Anyone use cypress mulch or more specific the Zoo Med cypress mulch

SO with the new T25s, I've been thinking of maybe trying something new for my big snakes. The only thing i really havent tried is cypress mulch. Been thinking of picking up the Zoo Med stuff. But i have been told by some people that the stuff has sharp splinters which can get stuck in the snakes mouth when it is eating causing problems. Anyone experience this? Also how is it for retics? The boas dont poop or piss that much but Caesar poops and pisses all over. Is the stuff easy to spot pisses on for spot cleaning?

I tried it about a year ago. For the price I prefer coco products. I remember it being fairly dusty. There were quite a few big or sharp pieces but it was still pretty easy to spot clean. This was before I had my retic though. I'm mostly using Cypress now without any issues. But it's the big $3 bags of no float that reinz recommend a while back. Humidity is great and spot cleaning is easy just pick out all the big chunks

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I don't use cypress mulch because of the environmental impacts. Cypress forests are important to the health of the local ecosystem, protects those states from natural disasters, and as with any other type of forest provides homes for thousands of species of animals. The forests are nonrenewable, as they are currently completely unable to regenerate thanks to the water quality. In some areas it's illegal to buy/sell cypress because of this, though it's still widely available.

I've also had very little luck getting it to maintain humidity. It dries out completely within 24 hours even if I make it sopping wet (short of making it a swamp), and doesn't raise the relative humidity all that much. Once the chips/shreds dry out they're permanently hard and brittle, which can cause splinters, yes. Even aspen has worked better in my experience, without the hard brittle wood if left to dry. Of course, plenty of people have experienced the opposite, so it just really depends.

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

I don't use cypress mulch because of the environmental impacts. Cypress forests are important to the health of the local ecosystem, protects those states from natural disasters, and as with any other type of forest provides homes for thousands of species of animals. The forests are nonrenewable, as they are currently completely unable to regenerate thanks to the water quality. In some areas it's illegal to buy/sell cypress because of this, though it's still widely available.

I've also had very little luck getting it to maintain humidity. It dries out completely within 24 hours even if I make it sopping wet (short of making it a swamp), and doesn't raise the relative humidity all that much. Once the chips/shreds dry out they're permanently hard and brittle, which can cause splinters, yes. Even aspen has worked better in my experience, without the hard brittle wood if left to dry. Of course, plenty of people have experienced the opposite, so it just really depends.

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That's something to think about. I'm sure the Cypress consumption in the reptile community is much smaller than others but I guess even a small change counts.

Mind if I ask what kind of heat source you were using that dried out the Cypress? I've never had any issues but I've never used it with bulbs

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I used it for years when I only had one snake and I agree with what has been said so far. Once it dries out, it's dry and doesn't take up water very easily again. It is also pretty dusty, and quite expensive. The big 8qt bag is $20 the cheapest I can get it locally. I'm switching to pro coco for when my t25 is set up. It is verifiably the same thing as reptichip. Found it on snakemuseum.com for $12.99/block before shipping.
Cypress is worth a try if you've never given it a shot. I've just found that it's super wet out of the bag and will fog up your cage doors quickly but then once it's dry it's dry. I can hit the humidity sweet spot easier with coco products in my experience.


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Thanks all. Think I'll probably skip it then. Sounds kind of like a lot of downsides and not many upsides that other stuff cant provide with less downside lol.

I've used Forest Floor for years. It is well shredded and always clean.

I've never had any issues between it and my snakes.

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

I used it for years when I only had one snake and I agree with what has been said so far. Once it dries out, it's dry and doesn't take up water very easily again. It is also pretty dusty, and quite expensive. The big 8qt bag is $20 the cheapest I can get it locally. I'm switching to pro coco for when my t25 is set up. It is verifiably the same thing as reptichip. Found it on snakemuseum.com for $12.99/block before shipping.
Cypress is worth a try if you've never given it a shot. I've just found that it's super wet out of the bag and will fog up your cage doors quickly but then once it's dry it's dry. I can hit the humidity sweet spot easier with coco products in my experience.


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Pro coco is the way to go imo

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Originally Posted by ShaneSilva

That's something to think about. I'm sure the Cypress consumption in the reptile community is much smaller than others but I guess even a small change counts.

Mind if I ask what kind of heat source you were using that dried out the Cypress? I've never had any issues but I've never used it with bulbs

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Flexwatt, in a tub with minimal ventilation. I've had no problem with EcoEarth or moss in those same set ups, but the cypress just didn't pull its weight.

And yeah, definitely not as much consumption for reptiles, but we should cut it out of our use wherever possible. Mulch for gardening/landscaping will definitely take up more of the global cypress consumption.

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Originally Posted by ShaneSilva

Pro coco is the way to go imo

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Agreed - I, and my snakes, are happy with it thus far. I use the Herptopia/Reptile prime. Keeps humidity, VERY absorbent, not fine like dirt but not too big of pieces either, and most importantly my snakes can burrow in it and I don't worry about them getting splinters. I've found 1 bag will fill a 4'x2' with about 2"-3" deep.