Cypress Mulch Substrate Question

[queenelvis82]

Hi all,
I just bought some Cypress mulch from ZooMed and am ready to use it. The only thing I am wondering is if the substrate is too coarsely grinded for my 5 month old BP. Just worried that a big piece might do some harm if she ingests it. If anybody out there uses Cypress mulch, please let me know if it is okay how it is or should I grind it to finer shavings.
Thank you all!
Todd

[NH93]

I think there would be more chance of ingestion with a smaller piece myself, but personally I have never had an issue with Cyprus mulch. I also haven't seen it stick to rats like Aspen does; that being said, I have never had mine ingest substrate (that I've actually witnessed), nor have I had it cause impaction or anything like that. Maybe someone else can speak up about experience with that

I really do not think you need to do anything with the mulch, though. It should be fine just the way it is. Sometimes people prefer to dry it out, others spritz it once in awhile (all dependent on what humidity is needed in the vive), but I haven't personally heard of anyone grinding it up finer.

All the best!

[queenelvis82]

Thanks NH93! Hopefully this Cypress mulch will get the humidity up to par!

[Borgy76]

I think I need to try out this cypress mulch. Have to mist couple times a day using just newspaper.

[CORBIN911]

IF your unsure and need the humidity you could always attempt to use coco husk

[NH93]

I think I need to try out this cypress mulch. Have to mist couple times a day using just newspaper.

Newspaper is not a holder of humidity, that's for sure glass tanks also let humidity escape like no other. If you don't want to spend the money on the substrate though, or simply prefer newspaper, I'd "invest" in a package of sphagnum moss.
I say invest kind of jokingly, because it is quite cheap, in my opinion, and lasts forever it seems! You just follow the instructions for dampening it (essentially you pull just a little bit from the package, add water, let it sit, then ring it out well), then put it in a plastic container or under a hide (not over top newspaper as this could cause mold, but rather the bare bottom of the cage) and voila! You've got yourself a humid hide. It doesn't up the humidity for the tank overall, but allows a nice damp place for your snake when they need it.

Just check the moss every couple of days (or, whenever you take your snake out/change water/spot clean/etc.) for mold and urates. If your snake spends almost all their time in there, another method may be needed to increase humidity, and you may want to check also the bottom of the belly for any early signs of scale rot.


Ahhhh sorry for going off topic OP!! But I hope this is useful information for you as well!