Grow!t = Reptichip?

[MissterDog]

I'm thinking of using Reptichip as one of my choice substrate but heard it often compared to Grow!t and stated that it was exactly the same thing and functions just as well. I've been seeing a few reptile keepers using Grow!t instead of Reptichip and was wondering if anyone else had any experience with it? How does it compare to Reptichip or other substrate you've used? How is it different and how is it similar?

[PitOnTheProwl]

Depends who you ask.....
Reptichip vendors claim its different coconut husk or "special"

[MissterDog]

Depends who you ask.....
Reptichip vendors claim its different coconut husk or "special"

Makes me wonder what they are defining as "special" :p

[PitOnTheProwl]

There was a post here with a response from JT (OnTheBall) but I cant find it or remember his user name here.

Found it: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ight=reptichip post #10

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Coco coir chip is nothing new it's been around in the horticulture's world (especially among orchid people) for a long time what is new is that now it is marketed to snake keepers.

I have tried both Reptichip and grow it side by side with the same results.

I now use grow it exclusively and buy it from here http://www.midlandhardware.com/181071.html, it is on sale on a regular basis for les than $10 and I usually order 10 at the time.

Other consideration if you need a lot of it (small pallet) is this http://www.prococo.com/

[jmcrook]

I've been using Plant !t/Grow !t after having used reptichip, and it performs similarly but honestly I like reptichip better. Plant !t seems to be wildly inconsistent as far as chip size, full of fluffy shredded fibers, and not quite as absorbent and I've had it stain lighter colored surfaces when it gets damp/wet. Having said that it does work well but it is a fairly different product compared to reptichip. I've heard the pro coco stuff was closer to reptichip but I can't speak from experience for that brand.


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[MissterDog]

I've been using Plant !t/Grow !t after having used reptichip, and it performs similarly but honestly I like reptichip better. Plant !t seems to be wildly inconsistent as far as chip size, full of fluffy shredded fibers, and not quite as absorbent and I've had it stain lighter colored surfaces when it gets damp/wet. Having said that it does work well but it is a fairly different product compared to reptichip. I've heard the pro coco stuff was closer to reptichip but I can't speak from experience for that brand.


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Thanks for your feedback! I didn't factor in staining or inconsistency. Were the amount of fibers ever problematic? Or are the fibers an issue in themselves besides being inconsistent?

[MissterDog]

Coco coir chip is nothing new it's been around in the horticulture's world (especially among orchid people) for a long time what is new is that now it is marketed to snake keepers.

I have tried both Reptichip and grow it side by side with the same results.

I now use grow it exclusively and buy it from here http://www.midlandhardware.com/181071.html, it is on sale on a regular basis for les than $10 and I usually order 10 at the time.

Other consideration if you need a lot of it (small pallet) is this http://www.prococo.com/

Prococo was another I was thinking about using. Between their chips-n-fiber and cocochips, which would you say is better to use?

[jmcrook]

Thanks for your feedback! I didn't factor in staining or inconsistency. Were the amount of fibers ever problematic? Or are the fibers an issue in themselves besides being inconsistent?

No problem. Fibers aren't really problematic in any way. Just makes for a hairy kind of mixture compared to the more uniform size of the chips in reptichip. I feel like reptichip was a bit softer/more spongy and soaked up more moisture more easily but I'm getting fairly picky in my compare and contrast analysis here haha. Try them both and see what's best for you


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[ccplotner]

Good info in this thread. Thanks!