Eco Earth

I was just reading up on all of the different kinds of substrates and the pros and cons of each.

I'm perfectly happy with what I'm using(EACO EARTH) but, as I was reading, some people were saying eco earth is common for causing RI in ball pythons.

Are any of you guys using eco earth and would you say this is true/false?

Please vote in the poll, would really help!

People experiencing RI with their snake mainly do because of a combination of stress and improbability.

Any substrate can lead to improper husbandry especially if too wet (meaning leading to very high humidity) or molding.

It's not about the substrate it about how you use it and clean it.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

People experiencing RI with their snake mainly do because of a combination of stress and improbability.

Any substrate can lead to improper husbandry especially if too wet (meaning leading to very high humidity) or molding.

It's not about the substrate it about how you use it and clean it.

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What do you mean by how you use it?

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

What do you mean by how you use it?

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Use it too wet or too dry and you will have issues, just like any other substrate, the substrate is par of proper husbandry and directly impact humidity levels.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Use it too wet or too dry and you will have issues, just like any other substrate, the substrate is par of proper husbandry and directly impact humidity levels.

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Ahh, got it. Thank you!

A) exactly what Deb said...
B) I use Eco Earth, have for a while. No issues to date, and even if there were, I wouldn't blame the product, I would blame the operator...me.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

A) exactly what Deb said...
B) I use Eco Earth, have for a while. No issues to date, and even if there were, I wouldn't blame the product, I would blame the operator...me.

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Okay, that makes me feel better!

I love Eco Earth. Holds humidity stupidly well even when it's 'dry' out of the bag. It absorbs waste and smells really well, has a low impaction risk. Looks really natural Too.

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Originally Posted by Valyrian

I love Eco Earth. Holds humidity stupidly well even when it's 'dry' out of the bag. It absorbs waste and smells really well, has a low impaction risk. Looks really natural Too.

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Yes, I love the natural look as well!

I like Eco Earth, I've never had an issues with it. I buy the bricks that you put in water with like 4 or 6 cups of water (I forget what the exact measurement is on the directions of the package, but I follow that), and it holds humidity well. Then, even when it appears dry, I take everything out of the cage and mix up the substrate to get all the still damp layers underneath up and it boosts the humidity all over again.

I got my BP in February, so it was still winter, and I used this bedding. Now in the summer months, though, where I barely have to do anything extra to maintain humidity like I do in winter months, I noticed what looked like mold on the bedding closest to the water bowl - the wettest part of the cage. I just scooped those bad bits out and looked around the rest of the cage for more, but that was the only spot. Just keep an eye out for that!

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Originally Posted by targciv

I like Eco Earth, I've never had an issues with it. I buy the bricks that you put in water with like 4 or 6 cups of water (I forget what the exact measurement is on the directions of the package, but I follow that), and it holds humidity well. Then, even when it appears dry, I take everything out of the cage and mix up the substrate to get all the still damp layers underneath up and it boosts the humidity all over again.

I got my BP in February, so it was still winter, and I used this bedding. Now in the summer months, though, where I barely have to do anything extra to maintain humidity like I do in winter months, I noticed what looked like mold on the bedding closest to the water bowl - the wettest part of the cage. I just scooped those bad bits out and looked around the rest of the cage for more, but that was the only spot. Just keep an eye out for that!

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I stopped using the bricks because it holds humidity too well ha ha. The humidity was sky high with bricks but out of the bag and a little spray was perfect. It really is the perfect substrate imo.

I thought about trying cypress mulch but I know someone who lost a boa on it. It has really sharp pieces and unfortunately one of the pieces went through the boas eye and into the brain, killing it. So be careful of that stuff if you try other substrates.

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Originally Posted by targciv

I like Eco Earth, I've never had an issues with it. I buy the bricks that you put in water with like 4 or 6 cups of water (I forget what the exact measurement is on the directions of the package, but I follow that), and it holds humidity well. Then, even when it appears dry, I take everything out of the cage and mix up the substrate to get all the still damp layers underneath up and it boosts the humidity all over again.

I got my BP in February, so it was still winter, and I used this bedding. Now in the summer months, though, where I barely have to do anything extra to maintain humidity like I do in winter months, I noticed what looked like mold on the bedding closest to the water bowl - the wettest part of the cage. I just scooped those bad bits out and looked around the rest of the cage for more, but that was the only spot. Just keep an eye out for that!

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Thank you for the advice, I will definitely keep an eye out for any signs of mold!!:)

I love the stuff. Just monitor humidity, and mist or dry as needed.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

I love the stuff. Just monitor humidity, and mist or dry as needed.

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Okay!:)

I've taken to using eco earth coco fiber for my gravid females. I usually put it in their cage a month or so before they're due to lay. That way they get plenty of humidity and if the eggs are laid while I'm at work I can be sure they're getting enough humidity until I have the time to take them out. So far, no issues with it.

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

I was just reading up on all of the different kinds of substrates and the pros and cons of each.

I'm perfectly happy with what I'm using(EACO EARTH) but, as I was reading, some people were saying eco earth is common for causing RI in ball pythons.

Are any of you guys using eco earth and would you say this is true/false?

Please vote in the poll, would really help!

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I used Eco earth a few years ago and then went into a Eco earth x Orchid bark mix . Nowadays I just use Orchid bark ( maybe known as reptibark over in the states ..


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I used Eco earth a few years ago and then went into a Eco earth x Orchid bark mix . Nowadays I just use Orchid bark ( maybe known as reptibark over in the states ..


