet store does. I've not known any problems with them at all although the mice and rats bury themselves in it and must certainly have it in their fur and skin. Just curious, Hmmmm?

i think the issue with cedar is the oils found in the wood; they can produce contact blisters on the snake, as well as cause respiratory issues. I think lots of commercial mouse and rat breeders actually don't use cedar anymore either, but rather shredded paper, aspen, and wood blends, as it is cheaper (though there may still be some cedar present to help control odor).
I was actually thinking about this the other day as well…
I believe many small animal keepers follow the current dogma that the oils in cedar can actually be harmful to their pets as well, with smaller animals like mice being more at risk than say, a rabbit.

[Awaiting Abyss]

Cedar is extremely harmful to any small animal and should never be used. They will develop respiratory infections. Sometimes it will kill them and sometimes it will just cause them issues for the rest of their lives.
A while back I had a really bad mite issue that I couldn't get rid of and I was afraid to use my regular mite treatment on my mice so I put them on cedar bedding for a week... Those two mice (I only had two at the time) had issues the rest of their lives and their lives were shortened.

Pine is only safe for small animals if it is kiln-dried. I use kiln-dried pine with all of my rodents since I am allergic to aspen.

[stevenrudge]

Anything by Hagen,lethel

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

I use a Fluker's 5.0 UVB bulb for my Ball Python. It's spiral shaped, as you specified. Is this safe? The bulb in this picture isn't the same as mine. Just found it on Google to use as an example. The wattage is different

Your ball python can't benefit from UV at all. Remove the light.

Originally Posted by stevenrudge

Anything by Hagen, lethal

Not true. For people on the turtle/amphibian side of the hobby, Hagen makes great products via their "Fluval" and "Aquaclear" brands. Good filters and heaters.

[michiganman83]

hello everyone!

new to this forum but not new to reptiles! but I got a question? what does everyone think about using (100% cypress mulch) that I have located at Lowes improvement store! it says there is no pesticides or chemicals in it! now im asking because I have over 35 snakes that I wanna switch back to from newspaper and paper towels. I was buying bedding from LLL Reptile and the locale pet stores but I live 6 states away and they are killing me with shipping cost! let me know what ya guys think!!!! thanks.

[jarich]

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

Your ball python can't benefit from UV at all. Remove the light.

Not true at all actually, and I think I fairly clearly discussed why above. For Erik, Id recommend getting a better UV light though as those coil ones are pretty useless and much harder to keep inside a snake enclosure.


As for your question about cyprus mulch, michiganman83, yes, you can use the stuff from Lowes. Its the same thing, just different packaging really. Like a lot of reptile products, the second a reptile brand packages it, it gets about four times as expensive. Make sure it is free of dyes though too, sometimes for the garden stuff they dye it a uniform colour.

[kelzerman]

Originally Posted by michiganman83

hello everyone!

new to this forum but not new to reptiles! but I got a question? what does everyone think about using (100% cypress mulch) that I have located at Lowes improvement store! it says there is no pesticides or chemicals in it! now im asking because I have over 35 snakes that I wanna switch back to from newspaper and paper towels. I was buying bedding from LLL Reptile and the locale pet stores but I live 6 states away and they are killing me with shipping cost! let me know what ya guys think!!!! thanks.

I would check that it is also 100% cypress. I have seen a lot of cypress "type" mulch around here that is really pine.

[michiganman83]

yeah when I go to check the mulch out im gonna read it and im gonna call the manufacturer and ask them what is put into it!

[blackviper108]

My glass aqurium is too hot

[ZARTASHA54]

This is really scary.......

[Juan 8]

Is pine bark mulch safe?

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by Juan 8

Is pine bark mulch safe?

Avoid any pine as much as possible, it isn't good for any animal as it is naturally toxic.

[Casp1r]

I would never use heat rocks

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Juan 8

Is pine bark mulch safe?

pine sap is lethal to snakes mate

i use dry pine as perching shelves in my viv's with no issue

as long as there is no pine sap/oil then its ok

if your mulch has the slightest chance of having wet pine sap then steer clear of it


cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Casp1r

I would never use heat rocks

^^^^^
i have heard they are notorious for over heating and burning reptiles or worse


cheers shaun