Substrates reptibark vs aspen

Does anyone have experience with repti bark? After their first shed went bad, I've been trying different things for humidity. Aspen isn't too good for that so I've been getting the kid of their tubs wet but it seems to dry in a day. It also isn't fun to clean and disinfect tubs every couple days because aspen does nothing for feces/urine and it gets to the bottom of the tub. Just changed their bedding to repti bark in hopes of better sheds and actually being able to spot clean rather than clean the entire tubs. So do you guys think this will be good?


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Just be careful when feeding. It's not (per my vet) recommended to feed in the tub if you have a substrate that can get stuck in their mouths. I've noticed a few people using it and recommend it. Coconut husk is another good one.

If you're still having issues with bad sheds, try a temporary humid hide or small "Dixie cups" filled with soaked/damp sphagnum moss.

Sure, reptibark is a good choice to increase humidity. 100% Cypress mulch is my overall choice to use.:gj:

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Originally Posted by AnnaK231

Just be careful when feeding. It's not (per my vet) recommended to feed in the tub if you have a substrate that can get stuck in their mouths. I've noticed a few people using it and recommend it. Coconut husk is another good one.

If you're still having issues with bad sheds, try a temporary humid hide or small "Dixie cups" filled with soaked/damp sphagnum moss.

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You can feed in a tub with substrate. Mine get mouthfuls of pine shavings fairly regularly and everyone is healthy. They evolved to eat on jungle floors which are loaded with undigestible garbage, a little bit of wood shavings or coco husk won't hurt them.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

You can feed in a tub with substrate. Mine get mouthfuls of pine shavings fairly regularly and everyone is healthy. They evolved to eat on jungle floors which are loaded with undigestible garbage, a little bit of wood shavings or coco husk won't hurt them.

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Depends on the substrate. Reptibark definitely can be an issue. I've used it with hatchlings in the past and on multiple occasions had a piece become lodged between a python's jaws vertically upright. Not a fun scenario.

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Originally Posted by STjepkes

Depends on the substrate. Reptibark definitely can be an issue. I've used it with hatchlings in the past and on multiple occasions had a piece become lodged between a python's jaws vertically upright. Not a fun scenario.

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Yeah they would usually get a few pieces of aspen when feeding which is no problem if they are able to digest rodent bones. But I can just see this repti bark getting stick in their mouth/throat.
So what do I do for a separate container to feed? Just put them in a smaller tub for 30 minutes and when the f/to is in their belly move them back?


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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Sure, reptibark is a good choice to increase humidity. 100% Cypress mulch is my overall choice to use.:gj:

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I'm probably going to end up with that next time I'm buying feeders. I got the repti bark because it was a much smaller bag and I wanted to test a moister substrate incase I had any issues.


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Originally Posted by Citrus

Yeah they would usually get a few pieces of aspen when feeding which is no problem if they are able to digest rodent bones. But I can just see this repti bark getting stick in their mouth/throat.
So what do I do for a separate container to feed? Just put them in a smaller tub for 30 minutes and when the f/to is in their belly move them back?


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Yeah, When I had very few snakes I'd feed in a separate container pretty much like you described. But it honestly is a hassle and is the #1 easiest way to get bit by your snakes. Regardless of using a tank or tub, if humidity is your issue, I'd suggest cypress mulch probably. You'll have a better time feeding in-enclosure with that than Reptibark or Coco Fiber.

Just my 2 cents.

I just use aspen on all my snakes. Sure its harder to get humidity right but I just throw in a few folded paper towels soaked in water in there around the CHE on top of their warm hides and refresh it daily during shed time and its been fine. As others have said, reptibark can pose problems. I've used Eco Earth too and I hate that stuff. If you let that stuff dry out, it gets really dusty. I noticed Rosey had Eco Earth in her nostrils all the time. I switched to aspen and she is fine and my little sunglow baby loves to bury herself in the stuff with just her nose and eyes sticking out and both their nostrils are nice and clear. I have never used reptibark because im not a fan of the big chunky substrates as snakes are fine at swallowing aspen shavings or other small stuff sometimes but I would imagine a few big chunks of bark in a small snake could cause a problem.

The paper towels sounds like a good idea but I'm afraid of one of my snakes swallowing it. They are babies still, one is hatchling sized the other is about 20". I may end up switching back to aspen because I really don't want them I swallow this stuff.


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