cocoa bark

[tightsqueeze]

is it ok to use coca bark for my guyana boa if i bake it first?

[Burmies]

SUre is, your snake is just like a reguler boe in the substrait situation.

Burmies

[Zoe]

Hi,
I'm not sure about it... I think it's okay, but some types of bark can let off fumes that are bad for your snake :X Is it possible to get cypress mulch? That stuff is safer :]

Zoe

[Tim and Julie B]

When you say coca do you mean coconut shell chips? Or is it some kind of funky tree you guys have out east! By the way Odie rules!

[tightsqueeze]

thanks tim and julie i think odie rocks hes the man ...or dog ...or ..well never mind you know what i mean

the mulch im talking about is actualy the shells from Coca Beans. there not sharp (accualy there soft and they smell like chocolate .....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm) you can get them in the garden section of Canadian Tire and i think Home Depot huge bags reaaaaaaaly cheap..... they don't emit any fumes other then the amazing smell of Chocolate and there not treated with any chemicals or pesticides which is why i think it might be a usefull product ....oh yeah they hold humidity very well my uncles neighbour uses them in his green house(thats were i found out about them ) i will chekc out some more info on this stuff if i can find some and pass it on to everyone....Chio for Now

jay

[eyespy]

I don't know if the hulls of cacao contain theobromine or if it's just the bean itself, but that is fairly toxic to most small animals so I wouldn't take the risk personally.

[*Spike*]

thanks Eyespy i will look in to that .... i will ask a vet about it and see what he says?

what about peet moss ?

just curious as to what garden materials could be used SAFELY with no risk of hurting my snakes!



tightsqueezes girlfriend
*Spike*

[Tim and Julie B]

Simple Orchid bark! It is exactly the same as repti bark at a third (or less) the price. Peat moss isn't as good as spaghnum moss. Peat is a little more acidic. The dry fine peat is too dusty. If I'm changing cages and can't breath then the reptiles must not be able to either. Oh yeah you can get live spaghnum at any garden center. They use it to line hanging baskets. Coca bean mulch? odd.

[tightsqueeze]

hmmmm.... Im going to go grabe some of that Orchid Bark today and see how it works ...how is it for keeping humidity? does it mold quickly?

[Tim and Julie B]

Never had it mold once it is the same as Zoo Med reptile bark. It holds humidity great. 80% + for my basilisk until I got creative after reading Natural Viverium in Rep mag and live planted the tank. It's multi purpose wet for humidity or leave dry. I always rinse it before I use it though.

[tightsqueeze]

yeah i will rince it for sure i rince any substrate befor i use it (except for newspaper obviously...lol ) im still trying to find out about this Coca Bean Shell Mulch i can't seam to find many people who accualy know what it is ...i think i will have to take a pic of it and post it so i can show everyone what im talking about !


jay

[eyespy]

I found an article in the U of Penn's veterinary hospital library that says cacao hulls do have theobromine and have sickened green iguanas, sometimes to the point of death. There's no reference to whether it's toxic to snakes that I could find.

[tightsqueeze]

here is a picture of the substrate i am talking about !

all opinions and sugestions are welcome!

jay

[eyespy]

Yep, those are cacao hulls and therefore not considered safe by the vets I know. They definitely kill wild and captive rabbits and rodents, and there have been reports of green iguanas getting sick as well.

I'd stay away.

[tightsqueeze]

well thats enough info to convince me thank you very much EYESPY and all who replied i am not going to use them ....i have decided to use that Orchid bark...

thanks again
jay