Cypress mulch vs. Newspaper

I'm currently awaiting for a new rack system to put my snakes into so as I'm patiently awaiting my shipment (boaphile :rage:), I'm trying to figure out which bedding should I use.

I currently have my snakes on cypress mulch and I don't seem to have any issues with my humidity but I have heard of the mulch containing mites. Also cleaning out the cages seems to take up some time. I know many people with racks use the newspaper method.

I'm just curious what's you guys take on it, should I stick with the cypress or make the change to newspaper? I would like to hear pros and cons or your opinion on both sides.

Thanks

Use what you like...I use paper towels. Cypess mulch should not contain snake mites, but I guess it can. I have heard that it is not uncommon for cypress to have wood mites, which won't touch your snakes.

i started on aspen and when i switched to paper towels it wasn't hard either. the only difference to me is that with the aspen, i would spot clean, and change everything probably once a month..... with paper towels, as soon as there's a rodent blood, or little potty/poopy (normally they're together), i have to replace the paper towels.. If the snake is in shed, and they defecate, i replace the paper towel, and then spray it once or twice with warm water to boost that humidity, and let it last a bit.

i go through a lot of paper towels lol. and quality of the paper towel doesn't matter too much for me since they'll be removed anyways :D

Yeah the biggest issue I think I would have would be the humidity if I do decide to switch, since I'm so use to the cypress. If I do decide to switch to newspaper/paper towels how often should you typically mist? To keep the humidty up, I know it would be more often during their shed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slither4

Yeah the biggest issue I think I would have would be the humidity if I do decide to switch, since I'm so use to the cypress. If I do decide to switch to newspaper/paper towels how often should you typically mist? To keep the humidty up, I know it would be more often during their shed.

---

That would depend...I rarely ever mist. I get a little stuck shed every once in a while, but other than that my humidity levels stay fine. If I ever need to mist, it's in the winter.

i like cocohusk

i have been using cypress for 8 years since i got my first BP. and never had mites. not sure where you heard that info from but i havent heard of cypress ever carrying mites. anyone else hear of it?

I have used both paper and cypress and I'm cypress all the way. Its so hard for me to keep the humidity up with papertowels/newspaper even though I am in south FL (doesnt really matter where you live if your snakes are kept inside). I've never witnessed mites in the cypress I get from Home Depot. Cypress has a natural insect repellant and mold/fungus repellant so in my opinion it makes one of the best substrates for a humid environment. However, even if you do get a batch with wood mites, they wont bother your snake. Spot cleaning it is easy and one of my favorite things about it... its CHEAP! $2 a bag :gj: Another big plus for me is the severely reduced spillage of water bowls. It's amazing how just 2 inches of the cypress will keep the bowls from tipping all over the friggin place lol. One more thing.. my snakes like it better. They can dig to the bottom of the tub to create a nice nest/bed place. About half of mine do this, and no, it's not always on the hot spot either so its not because theyre cold. I think it feels more natural to them to have a substrate surround them. Happy snakes mean happy me. Hope that helps a bit :)

@Decensored
Yeah I heard that cocohusk and cypress isn't all that bad as well.

@tcutting
I was watching a snakebytes episode when he talks about substrate and he mentioned getting a mite outbreak from cypress. But I never had an issue with it either and personally I do like it.

@miamiroyalpythons
Yeah I notice my snakes seem to like to burrow in it as well. But yea thanx for your input. I am actually satisfied with cypress just after watching that episode its kinda put the thought of mites in my head.

I watch snakebytes as well but I dont remember that episode. I would like to see it, do you know which one it was? Was it an outbreak of snake mites or wood mites?

What brand of cypress do you guys get and where do you buy it?

I think it may have been wood mites and therefore not an issue, if it was mites, the little devils we fear the only way i can see that happening is by buy cheap low grade cypress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBoyF...e_gdata_player

That's the link to the episode, he doesn't state which mites but the way he says it I took it as snake mites. Also I recently heard of someone receiving a snake from bhb for Christmas with mites so that kinda put questions in my head. Also since I'm going to white plains this Sunday make me be extra careful when checking out their table. Better safe than sorry.

I usually buy the huge bags from the expos and stock up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slither4

Also since I'm going to white plains this Sunday make me be extra careful when checking out their table. Better safe than sorry.

---

I'll be at the white plains show as well :)

Thanks for the link I'm gonna watch it now. The cypress I buy is sold by Home Depot the brand, I believe, is Timberline. Yellow and clear bag.

When using paper substrate, I like to toss a damp sponge in with them. The snakes like to play with it, and it helps keep humidity up. I wash the sponges twice a week in the dishwasher to sanitize and prevent bacteria growth.

I never mist to keep humidity up with papertowels. It seems to stay fine, and my i encountered a bad shed once in 2 of the 4 snakes i own in the same rack. That was my fault tho.. My pin was going into shed, but she tipped her water.... I replaced the towels and didnt re-mist it (forgetting about the in-shed animal), and next thing i knew it, she had pieces on her >:(...

Same with my spider.. Right when he went into shed, i replaced the towels and when he shed, it was in pieces..

Any of the wood mulches can occasionally contain wood mites. Not threatening to your reptile, but prolific and annoying nonetheless.

If you get your mulch from a particularly dirty reptile source, a source that ALSO has reptile mites, the mulch can become a transport vehicle and you can indeed get REPTILE mites from cypress mulch. I have heard of this happening from dirty pet stores, and from an online supplier.

Most mite spottings in mulch are the wood mites, your treatment and approach should depend on identifying the type of mite you are dealing with.

I use both. The cypress works wonders for humidity and the newspaper is free. I usually feed on newspaper as I wet my rodents to provide lubrication and water. It also warms them up to that good temperature.