Pros and cons of these substrates?

[Zincubus]

I use this course bark chip from my pet shop it comes in small medium and large chips I have had small but I've moved to medium which is the stuff in the pictures as you can see the bag that it comes in is very damp so it's great for boosting humidity it does dry out fairly quick but i find it easy to control humidity with it by just spraying it down I've not tried any other substrate as this works well enough and does what I need it to I also think that bark chip will help aid with there shed more than some of the softer substrates it's easy to clean out too and doesn't leave much mess behind

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That's the stuff we buy over here in the UK but it's sold as orchid bark or ReptiBark ....

I actually swapped to fine grade ( small pieces ) from course grade ( larger pieces ) just in case some is ingested when eating .


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[Lizardlicks]

• Reptibark Good stuff, most keepers I talk to that have tried it rave about it.
• Cypress mulch It holds humidity but it's falling out of favor as cypress much comes from harvesting mature cypress tress that take several decades to grow. It's not a very sustainable or eco friendly option.
• Eco earth/coconut fiber (loose)
• Eco earth/coconut fiber (compressed) I've heard Eco earth gets messy and dusty once it starts to dry out. Otherwise it's a great option.
• Exo Terra Coco husk Haven't used it, but coco husk it's basically the same any place you get it. Just look to see whose got the best price per volume.

[cletus]

Hey everyone! I've been looking at different types of substrate and have been seeing a lot of different or even mixed thoughts of each type. I was wondering if you guys could tell me the various pros and cons of the following substrates;
Reptibark
Cypress mulch
Eco earth/coconut fiber (loose)
Eco earth/coconut fiber (compressed)
Exo Terra Coco husk

Also heard of people mixing substrates, which are the best combinations and why?

Those were the ones I was thinking of using, so any feedback on your experiences and recommendations will be much appreciated!

I use the Exo Terra Coco husk and like it a lot. I mix up in small batches because I don't have a lot of enclosures and it it works great. It holds moisture very well and doesn't mold. The odor control is very good. It's also very cheap. At some point I'm going to try Reptichip since it seems to be the same thing. I can get it pretty cheap since the owner is local to me. I still like to use paper towels sometimes but the coco husk is good stuff.

[Mexecutioner]

That's the stuff we buy over here in the UK but it's sold as orchid bark or ReptiBark ....

I actually swapped to fine grade ( small pieces ) from course grade ( larger pieces ) just in case some is ingested when eating .


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Yeh I'm in the UK mate where I buy it from just comes in a clear bag and says medium course bark so wasn't sure what type it was the reptile guy at the shop recommended it to me and you have switched from small to a larger chip for same reason I have I was worried he woud swallow any and on his very first feed with me he nearly did swallow a descent size chunk, a bit stuck to the rat pup but I managed to intercept it with tongues before he swallowed now I will pick him up remove his hide and water bowl and lay a sheet of news paper down to feed him on when he's finished he happily moves to the other side to his hide that's when I'll put his hide and water bowl back in then I'll leave him for 2 days

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[Mexecutioner]

I've just miss read your post I started with small to a bigger size but he's always fed on top of paper now anyways so there's no risk of him swallowing any

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[MissterDog]

I use this course bark chip from my pet shop it comes in small medium and large chips I have had small but I've moved to medium which is the stuff in the pictures as you can see the bag that it comes in is very damp so it's great for boosting humidity it does dry out fairly quick but i find it easy to control humidity with it by just spraying it down I've not tried any other substrate as this works well enough and does what I need it to I also think that bark chip will help aid with there shed more than some of the softer substrates it's easy to clean out too and doesn't leave much mess behind

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This is so helpful! Thanks for providing pictures! Are there any preperations you do? Such as baking or spraying with prevent-a-mite?

[cchardwick]

I use Reptichip, just tried five blocks of Prococo, it's exactly the same as Reptichip. I think it's the same as Exo Terra Coco husk only cheaper. The ten pound blocks of Reptichip and Prococo expand like you wouldn't believe. Just three expanded blocks will fill a 55 gallon drum! For prep I just submerge the entire block for 25 seconds on each side, drain for a few seconds and put it in a big plastic tote and it falls apart. I don't use any other chemicals whatsoever. It's fairly expensive but lasts a really long time, two months between substrate changes.

[Neal]

I don't like eco earth.

Coco Husk I've used and still do, but rarely is good and holds moisture.

Reptibark is good as well, holds moisture but can easily dry out fast too.

Cypress mulch is great, but it's a bit expensive, and you have to make sure it's 100% cypress mulch and not a mixture of other woods with it.

[rdoyle]

You can get cypress mulch at lowes for 3.00 but it does have large pieces in it.

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