Substrate questions

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

- Eco Earth:
1- can I use this as a standalone substrate for my ball python?
2- should I treat it with PAM or should I bake it before I use it in my enclosure? Trying to be safe about mites or anything.

-repti bark:
1- is it fine for snakes?
2- if I can't use Eco earth as a stand alone substrate,I was thinking of mixing the two,good idea?
3- should I treat the repti bark wih Pam or bake it also? Just for safety cautions,is it necessary?

can baking these substrates effect them holding humidity? Over dry them out or something?

any advice would be appreciated. Thank You.

[Physician&Snakes]

- Eco Earth:
1- can I use this as a standalone substrate for my ball python?

Yes.

2- should I treat it with PAM or should I bake it before I use it in my enclosure? Trying to be safe about mites or anything.

Yes, that is fine.

-repti bark:
1- is it fine for snakes?

Too expensive for my tastes, but yes.

2- if I can't use Eco earth as a stand alone substrate,I was thinking of mixing the two,good idea?

I prefer to mix it with cypress, but yes that is fine.

3- should I treat the repti bark wih Pam or bake it also? Just for safety cautions,is it necessary?

Both treatments are fine.

can baking these substrates effect them holding humidity? Over dry them out or something?

Temporarily yes, long term, no.

any advice would be appreciated. Thank You.

See bolded.

[led-zep]

I use Eco Earth as a stand alone substrate (loose bags from Petco). I've been using it over 2 months now with no problems. I like how it holds humidity better than aspen, but it can be a little messy.

As for Repti Bark, I have heard of people mixing it with Eco Earth. But I can't confirm on the do's and dont's of it as I've never really used it.

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

See bolded.

awesome bro and TY....

I use Eco Earth as a stand alone substrate (loose bags from Petco). I've been using it over 2 months now with no problems. I like how it holds humidity better than aspen, but it can be a little messy.

As for Repti Bark, I have heard of people mixing it with Eco Earth. But I can't confirm on the do's and dont's of it as I've never really used it.

Yeah defiantly looks like it can be messy. I'm using aspen in one tank now and coco husk and sphagnum mix in the other..I love the way the CocoHusk and S moss holds humidity way better..
thanks man,I just got a back of Eco earth in the mail,24 qt bag...

[Mr Oni]

I mix eco earth with reptibark and have a good hold on humidity issues because my house is at 15% humidity.

Gotta love upstate weather.

My Bee once swallowed a piece of repti bark but he passed it fine, scared the crap out of me though.
So, now i keep the bark away from the hides so it will help prevent any of that in the future.

I also put aspen in the hide to hold in heat and cushness.

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Thnx ONI,appreciate it...I may clean one tank today. May just do both next weekend....the tanks are all spot cleaned and fine for another week without a doubt.

Ill just do both next weekend,cause I wanna bake and treat the substrates to play it safe...

[Diasnis]

I've used both, and have mixed them together in many of my snake tanks, and have never had any issues with them. I love the humidity retention that they have.

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Well I just mixed together repti bark and eco earth. Put it in a baking aluminum pan,baked it at 300 degrees for 40 mins,took it out,sprayed it down with PAM,let it completely air out which was a little over an hour. Hooked thermometers and thermostats back up and everything in place...added the Eco repti mix and sprayed it heavily down with my water bottle...

thnx for for the advice everyone...I left a portion of damp rag on top for kow. Which I'll prob wid up removing,but I may want to reset my lights

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

I've used both, and have mixed them together in many of my snake tanks, and have never had any issues with them. I love the humidity retention that they have.

Good news,I'm hoping it makes keep humidity a lot easier and keeps it more steady. But I recently switched to a coco husk and sphagnum moss mix and it worked out quiet well,this is why I'm switching over from aspen..

but let me say,I never had a problem with aspen to be honest. I just wish it held humidity better.

[BrandiR]

Good news,I'm hoping it makes keep humidity a lot easier and keeps it more steady. But I recently switched to a coco husk and sphagnum moss mix and it worked out quiet well,this is why I'm switching over from aspen..

but let me say,I never had a problem with aspen to be honest. I just wish it held humidity better.

lol you don't get to pick how well something holds humidity lol it's just lol common sense lol