Substrates

So i picked up t-rex dirt. Says its natural, ok if some gets digested, holds humidity well, and from reading it doesnt mold too easy, all good things!

So should i start at like, 1/2 inch of this stuff?
The news papers are out, and i dont wana keep wasting paper, and i dont get the newspaper, and this was 9litres of "dirt" for 4 bucks even, im ok with that, and cleaning wouldnt stress me out, i understand the effort im asking to put into this.
When im not at work, im preforming foshtank maintenence, and now snake tank maintinence, its all that keeps me sane these days....

1/2" thick no more.

I doubt it was "dirt" are you sure it wasn't coco-husk?

So give it a try? Im not sure I understand the question. If your gunna put some in there fill it up lol

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Originally Posted by Reptilecam

So give it a try? Im not sure I understand the question. If your gunna put some in there fill it up lol

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I dont wana just fill er up, and i figured with all the good and bad info on there, id double check with youz guys on the thickness and all that, so 1/2 inch, thats doable

Its not dirt..but its , iduno. Feels fiber-ey... not like dirt..
It was T-rex forest bed expandable substrate. I read on here it was ok, and i reeeaaaallly like the feel. Its not dirt, but looks like it..but it probobly is some kind of cocconut husk...

Woule it be over kill to cover the hideaway with some of the dirt for a hobbit look? It shoudnt effect the temps too much, and im here keepin an eye until my thermostat gets here

If your using a uth watch the temps.

I am. Is there even a way to use a heat lamp with steralite tubs? I guess uth and fexi is all i got, but oh well
Ive got a thermometer, had to send tstat back, it will be here next week :( but im able to keep a very close eye on the temps.
As for substrate thickness, is the 1/2 inch rule because of the heat loss in a thick substrate?

Hmm well hes esplorin the new smells in his cage. I think he likes it, he pushed some in the hideaway entrace to block me out lol

Usually dirt and cypress mulch block out a lot of the heat. I think I know what your talking about I use it in my crested geckos cage its similar to crushed up coco husk.

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Originally Posted by Reptilecam

Usually dirt and cypress mulch block out a lot of the heat. I think I know what your talking about I use it in my crested geckos cage its similar to crushed up coco husk.

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Do you think itl block out too much heat? Its less than 1/2 inch, just a light dusting to make it look better than newspaper.
I bet covering the hidebox with it would trap some heat in there....
And yeah i dont think its dirt, lookin up on their site, its probobly cocconut husk, it feels different than anything ive ever messed with

http://www.t-rexproducts.com/product...ble-substrate/

If you keep the substrate to 1/2" thick or less you should be ok but you will have to adjust your UTH to get the temps right again.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

If you keep the substrate to 1/2" thick or less you should be ok but you will have to adjust your UTH to get the temps right again.

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agreed, and yeah it does look a lot better then newspaper.

I know some swear by the stuff, but my personal opinion of it, was not something I will use again.
I found it to be very dirty, it would stuck to my snakes then they would get it in the water. I found it to be very dusty around their enclosures as well.
I only use paper of aspen.

What i did, the whole compressed block said add 3 to 4 litres of water.
I did 1 liter of hot water. Its not dusty, not sticky or wet. And it looks amazing..i wana put moss on his hide now lol... obseeesssseddd

What other substrates do you guys use?

I only use paper based substrates: Paper towels/butchers paper/newspaper/corrugated wrap

in the past I have used Aspen/Eco-Earth (coco husk different brand of what you are using now)/recently tried cypress and I really don't like any of them as much as any of the paper based substrates.

*Any of the substrates I listed are 100% fine to use it is just down to personal preference*

I was thinking about using a paper shredder on newspaper, but i just like the looks of this better