Trying out a new substrate...Herptopia

[zina10]

I'm trying out a new substrate called "Herptopia".

I'm using "Reptichip" in my Display Cage. I wanted something that soaks up messes better then Aspen, plus something that looks more "naturalistic". Odor control is a nice "extra".
I like most tings about Reptichip, but what I don't like is that there are such huge chunks in there. I am constantly spot cleaning, and because of the big chunks I have to remove quite a lot of substrate because I want to get everything that has soaked up urine. Not just the solid urates.

Also, I find it a pain in the back to to prepare for use. Well, the preparing isn't so bad, but it will be quite "moist" for a while, and it gets the humidity up to high for my tubs until it dries out some. I don't want to drill holes in my tubs, I want a substrate that starts out "dry" and I control the humidity with how much and where I mist. I've been preparing Reptichip in a huge container and letting it dry out before using it, but yes, a pain..

So back to Herptopia. When I came across it and researched it I immediately liked that its shipped "expanded" and dry. Also, it is quite a bit finer and fluffier, no big chunks, yet no "powder". They say that during manufacturing they use a method that removes almost all the dust. There are a few videos on Youtube that show/explain it better then I can.

So far the negatives I see are #1 the price. If one has to order it online the price is higher then either Aspen or Reptichip. As of now. Currently they only offer the 24 qt (dry, expanded) size on their webpage and the shopping cart is not set up for shipping discounts on multiple bags. They have since told me that other (bigger) sizes will be available and that everything (incl. the cart) is getting overhauled. They said I should call before I place my next order. So its still in the open how economical it will be. I do think there will be less "waste" since it is easier to spot clean without removing a lot of extra substrate. I'm also willing to pay a bit more for the convenience and because I definitely like the consistency much better.

Long story short, trying it out in one tub and so far I like it. If I still do after a couple of weeks (and cleanings) I might switch over all tubs to this stuff

Has anyone else used it ? Like ? Dislike ?

[ShaneSilva]

Never used it but definitely interested to see how it goes

[highqualityballz]

I use unprinted paper but am possibly interested in getting a substrate i can just spot clean. Let me know how you like it!

[Sauzo]

That stuff would drive me to the poor house in an instant. If I remember correctly, it took me 48 quarts to do 1 of my T10s. Multiply that 6 times and that would be 6 bags per cleaning I would need and I tend to throw out substrate every month or so anyways. Right now I'm using ReptiChips and I like it. I actually like the bigger chunks as it doesn't allow my bigger snakes to pack the substrate down which combined with heat from flexwatt and you got mold galore. Stuff looks better than Eco Earth though.

[zina10]

That stuff would drive me to the poor house in an instant. If I remember correctly, it took me 48 quarts to do 1 of my T10s. Multiply that 6 times and that would be 6 bags per cleaning I would need and I tend to throw out substrate every month or so anyways. Right now I'm using ReptiChips and I like it. I actually like the bigger chunks as it doesn't allow my bigger snakes to pack the substrate down which combined with heat from flexwatt and you got mold galore. Stuff looks better than Eco Earth though.

Yes, you would need quite a bit more then I do

I'm still hopeful the price will be more economical with larger sized bags and/or shipping discounts. I wish a store nearby would sell it, or perhaps I can buy at a reptile show.

When I had my big Neodesha 4 ft cages, I used to use Eco Earth. Perhaps it was a different brand name, but it came in those "bricks" you had to add water to. And it was fine, like dirt. The big Ball Pythons did tend to pack it down when it was "moist" but I never had mold grow on it. Not even in the Brazilian Rainbow Boa cage, which had to be kept very humid. Maybe its just certain brands, though ? Or my snakes weren't big enough.

The Herptopia is very different from that, though. While its finer then Reptichip it doesn't compact easily. It stays "fluffy" for lack of better words. I tried to push it down and it keeps "springing" up. So far I like it better then Reptichip, but that is because it seems to work better for me with the tubs I have. I don't have "holes" in my tubs so I don't want substrate that is even a little wet before putting it in. I need dry substrate and it takes me up to 10 days of daily turning and mixing the reptichips in the big rubbermaid before its dry enough to use. Just annoying, plus I don't like the huge chips. If they could be just a little smaller..

Since I still have a whole bunch of Reptichip I will continue to use that for my bigger display cage. The additional humidity dissipates faster and easier in the cage then in the tubs, so it works quite well.

My collection is fairly small, so price is not as critical for me as it is for some. But I don't want to over pay , either. If I end up liking this substrate as much as I think I will, I want to see at least a shipping discount and bigger bags before I'll make the switch.

I will update this thread with any pros and cons as time goes by

[Sauzo]

Yes, you would need quite a bit more then I do

I'm still hopeful the price will be more economical with larger sized bags and/or shipping discounts. I wish a store nearby would sell it, or perhaps I can buy at a reptile show.

