Substrate

[zina10]

Can't find Info on that particular Blend, but there are several others available that do list the contents and all those are blended with pine. Between 30% to 50%.

That makes me wonder if the Blend you all use is not blended with Pine, OR if the Pine isn't actually as dangerous as some people say.

Because after all, the proof is in the pudding , it seems to work well and for a lot of people, too !!

Since I only have a very small collection I might try to hunt down pure cypress if I get a Blood. Or put him on coco.

[Reinz]

This bedding here is $13.50 on an auction site. In the store, $15+++ ? It's for 5 qts, about the size of an 8-10 pound bag of pet food. It would take a dozen of these to equal just one bag from Lowes at $3.


Now if I was only providing for just one tank or tub I probably would never have looked for an alternative. But big snakes need big enclosures, thus a lot of substrate.

Other than coconut, I don't know what beats Cypress for humidity retention. When more humidity is needed, just spray or pour water on it. Try pouring water on Aspen and you have a huge soggy mess!

For tanks, layered Coconut with Cypress on top can't be beat for humidity control.
But I digress.......

[zina10]

Isn't there a "garden" alternative for "pure" cypress ?

That reptile bedding cypress is just repackaged. I wouldn't want to pay that much for basically the same stuff.

I wonder if some garden stores sell it for "garden" application. Probably a lot cheaper..

If I had giant snakes I sure wouldn't want to pay that price...esp. as "a. retentive" as I am about cleaning. It would cost me a fortune !!! And yes, Aspen is a pain..

Who knows, perhaps pine isn't such a bad thing when it comes to snakes ? If many people used these blends, some for decades without bad consequences, it cannot be that bad.

[Reinz]

Can't find Info on that particular Blend, but there are several others available that do list the contents and all those are blended with pine. Between 30% to 50%.

That makes me wonder if the Blend you all use is not blended with Pine, OR if the Pine isn't actually as dangerous as some people say.

Because after all, the proof is in the pudding , it seems to work well and for a lot of people, too !!

Since I only have a very small collection I might try to hunt down pure cypress if I get a Blood. Or put him on coco.

Some of this ^^^^ I address on my previous post just a few minutes after.

All I do know for sure is:

That pine is a highly whiteish yellow color similar to Aspen.

There is no yellow wood in the blend I use.

If there is and IF it has been dyed dark to be disguised as Cypress, then the dye is not rubbing off onto my snakes bellies, especially the white and light bellied Carpet Pythons.

There is no pine smell to this blend.

I'm not going to get into a debate about Pine and oils/resins, no oils, etc.

I've had zero health issues in the few years time I've been used this.

Lastly, I've never started a thread trying to rope folks in to this. I'm just answering questions.

[Reinz]

Isn't there a "garden" alternative for "pure" cypress ?

That reptile bedding cypress is just repackaged. I wouldn't want to pay that much for basically the same stuff.

I wonder if some garden stores sell it for "garden" application. Probably a lot cheaper..

If I had giant snakes I sure wouldn't want to pay that price...esp. as "a. retentive" as I am about cleaning. It would cost me a fortune !!! And yes, Aspen is a pain..

Who knows, perhaps pine isn't such a bad thing when it comes to snakes ? If many people used these blends, some for decades without bad consequences, it cannot be that bad.

Hahaha, seems that we are typing about at the same time. But I am much slower, being that I have to peck on an iPad.

I dont know the answers about a garden garden variety or not.

All I can say is that I am satisfied for my applications thus far.

BTW Zina, I love your questions, they good and necessary!

[zina10]

Hahaha, seems that we are typing about at the same time. But I am much slower, being that I have to peck on an iPad.

I dont know the answers about a garden garden variety or not.

All I can say is that I am satisfied for my applications thus far.

That is why threads such as this are so valuable.

One can only do so much research. Finding out about what actually works for people, and works well, is so important!!

[locolobito]

Just got done picking up a bag of the Nofloat at Lowes. Its semi-frozen but should be thawed in at least 48 hours. Looks to me like its all cypress.

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

[Reinz]

Just got done picking up a bag of the Nofloat at Lowes. Its semi-frozen but should be thawed in at least 48 hours. Looks to me like its all cypress.

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

Now it will be wet throughout the bag. If you can dump some or all into a tub indoors to start drying out you will find it helpful.

That's one of the trade offs for economy.

[ShaneSilva]

If anyone is that worried about the blend this one says 100% Cypress. It's a few dollars more than the blend reinz recommend but still way cheaper than what's sold in pet stores or online marketed for reptiles

https://m.lowes.com/pd/Mulch-3-cu-ft...-Mulch/3156693

[ShaneSilva]

The main difference I noticed is that this comes in a more shredded form and is mainly produced from bark rather than the wood of the tree. It says there are no herbicides or insecticides.

Thoughts?