Substrate- carpet vs mulch

jncoclub · 02-24-03, 02:28 PM

2 questions:
I currently use cage carpet as the substrate for my snakes. After each poop (which is roughly once a week) I take out the carpet, spot clean it with soap and vinegar, then drop it into the washing machine so I can use it again. There tanks are kept very clean. Is reusing the carpet and cleaning it the way I have been good/bad? Or are they still "dirty"?

Next question, my fiance recently was sold a bag of "multipurpose" mulch from a reptile shop and was told to use it because it's better, cleaner, etc. I am willing to change to a different kind of substrate, but I have heard a couple of times that certain brands of mulch and mulch-like substrates are infested with mites, fungus and all sorts of bad stuff. I was also told that some brands are worse than others. I am not at my house and of course I forgot the brand we got, but can anyone let me know if this is true or not? I don't want to change their substrate if it is going toharm them.

zgo

lordkovacs · 02-24-03, 07:57 PM

I have heard sometimes there is mites in store brand versions of mulch. Reason being, they simply re-bag mulch from greenhouses and sell em as their own. However, I hear "forest bed" and other name brand ones from the big chain stores is sterile and void of mites. I'm not extremely experienced with that, but that's what I've been told. Hope that helped a little.

Mike

Dom · 02-24-03, 08:16 PM

The carpet is a great substrate although VERY tiem consuming.. and the problem is you might not always want to clean it.. If u are using carpet, I strongly suggest to have 2 sets so U can exchange the carpets while on is being cleaned...

As for substrates.. many differents can work well although I have used Cypress muclch for the longest time and LOVE it.. smells nice, looks great, holds humidity well and is extremelly easy to clean..

Just my thoughts
Dom

Classic · 02-24-03, 08:29 PM

For my smaller snakes I use Mulch. Carpet is the way to go for a large snake in my opinion. I keep 2 sets for each viv. When one is soiled i stick it in the sink with water and bleach and let it soak for a day or two. Takes no time at all. The only time consuming thing is removing and replacing water dish and hides.

Edwin · 02-24-03, 10:57 PM

Well, both have their good points and bad points. Carpet is great and can be easily sterilized, but impossible to spot clean. I have also read posts where people said that the fibers would catch on the claws of their lizards.

I use reptibark in my smaller cages, and aspen chips in my large cage. I like them both, as they have that natural look, and I can spot clean. I think that all bark and mulch products have a possibility of carrying some sort of insect or fungus, regardless of who makes them. It is more dependent on how they are stored. Reptile stores usually keep them indoors, while nurseries where usually keep them outside on wooden pallets. But reptile stores keep reptiles, which may have mites...
Cypress mulch is inexpensive and is really good at maintaining humidity. I dont use it a lot, so I cannot really comment on it.

If carpet works well for you, then by all means stick with it. As previously mentioned, you may want to get a second piece so you can exchange pieces when 1 gets soiled.

Hope this helps.

jncoclub · 02-27-03, 06:51 PM

We have at least 2 if not 3 pieces of carpet for each tank, so we're set on that. Thanks for responding- but if anyone else has any comments, I'd love to hear them!

zgo

KaHane · 02-28-03, 04:30 AM

We have only used aspen( low humidity) and Cypress Mulch( high humidity) and sand/dirt for our monitors. Never have used carpet. Carpet is, and looks unnatural, also a pain to keep clean from germs.

Xetox · 02-28-03, 11:07 AM

What I use in most of my tanks and can be purchased fairly cheap is aspen mulch same thing they use in most hampster cages, its fairly cheap and goes along way is not deadly to herps!

I have talked to alot of breeder over the years and they all say pretty much the same thing, they either use newspaper or aspen...plus aspen can help keep the humidty right in the enclosure.

Big Mike · 02-28-03, 11:27 AM

I used to use indoor/outdoor carpet but I don't anymore. It was a pain to clean all this time because it's not easy to spot clean. It did not hold up well to the washing and when it got worn the snake would hide under it...and what fun is that?

I use aspen or forrest bed. Easy to spot clean so I don't need to do a full cleaning every week or more. The snakes seem to love burrowing in it as well.

Each substrate has it's pros and cons so it's seems that it's personal preference of the keeper. As long as you keep it clean & healthy for them I don't think it matters much what you use.

Lisa · 03-01-03, 05:01 PM

currently we're using cypress for our larger snakes (anything thicker then a 1 year old corn) and astroturf for 3 of our corns.
to keep the humidity up with the astroturf we have a couple water dishes, one shallow one deep.
the cypress keeps the humidity up on it's own and when we need something a little higher we mist and have a bubbler.

Ritus_Reptile · 03-03-03, 04:04 AM

I have used linoleum for kitchen floors, with patterns that resemble rock and wood. Many different kinds out there some are very attractive and you can get colors that bring out the snakes pattern/colors. Plus they are very easy clean. I use some pine sol floor cleaner and hot water, works very well on dry poo. Doesnt help to much with humidity but its not that bad either. Kinda slipper for lizards but snakes have no problem

Them and Us · 03-03-03, 10:19 PM

for ym boa i use newspaper as he/she is in a rubbermaid now. but my 5' Rat i hav ein a 48" x 20"x 17" and i use cocnut substrate which is great as it as little odor but what odor there is t is a nice, ntural smell.easy to spot clean and looks amazing. also changing it is simpleas yu can vacuum the old substrate right form the enclosure.

Them and Us · 03-03-03, 10:20 PM

sorry for typing skills. keyboard is dying.