substrate question

lazarus · #1 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 07:01 PM

hey guys-
i didnt find any info on cypress mulch in the caresheets, but do any of you use cypress mulch? are there any harmful oils in cypress, like pine and cedar? i found this mulch i wanted to try, here is a link if you wanna check it out:

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/pro...id=72242&qty=3

On a side note, just wanted to show a picture of a 1 year old redtail i rescued recently from a couple who were giving extremely poor care. It seemed that they were too afraid (due to a strike from inside the enclosure) to clean up after her, or give her clean water. There was no substrate, not even paper! and the floor was completely covered in moldy feces... The poor boa was living on the driftwood to stay off the floor, which also contained various insects... oh the "heat" lamp was a household white bulb

.. but enough details, she is doing very well and is eating great! She also loves to be handled... this is a close up of her, but i like it...

buck2003 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 07:09 PM

wow she looks gr8 now and I bet she's lovin all the gr8 care and attention she's gettin from you!
Hope she does well, I'm really pleased you have her, Buck

schmelkdog · #3 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 07:13 PM

mite question
This is a link to previous discussion involving cypress. Use the search tool and you can find alot more.
Personally I like Cyrpess. I've got a friend that works at a hardware store and I recently got a big bag from there and no problems. It holds humidity well, I like the way it looks, my kingsnake can burrow in it while the bp just sits on it. The biggest problem is like any substrate if you're gonna use it than try to feed the snake in a tote or something to avoid ingestion and then impaction. I've baked it and froze it at different times (one or the other) to make sure no bugs do make it through.

lazarus · #4 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 07:20 PM

thanks guys, i do always feed in a rubbermaid tote... i didnt think of freezing the mulch, i guess i could leave it outside over night, with it like 10 degrees out that should do the trick i think... i was considering baking the mulch but leaving it outside would be much easier!

schmelkdog · #5 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 07:28 PM

hahah, this is true. YOu're right down the road from me and one step outside tells me you're right!! and hey, good deal on helping out this boa. Sounds like it was having a hard time and you stepped up and now it will have a good life.

lazarus · #6 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 07:48 PM

thanks man!
im gonna try the cypress mulch from Ace... under the description is actually says it "resists" moisture but thats got to be a typo? but do you think leaving it out overnight, or a couple nights will do the trick in killing off any critters that might be in the mulch? im hesitant to treat it with any chemicals if its not necessary... as many of you know, there is nothing better than rescuing an animal in need, and giving it the attention it deserves, so keep an eye on the adoption page...

lethargiic · #7 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 07:51 PM

i havent had one problem with cypress mulch eversince we switched from using aspen..its awesome stuff..but like all mulches you do have to treat it for parasites n stuff.. schmelkdog pretty much said it all for it, other than the fact that the stuff is a pain to clean up if it's dumped on carpet..lol only god knows how many time's that's happened during cage housekeeping day.. hahaha

ChicagoCubs22 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 08:32 PM

i used cypress eway back when i just got my BP and i had a Garter snake.

It worked well, it holds humidity, its appearance is nice, and its not TOO bad to clean.

but it brings back bad memories. Somehow i got my BP infested with mites and the mites lived in the cypress mulch...It got really bad...which is why i am now on newspaper, its clean, efficient, economical, and its always available. Cypress is a good substrate, but make sure it stays clean, and try not to feed the snakes in there so they dont get impacted.

NicoleRussell · #9 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 08:41 PM

shipping that is like shipping sand--are you sure it's worth it??

lazarus · #10 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 10:17 PM

yea i am definately not going to ship it... i called up a local Ace hardware store and they are getting me a couple bags... its only $3.99 a bag (2cuft) compared to like $9 for 0.3cuft at a pet store for the reptibark stuff... i have always used plain brown kraft paper and white paper towels, but im sick of how its looks, and i feel like my boas would appreciate the mulch better if they want to burrow... lazarus always likes to hide... plus the papers not helpin to keep humidity in, even with misting everyday. im gonna try it and ill make sure to keep it clean. how often do you think it should be replaced?

charmoore · #11 (**permalink**) 01-26-2005, 11:16 PM

Congrats on your rescue!!

challenger · #12 (**permalink**) 01-27-2005, 12:02 AM

I thought I read in another thread it doesn't need to be sterilized because there is nothing potentially in it that could harm a snake from SA or CA?

Boa Enthusiast · #13 (**permalink**) 02-05-2005, 03:07 AM

cypress mulch is nice to keep the humidity up but I feel if you wet it too much it takes a long time to dry like most woods. I would rather use that brick substrate stuff which is made of dirt and composted materials. Just buy a brick, add water and it expands and it is really nice loose and fluffy where the cypress kinda gets compacted after awhile. Also when you need the moisture you mist it once and by the next day its ready to be misted again. It can also be digested not like aspen.

Kev

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