Reptile Prime feedback

I guess this is as good of anything for a first post here. I was looking to change from cypress to coco husk and found a few posts on here and other sites about Reptile Prime. I went ahead and ordered a bag and swapped the substrate in my spider Dante's enclosure to reptile prime and I have noticed some really positive changes and was wondering if anyone else had positive feedback with this product or even negative long term use with it (it was called herptopia before right?).

A few things that I have noticed going on the second week of using it:

• Humidity stays much more stable
• Easy to heat the ground level temps to where I want it
• Dante rests his head much faster (used cypress for most of his life and he always seems to fidget when resting on it)
• The biggest benefit I am seeing is he is much more comfortable in his hides than he ever was and moves around his cage "faster"

My biggest concern is the humidity and moisture retention on the substrate. I am wondering about any issues with mold or bacteria growth. Never have had any health issues over the 6 years of his life (knock on wood) so I am a bit cautious swapping products.
My criticism of cypress (forest floor) aside from the concern over possible ingestion was that it would dry out far too fast and I would have to spray a ton during shed to keep humidity where it needed to be. I don't seem to have this issue with the coco fiber and as mentioned, my snake seems to love it so far.

Any thoughts or experience long term with this product?

I have been using reptile prime since the beginning since it was herptopia. I love it and will stay with it.

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is it dusty? does it have very small bits or does it leave powdered bits at the bottom of enclosures/wherever you store it? jc.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

is it dusty? does it have very small bits or does it leave powdered bits at the bottom of enclosures/wherever you store it? jc.

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There is a little settling of finer substrate in the bottom of the bag but it had no dust or mess when mixing it with water and putting it in the enclosure. You don't need to add water at all like those coco fiber bricks as it is loose fiber in a bag but I wanted to add some and it absorbed it quickly. My hands weren't messy after setting it up ;)

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Originally Posted by SDA

There is a little settling of finer substrate in the bottom of the bag but it had no dust or mess when mixing it with water and putting it in the enclosure. You don't need to add water at all like those coco fiber bricks as it is loose fiber in a bag but I wanted to add some and it absorbed it quickly. My hands weren't messy after setting it up ;)

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thank you! i use reptichip and my only problem is the dustiness that you find during cleanup. I'd you don't mind: could you post a picture of it in your setup or show me the finer bits you're talking about? i'm just super curious.

No dust at all.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

thank you! i use reptichip and my only problem is the dustiness that you find during cleanup. I'd you don't mind: could you post a picture of it in your setup or show me the finer bits you're talking about? i'm just super curious.

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Sure can.

This is the bottom of the bag (what I meant by "finer bits") where you can see some fine substrate, nothing to worry about as it's just settling in the bag and it is not in the enclosure itself.

http://i.imgur.com/4loHRCB.jpg

Here it is in the enclosure. I have it about 2 inches deep except in the hide where it about an inch deep

http://imgur.com/Jmt3PYE.jpg

Reptile prime in Odyns habitat. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...89ff048d4d.jpg

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And booplesnoops enclosure. Shhh she is hiding.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...78cabc33c9.jpg

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thank you both!!! i might have to give it a try. [emoji4]

Oh definitely do. Totally worth it. I can link a video too if needed from Brian barchyk of BHB too if you wish.

Do you guys mind me asking how much you pay for this and what size the bag is (i.e. how many cu. ft.?)?

I am currently using a competitor to reptichip and although I like how it holds humidity, I'm not crazy about the price or the super large chunks.

$15.99 for24q I'm going to check my bag to make sure. It changed from herptopia to reptile prime. Yep same size same price. I have had mine since May and still on the same bag. I have a 20L and a 10 gallon with it.

It is around $21 with shipping ($16 before shipping) from the site of the same name (herptopia now redirects to it, that is how I found the site). The bag is 24 quart and I used less than half for the enclosure that is 3' x 2'

Site only accepts paypal as payment just a heads up. No idea any other outlets that carry it.

Here is Brain's video back when it was herptopia (same thing just renamed and has his face plastered all over it). I'm not a fan of his but I am of this substrate ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-IM2Nr61sM

Here's hoping they get to listing it on Amazon. Would like to try it for mixing with my OD Hemp, and its not carried locally. Maybe not even in the Twin Cities, wasn't looking at substrates as much when I was there last...

To add a couple things I've noticed now that I use Reptile Prime/Herptopia bedding as well.

In addition to the OP's comments - I also notice my snakes burrow now, something they never did with cypress mulch.

The finer bits mentioned do accumulate on the bottom of the enclosure over time and although it isn't "dust" so to speak, it is a pain to get out of the enclosure with just a damp paper towel so I just use my vacuum. But there is no dust cloud when I am cleaning or setting up the enclosures.

I like it, my snakes seem to be comfortable in it, and another vote for it to be available on Amazon soon would be great.

Thanks guys for the information!