I also use coc coir I love it and it is very very cheap. I used cyprus and aspen and mixes of coc and wood chips in the past but it is much more upsetting to watch your snake try to eat wood splinters than coco coir that is fine. I use a plastic pad to feed on but they always seem to drag it off into the coco and eat some I have yet to have a problem I can see that in a freek accident it could block an airway but then again so can aspen or cyprus. I personally like not taking a tree that is important to the everglades eco system and cutting to down to grind to muclch. Not a by product of something else just mulch. Melaleuca mulch at least is a better option and has about the same properties.