Some thoughts on Reptile Prime

[WhompingWillow]

!!!

Why didn't I try this stuff sooner?

Now that we have officially been mite-free for more than a month (knock on wood), I decided to give most everyone their substrate back. I decided to try Reptile Prime since I've basically tried everything else on the market (Reptichip, aspen for the corn, paper towels, cypress mulch, ReptiBark...) I'm not a fan of EcoEarth from previous experiences, which is why I held out on Reptile Prime for so long. But IMO it's sooo much better than EcoEarth!

Pros:
- Retains humidity like a boss, and it's MUCH easier to control the initial level of humidity than, say, Reptichip. Watching this stuff absorb water was like magic. I poured quite a bit in but the substrate barely felt wet.
- Virtually dust-free. I had some debris on my fingers, but barely any, even when I was mixing water in with my hand. Like I said, magic!
- A little goes a long way, which helps mitigate one of the cons (it's a bit pricey).
- Looks nice and the snakes seem happy
- Easy to spot clean
- Bag vs. brick form. Not having to spend 30+ minutes of my life expanding a brick or storing a ton of extra is 👍

Cons:
- Minor, but it does get in the water dish fairly easily
- More expensive than other substrates at $20/bag on Amazon. A small amount does go a pretty long way, but it's also easy to put too much in without realizing, probably because of the consistency.

Unforseen Complication:
I have no idea where Memphis is, other than somewhere in her tank. 🤣 To say she enjoys burrowing in this stuff is an understatement. I know Dumeril's like to burrow, and she occasionally did while on Reptichip/cypress mulch, but not like this. There is nary even her head to be seen. Makes cage maintenance, feeding, etc. a bit more exciting lol (although she does usually pop her head up at feeding time).