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Cypress mulch

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  • 11-08-2010, 09:39 PM
    MitsuMike
    Cypress mulch
    Been looking to switch from reptibark to cypress mulch for the cost, 20 bucks a bag is killing me.
    I can't find a bag of cypress bark mulch anywhere.....HD, lows, tractor supply, etc.
    Anyone got tips on where to get some cypress?
    Maybe peat moss will work as well. Stuff on lowes good?
  • 11-08-2010, 10:07 PM
    kitedemon
    Look at Melaleuca mulch as well it is cheap last time I looked it was 3 bucks a bag and it is a invasive species so it can't be over harvested. For me I use coco peat as the shipping on Melaleuca is a killer!
  • 11-08-2010, 10:17 PM
    MitsuMike
    Yea I was debating on getting the peat moss
  • 11-08-2010, 10:29 PM
    Stewart_Reptiles
    Did you try home depot and walmart?

    That's where I get mine.
  • 11-08-2010, 10:45 PM
    MitsuMike
    I tried home depot. They had cypress mulch but not cypress bark mulch. I was reading and can't remember who but someone said the hardwood mulch might poke an eye out vs bark is softer.

    Also what brand do you buy.
  • 11-09-2010, 11:27 AM
    MitsuMike
    So been looking more and more into the cypress and it seems there is no pure cypress mulch.

    I am looking at using the bedding for EVERYONE
    Blue Beauties
    Burm
    Ball pythons

    I LOVE the reptibark but at 60+ dollars a cleaning day it sucks
    Also the aspen I switched from before was WAY to dusty and just wasn't a fan

    I have found locally:
    Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss
    Cypress Hardwood mulch (not bark)

    I'm almost at the point of putting all my ball on paper towels but that still leaves me with the problem on the Blues and Burm.
  • 11-10-2010, 11:31 AM
    MitsuMike
    Bought Timberline cypress mulch blend from Lowes for 2 bucks, went home baked like half the bag and then let it cool off. Put it in a tub with with my lesser and right then figured out that I HATED it. The hardwood mulch was WAY to long and sharp and it held humidity for my tubs WAY too much.
    When the Burm gets bigger, I will switch him over to cypress but other than that all my BP's and burm are going on papertowels until I can order some unprinted newspaper.
    The Blues will be on the reptibark b/c I love that stuff and now 1 bag will do both cages.
    Hope this helps out any searches in the future.

    Conclusion:

    Aspen
    Appearance: Looks nice and pretty for about a week or 2 then you have to change it
    Humidity: Holds it about as well as paper towels
    Absorbency: Good spot cleaning substrate
    Cost: Petsmart the bag is 12 bucks for a HUGE bag
    It was to dusty for my liking so that is why I switched, Kaytee seems to be the best

    Reptibark
    Appearance: IMO is the best looking substrate, I love the dark look
    Humidity: Holds humidity like a champ, prob around +20% compared to Aspen
    Absorbency: Good spot cleaning substrate
    Cost: 18 bucks for a bag that will only fill about 3-4 41 qt tubs
    Down fall is it's cost and doesn't absorb water as well as I would like, kinda pools on the tub floor

    Cypress Mulch (HD or Lowes)
    Appearance: Looks good, just like normal mulch
    Humidity: Is always wet, too humid for me
    Absorbency: Amazing
    Cost: CHEAP
    Hardwood/blend mulch pieces were to large for smaller snakes, if the bark is handy I would grab that.

    Paper towels/News print
    Appearance: Great, but has to be changed daily with bowel movements
    Humidity: Holds decent and can be misted to up humidity during sheds
    Absorbency: Needs to be changed after bowel movements
    Cost: Printed is free, unprinted is cheap, paper towels well people know the cost
    Most keepers end up with this........
  • 11-10-2010, 12:57 PM
    Muddyredneck
    hw about just putting your burm on the cypress? im not sure how big your burm is but i used it with my tiger till i couldent find it any more... so from 3-8 feet it worked awesome but my guy just laid on it and didnt really try to burrow any,

    a side note tho make sure u bake that stuff REALLY good, cause a guy i know bought it to save cash and got some kinda mite infestation so bake it and rebake it i bake it at 350 for like 45 min stir and rebake for another 30 min to 45 min im wierd tho and enjoy the smell hahaa
  • 11-10-2010, 01:07 PM
    Lucas339
    i use that exact mulch for my balls, carpets, and GTP and have no humity or sharpness problems.

    you can try a product called "no float" which is another cypress blend at Lowes. It is double milled so the pieces are smaller.
  • 11-10-2010, 04:38 PM
    MitsuMike
    Re: Cypress mulch
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Muddyredneck View Post
    hw about just putting your burm on the cypress? im not sure how big your burm is but i used it with my tiger till i couldent find it any more... so from 3-8 feet it worked awesome but my guy just laid on it and didnt really try to burrow any,

    a side note tho make sure u bake that stuff REALLY good, cause a guy i know bought it to save cash and got some kinda mite infestation so bake it and rebake it i bake it at 350 for like 45 min stir and rebake for another 30 min to 45 min im wierd tho and enjoy the smell hahaa

    I will but my guy is only about 6 months old and going to keep him on paper til he gets out of the 41 qt. Didn't end up getting the big tub just yet.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Lucas339 View Post
    i use that exact mulch for my balls, carpets, and GTP and have no humity or sharpness problems.

    you can try a product called "no float" which is another cypress blend at Lowes. It is double milled so the pieces are smaller.

    If it was double milled then it would be fine, I just didn't like the big sharp pieces that were in it.
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