what do you think of coconut-fiber substrate?

[Ginevive]

I plan on using coco fiber for a substrate, and never have. My concern was the fiber getting caught in the snakes' nostrils and heat pits, but this seems a bit over-dramatized. Sand, I could see; that could definitely be abrasively shoved into the heat pits. But I just like the ides of having a substrate that provides the snake a bit of cushioning to sit on. I used to use newspapers for larger amounts of snakes in tubs/racks, and still would if I get more snakes and it's cost-effective, but for now I plan on going with the coco fiber. I got the loose fibers that are not in a brick and don't need to be watered to separate/loosen. It'll also help to hold humidity better when needed.

Your thoughts?

[ballpythonluvr]

I used to use this type of substrate when I kept bp's. It does indeed help with the humidity. My only complaint was that it was hard to tell where the snakes urinated. You can usually smell the urine and routinely change the substrate due to the odor. I think coco fiber is an excellent substrate otherwise. Hope this helps.

[MarkS]

I love the stuff for my Bearded Dragons and Leopard geckos in their humidity shelters and I also use it in my egg laying boxes for my colubrids but using it as a regular substrate for the ball pythons I think would be messy.

[Ginevive]

Thanks for the info I will use it for now.. if it gets too messy or cumbersome, I will switch later.

[3skulls]

I have used it with my Kingsnakes and even mixed it in ReptiBark for a few BPs

It's messy. Sticks to the snakes when they are in and out of their water. Gets in the bowls.

I got away from it pretty quick.

[LLLReptile]

I don't usually recommend it for snakes with heat sensing pits, as it can and often does get lodged in the pits and as 3skulls said, it tends to stick to the snakes' bodies as well.

It works extremely well for high humidity situations, such as for dart frogs, or for planting in vivariums, or as a substrate for digging and nesting (I love it for geckos). However, for most snakes, I don't recommend it. I personally much prefer cypress mulch or, at most, mixing it 50/50 with orchid bark or a similar type of wood chip bedding.

-Jen

[rtman26]

I use it, although I'm pretty new and experimenting to see what works best for myself and my snake. My only real annoyance is that it always manages to find its way into the water dish. But it is great for humidity and spot cleaning.

[Rob]

Meh, too messy

[Ginevive]

Thanks for your replies, too. I just got the new girl home, and she is cruising around exploring her new digs. If it seems like she's getting it in her face too much, I will go from there; seems okay for now. She is in blue now, so I will use it to keep up the humidity, as well.

Does anyone still use humid hides? I remember reading about those awhile back, but I would think that you'd need one humid and one nonhumid hide in each temperature zone to offer choices, and that seems like a lot of hides..

[kitedemon]

I use coco coir it is messy but is crazy cheap and hold humidity well. It is also environmentally responsible unlike Cyprus mulch. I have never had a problem with it in heat pits but occasionally under scales but then wood chips are worse that way.


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