When I had my big Neodesha 4 ft cages, I used to use Eco Earth. Perhaps it was a different brand name, but it came in those "bricks" you had to add water to. And it was fine, like dirt. The big Ball Pythons did tend to pack it down when it was "moist" but I never had mold grow on it. Not even in the Brazilian Rainbow Boa cage, which had to be kept very humid. Maybe its just certain brands, though ? Or my snakes weren't big enough.

The Herptopia is very different from that, though. While its finer then Reptichip it doesn't compact easily. It stays "fluffy" for lack of better words. I tried to push it down and it keeps "springing" up. So far I like it better then Reptichip, but that is because it seems to work better for me with the tubs I have. I don't have "holes" in my tubs so I don't want substrate that is even a little wet before putting it in. I need dry substrate and it takes me up to 10 days of daily turning and mixing the reptichips in the big rubbermaid before its dry enough to use. Just annoying, plus I don't like the huge chips. If they could be just a little smaller..

Since I still have a whole bunch of Reptichip I will continue to use that for my bigger display cage. The additional humidity dissipates faster and easier in the cage then in the tubs, so it works quite well.

My collection is fairly small, so price is not as critical for me as it is for some. But I don't want to over pay , either. If I end up liking this substrate as much as I think I will, I want to see at least a shipping discount and bigger bags before I'll make the switch.

I will update this thread with any pros and cons as time goes by

I hated Eco Earth. It was dusty if it dried out and for my boas, it grew mold. Sounds like you got the ReptiChips too wet. I just did that with this new batch I mixed up. I added too much water and now in my retic cage, I have to turn the stuff daily and in the morning I got a nice sheet of dew on the front glass doors lol. The first batch I mixed up was fine as I didn't use that much water.

And yeah if it works, great. Everyone has stuff that works better for them and their set ups. I need bigger chunk stuff that holds humidity more as I keep my boas and retics around 80% humidity 24/7. The BP I keep at around 70% and the dumerils is kept around 50% but she seems to like it more as she LOVES to sit in her water bowl at night after her nightly rounds around the cage lol.

[zina10]

Its a good thing we have to many choices to pick from nowadays

You are right, there are so many different needs. Not only do different kinds of reptiles have differing needs, but it also depends on the individual animal as well as the setup. And the owners preferences...lol

My first batch of reptichip I got WAY to wet. What a mess that was...

This time I used Justin K.'s method and that was far better. It ended up perfect for a cage, but still to "humid" for my tubs.

What he does is fill a large sink (like a utility sink) with water and then dunks the entire big brick under water for about 10 seconds (I counted, lol). A bunch of bubbles will come up. Then he turns it around and dunks it again for about 10 seconds. Then he holds it over the sink and lets most of the water run off. (gosh, it is getting heavy at that point, too, lol) Then he leaves it sitting on its side in a big container and simply waits for around a minute or so.

You can then just easily pull it apart. Only in the very middle did I still have a bit of dry/compacted pieces. They were small and I could easily pull them apart. There is a video about it on youtube..

[bcr229]

Eco Earth comes both as bricks and as loose coco fiber.

It would be interesting to compare the Herptopia, CaribSea Aquatics Coco Soft, and Zoo Med's Eco Earth loose coco fiber to see if there's a difference in the products other than price.

[Sauzo]

That Herptopia stuff looks a lot more chunky compared to the Eco Earth. Eco Earth reminds me of coffee grounds with how fine it is. Never heard of Caribsea Aquatic stuff. Now I gotta go google it!!

[zina10]

Eco Earth comes both as bricks and as loose coco fiber.

It would be interesting to compare the Herptopia, CaribSea Aquatics Coco Soft, and Zoo Med's Eco Earth loose coco fiber to see if there's a difference in the products other than price.

That would be interesting !!

I did a quick google check. CaibSea "could" be the same or similar, however the price is even higher when you factor in shipping. No savings there, at least none I can see. Unless they offer bigger sizes and free shipping.

Eco Earth loose also looks similar. I think Brian from BHB Reptiles made a comparison. He didn't say "what" he compared the Herptopia to, but there was a bag of Eco Earth nearby I think ? If that is what it is, there was a lot more of the fine stuff in it and it didn't soak up liquids half as well. I would still like to do my own comparison though. Could be cheaper, esp. if Herptopia ends up not making different sizes or better prices on shipping.

There is one other substrate that looks almost the same in pictures. Its called "Kritter's Crumble All Natural Coconut Husk Fiber Reptile Substrate and Small Animal Bedding - Fine". I did order one bag of it through Amazon. Just to compare those 2. But it would also not be a savings. Costs about the same, quart for quart.

I'm still hoping that Herptopia will make the changes to sizes and shipping, in case I end up really liking it