Cocoa bean shell substrate

A quest for bedding that's not $24 bucks a bag has led me to cocoa bean shells. Anybody have any thoughts? Anybody use it or would recommend it?

I am not overly familiar with it, but a quick google search turned up that it is highly toxic to dogs....so I personally wouldn't risk it. I understand they are two very different creatures, but to me the risk doesn't justify the reward. It also looks like it could possibly cause impaction if swallowed. There are a lot of options out there that are not $24/bag. I personally like either Eco-Earth (which is kinda pricey) or pre-cut, disposable liners like these...http://www.cageliners.net/

I'm not really familiar with it, but I'm thinking its the same material as eco earth or "Coir". the chunks might be annoying during feeding, but ball pythons are not prone to impaction from substrate ingestion.

Also, when I google "cocoa bean substrate" it takes me right to this thread... Are you sure that is what its called? Not coco husk or something?

It says it's cocoa bean substrate. Like from cocoa beans. It smells like chocolate is actually what I would be worried about, as well as the possibility of it sticking to feeders.

I actually like the chunkiness of the substrate, and am not find of Eco-earth or paper - which does work, I don't have any problems with humidity, it's just for looks.

Did you buy it at a pet store? do you have a picture of the bag it comes in?

I can't say if it's toxic or not. I have no idea. It is probably fine, but there are also many other options :)

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Originally Posted by Inarikins

It says it's cocoa bean substrate. Like from cocoa beans. It smells like chocolate is actually what I would be worried about, as well as the possibility of it sticking to feeders.

I actually like the chunkiness of the substrate, and am not find of Eco-earth or paper - which does work, I don't have any problems with humidity, it's just for looks.

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Bedding that smells like chocolate??? Mmmm.....:D

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Sorry, it's a mulch and not a substrate. My fingers were getting ahead of my brain plus I was on my phone. I've found one other link talking about it in reference to reptiles (and not just cats/dogs) but it is almost a decade old at this point. I haven't bought any yet, just because what I going to do with a $9 bag of mulch if I don't use it? We have dogs and while I wouldn't worry about it being in a tub away from where they can get to it, it out in the yard where they can get to it is worrying. I can go out tomorrow and take pictures of the bag but I already read it and there wasn't much on it that was very helpful.

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Originally Posted by Inarikins

Sorry, it's a mulch and not a substrate. My fingers were getting ahead of my brain plus I was on my phone. I've found one other link talking about it in reference to reptiles (and not just cats/dogs) but it is almost a decade old at this point. I haven't bought any yet, just because what I going to do with a $9 bag of mulch if I don't use it? We have dogs and while I wouldn't worry about it being in a tub away from where they can get to it, it out in the yard where they can get to it is worrying. I can go out tomorrow and take pictures of the bag but I already read it and there wasn't much on it that was very helpful.

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go back to that link and 5th post down says all you need to know

It's fatal for dogs and cats. People can eat it just fine, obviously. But no, I won't be using it. I was just casting around for some opinions but more digging has revealed that it can harm reptiles. Darn, I would have found it cool to have a snake rack that smelled like chocolate. :P

I think if its intended for use in a garden, I wouldn't use it. I've been trying to find a safe source of cypress mulch from hardware stores and garden centers and I haven't been able to find any pure cypress that has zero pesticides.

Siiiigh. Might just keep going with the indented kraft paper. I really do like cypress mulch but it is very expensive in pet store quantities. I need like, a crap ton!!

Edit: Here is the chemical in the cocoa plant that is toxic to humans and animals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine_poisoning Also it seems like this stuff molds incredibly quickly if it gets wet. No thanks!

Still can't determine how harmful it might be to reptiles, but I am going to guess that it isn't really. But to be on the safe side, I would go with another substrate like news paper, paper towels, aspen, or cypress mulch.

First for clarity as they get confused. Cocoa husk is from coco beans and is used in chocolate and coco husk is from coconuts. Many dog people are freaking about coco husk and in my area it is not being carried by chain places as it is 'toxic' to dogs which is stupid as coconut oil is in many dog foods and supplements. Dumb. Anyway...

It is unknown what it effect it may have so no that makes it a poor choice just because of the unknown factor of what a snake would do if you fed it chocolate ;) ok cocoa husk.

Coco coir is cheaper why not just use it?

http://www.amazon.com/Compressed-Fib...ef=pd_sim_lg_1

That is the first one I came to in the US I pay half this price. Even 17$ for 80L is not very much that is a full standard garbage bag (80L). The large bags of sani chips are only 62L (2.2 cubic feet)

Mostly it's a looks thing. I don't need it for the humidity, I've got 40-55% just with paper. I just dislike the way plain paper substrates look so I was going to find another option. And because Repti-bark is so dang expensive it seems stupid to use it just because I like the way it looks. I really like the look of coconut husk, but good luck finding that in South Dakota. :rolleyes: Also, I dislike the look of aspen. Something about it... Maybe I'm just too picky, I don't know.

Any greenhouse hardware store and hydroponic place has it in my area.


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I've already checked the 'big' greenhouses and the big box stores, but I haven't tried hardware stores or some of the 'smaller' greenhouses around here.

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Originally Posted by Inarikins

I really like the look of coconut husk, but good luck finding that in South Dakota.

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What about ordering it from Amazon? Its $9/bag for Eco-Earth and if you buy 3 bags at a time it will ship for free.