cypress mulch and bugs

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I know you have to be careful with using cypress mulch as a substrate because it can have bugs, mites, and critters living in it.... That is why I have not yet used it so far.

I read several of you talking about baking it in an oven... 200 degrees for varying lengths of time... Until it is completely dried out. I considered doing this but it just seems like a major pain. it would be messy, take a lot of time, require lots of very expensive electricity, and of course it would completely dry out the mulch (humidity help and cost are the two reasons I want to use it.)

So, I have questions:

1.) Are the bugs the ONLY concern I should have if using normal landscape cypress mulch? Does it matter if they are chips or shredded? (I take the snakes out of their cage to feed them)

2.) I have a large deep freezer in the garage. It will easily hold a large bag of cypress mulch (and the stuff that is already in the freezer). If I were to put the whole bag in the freezer for a week, freezing it completely, wouldn't that kill any bugs, mites, critters that can be in it? (I know i would have to take it out and let it sit for a day or two to get back to room tempertature before use!) seems like this approach would be MUCH easier, and when done, I would still be moist, not all dried out like if it were baked. But will it kill everything that needs to be killed? Is there somehting negative that can happen that I'm not thinking of?

Thanks,

Mike

[NightLad]

I started with a bag of Cyprus mulch from a pet store, but when I got home and opened it I noticed several small (I mean, TINY) ants and even smaller white wood mites in it. I tossed the whole bag in my backyard in the middle of winter and never touched it again.

The second bag of Cyprus mulch I got was clean (from a different pet store), and I made sure to bake it at 350 for about 45 minutes. When I opened the oven door a cloud of steam hit me in the face and fogged up my glasses! However, the wood was still quite damp and took the moisture I squirted it with to regain any that was lost by baking.

When I needed new substrate the store was sold out of Cyprus, so I bought a bag of Exo Terra Jungle Carpet. I actually like it even more than the Cyprus. It holds moisture very well, and is (from what I've read) even more resistant to mold.

I also baked the lot I planned to use at 350 for about an hour. I left it to cool prior to putting it in the viv. I cover the bottom of the tank with a layer of newspaper for easy clean-up. Just roll up the newspaper and voila! No fuss, no muss.

The Exo Terra Jungle Carpet also expelled a quantity of steam after being baked, but it retained more moisture than you'd think and it also took well to moisture that was introduced through squirting with water later on.

I've had no problems with it, and my BP seems to enjoy it!

Just for fun (and pampering sake) I use some finely shreded aspen inside the hides for him to curl up in.

I've also taken to mixing a little bit of Exo Terra coco fiber husk (bought in brick form) with the substrate to better hold moisture.

My home is quite dry in the winter, usually in the 30s%, but with this setup I've been able to keep my glass viv at 50-60 without issue. I generally moisten once in the morning and once at night, allowing for drops in humidity throughout the day and night before re-misting. This is important because it simulates natural variations in climate conditions and is better for their lungs, so I've read. Makes sense to me. Too much humidity can be just as bad as not enough.

I cover about 25% of the top screen with aluminium foil (shiny side down) and a towel over it to trap heat and humidity.

I hope this helps.

PS: Baking was no issue for me. No mess, I mean. I put a few large scoops of the substrate in a deep casserole dish and that was all. For speeds sake I used two casserole dishes to get twice the substrate, although I think I only used about half of what I prepared in my 20g Kritter Keeper glass tank.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

thanks. Bottom line question here... would freezing mulch for a few days kill anthing that is in the mulch?

[fishmommy]

maybe...but bugs can sometimes surprise you with their resiliance.

I have the cypress bugs in my setup...if they become noticable I just put down some PAM and that seems to kill them. I have assumed they are not harmful to my animals...hopefully that is true

mostly they are so few in numbers that I have to really search for them. When they are that few I don't do anything. Hopefully if I am wrong someone will post up and say so!

[NightLad]

thanks. Bottom line question here... would freezing mulch for a few days kill anthing that is in the mulch?

It really depends on the bug. I don't know enough about wood mite entomology to say for sure, but I assume not. They do live in the woods and when winter hits, they are back in the summer, so I would assume they go dormant with freezing weather.

It might kill the ants though.

Those are the only two bugs I've personally seen in a bag of mulch.

[NightLad]

From what I've read, the small white wood mites won't hurt the BP... however, I do have several expensive pieces of woodcraft items in the house I don't want them anywhere near.

Baking prior to use should eliminate not only bugs, but also several varieties of fungal/mold spores should they be present. Another reason why I choose to bake.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

wouldn't freezing something solid for a full week kill any bacteria or fungus? What about the dreaded snake mites??? If they just so happened to make there way into the cypress mulch at the store, or at the factory.... would freezing them for a week straight kill all of them and their eggs???

mike