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That's exactly what I use! And yes, we do call it Repti Bark over here. Spot on Zinc!

I used EE when I had tanks. I found that it was excellent at maintaining humidity. I never had any problems with it.

The only thing I find with Eco Earth is that a little bit sticks to my Burm's mouth when she flicks her tongue. None is ever actually in her mouth though as I feed over a cutting board (only used for feeding her not for food lol).

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Originally Posted by Reinz

I used EE when I had tanks. I found that it was excellent at maintaining humidity. I never had any problems with it.

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I used it for my BRBs but the bits got absolutely everywhere ( nearly as bad as that dreadful aspen stuff .


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I used Eco earth a few years ago and then went into a Eco earth x Orchid bark mix . Nowadays I just use Orchid bark ( maybe known as reptibark over in the states ..


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Never heard of that mix, I'll have to try it sometime!

I'm sorta in the middle of trying all kinds of different substrates to see what will work best for me. Haven't tried Eco Earth yet, but it'll be my next one to try based on these comments! Thanks for sharing everybody! :)

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Originally Posted by rottn

I'm sorta in the middle of trying all kinds of different substrates to see what will work best for me. Haven't tried Eco Earth yet, but it'll be my next one to try based on these comments! Thanks for sharing everybody! :)

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Orchid bark ( ReptiBark ) looks great and looks natural , makes your snakes colour stand out and is great for controlling humidity levels..

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d6bb67d756.jpg


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Orchid bark ( ReptiBark ) looks great and looks natural , makes your snakes colour stand out and is great for controlling humidity levels..

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d6bb67d756.jpg


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Apparently Zoo Med reckon you can wash the bark and use it again and again. Anyone tried that and is it true? I would think poop and urates would be problematic.

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Originally Posted by Valyrian

Apparently Zoo Med reckon you can wash the bark and use it again and again. Anyone tried that and is it true? I would think poop and urates would be problematic.

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I've washed and re-used Orchid bark ( Reptibark ) in the past .

You just pick out the obvious dried waste plus urates then wash in a large tub .. I added some f10 to the water .. mixed it around then drained off and added more water , mix around and drain .. repeat a couple more times .
The hardest part is drying it out so I used to clean on a hot sunny day and dry it out on a sheet .
You could presumably dry it in an oven ??




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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I've washed and re-used Orchid bark ( Reptibark ) in the past .

You just pick out the obvious dried waste plus urates then wash in a large tub .. I added some f10 to the water .. mixed it around then drained off and added more water , mix around and drain .. repeat a couple more times .
The hardest part is drying it out so I used to clean on a hot sunny day and dry it out on a sheet .
You could presumably dry it in an oven ??




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That's awesome as it would save a lot of money in the long term. I saw a video the other day where a guy was saying he cleans his vivs but never fully removes the substrate from the edges as there's research to say the smells in the substrate make snakes feel more comfortable.

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Originally Posted by Valyrian

That's awesome as it would save a lot of money in the long term. I saw a video the other day where a guy was saying he cleans his vivs but never fully removes the substrate from the edges as there's research to say the smells in the substrate make snakes feel more comfortable.

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To be honest I cleaned a whole batch of the stuff a while back ( collected it all over the months ) but never got around to drying it all out and in the end I bought a HUGE bag of Orchid bark off eBay for a ridiculously low price then I put the old stuff on the garden as a weed suppressor . It works great for keeping cats away as well as a bonus :)


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Orchid bark ( ReptiBark ) looks great and looks natural , makes your snakes colour stand out and is great for controlling humidity levels..

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...d6bb67d756.jpg


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It sure does look like a great natural looking substrate!

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

It sure does look like a great natural looking substrate!

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The substrate looks natural but the snake looks anything but natural !

Half love the Hybrid and the other half hate it :)


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I’ve used eco earth in the past and it worked for what I needed it to accomplish. However I just recently made the switch to the reptichip/coco chip substrate; a lot less dusty, doesn’t get everywhere or stick to everything and it’s easier to work with “dry”. I could not use dry cococoir in my cages.... too dusty and messy. The chips are big enough pieces and don’t produce nearly as much dust but hold humidity and suppress odor just as well.

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I’ve used eco earth in the past and it worked for what I needed it to accomplish. However I just recently made the switch to the reptichip/coco chip substrate; a lot less dusty, doesn’t get everywhere or stick to everything and it’s easier to work with “dry”. I could not use dry cococoir in my cages.... too dusty and messy. The chips are big enough pieces and don’t produce nearly as much dust but hold humidity and suppress odor just as well.

I've used Eco Earth and while it worked decently, I find it too dusty and doesn't hold the level of humidity I need well, either too wet or too dry all the time fiddling with it. I was using Jungle mix instead, maybe from Zoo Med? Don't remember the brand. I liked it much better but it's a bit pricey and only one of the pet stores near me mostly consistently stocks it and even they are out too often. So started buying organic, no fertilizer added peat moss bedding from the garden stores. It's very similar in texture to Eco Earth, just less dusty and holds humidity more evenly. As a bonus, 3 cu ft of it is only $11.

i use eco earth mixed with (pretty sure its zoomed) forest floor bedding, because i find the forest floor doesnt hold as much moisture as id like for my BP, but eco earth alone holds too much. i DO have a humidity hide with just eco earth in it however, so he can regulate humidity + temp and help with his shedding process.
switching to bioactive soon though, so ill be mixing in sphagnum moss and other good stuff like top soil into that soon, i just have to find a ratio i like and works!