Yard mulch

[joepythons]

Really? That's odd. I know a lot of breeders that use cypress. For one, BHB. He's got pallets of the stuff.(not that I know him personally). Just about any breeders I've talked to at shows use it. Are you sure we're talking about the same stuff here?

Well the bag i saw was the same bag of stuff people place around the bushes in the spring .

[littleindiangirl]

Yup, that's what we use. Granted it's not the dyed stuff that's red or black and such. But it is yard mulch. We scour the places looking for no blends, but 100% cypress. Like Becky said, 2 cubic feet for 2$.

[joepythons]

Yup, that's what we use. Granted it's not the dyed stuff that's red or black and such. But it is yard mulch. We scour the places looking for no blends, but 100% cypress. Like Becky said, 2 cubic feet for 2$.

Hmm ok

[drugaria]

talk about mite problems after that if you don't bake it long enough .What a cheap f***!
I wouldn't buy any snakes from that store .

[littleindiangirl]

Wood mites are different from snake mites, and the little white buggers wont hurt your snake. We bake it to avoid the wetness and potential critters running around the room.

[Michael314]

It is recommended that any material not specifically produced as substate be place in an oven at 80-90 degrees centigrade at a maximum thickness of 3cm for 2-3 hours, this will remove excess water and kill any bacteria or mould. Hotter temperatures are not required and may burn the substrate releasing poisonous chemicals.

You should also be aware that some garden wood mulches contain chemicals to stop mould, deter slugs and snails, etc. These should not be used.

[joepythons]

Wood mites are different from snake mites, and the little white buggers wont hurt your snake. We bake it to avoid the wetness and potential critters running around the room.

I did forget to add one thing about the way he uses this stuff.He keeps it soaked as thats what the reptile magazine said to do .I mean its SOAKED not just damp.I know wood mites are differant but would you want to buy something with any type of bugs crawling over it .

[Ginevive]

I used to use cypress mulch, that I had bought at a local nursery. It was marketed as garden mulch. It is an "OK" substrate in my eyes, but not ideal, as I was leary about it being swallowed as a snake ate. There are alot of breeders that I have seen, that use cypress. I just prefer newspaper for its non-danger of being swallowed, and cleanability.