Help With Substrate

[Biermag11]

I have been using cypress mulch, but my snake (ball python) came down with mites, and i didn't even know it. The cypress was clean and there was no poop in cage. I think the mites may have come from the cypress, but im not sure. Anyway, i was wanting to change to astroturf but when i was looking at the petsmart website, they said that indoor-outdoor carpeting was bad because it had glue and other harmfull stuff in it. I know petsmart is full of crap most of the time, but are they right here? Should i just stick to cypress? Thanks
[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

Actually your probably right on where the mites came from. I have gotten mites when I have used this stuff also and didn't "bake" the wood at all..UGH. Live and learn ya know [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] As for the carpet stuff and using it... Many people I know actually use it as a substrate even with no problems at all. BUT Petco [ for once] is correct even in the info that they gave you in regards to the glue etc. I beleive that carpet has formeldahyde in it [ might be mistaken on the chemical btw]. This can be potentially harmful to the reptile via the fumes that carpeting gives off.
Why not try aspen if you want something as a substrate other than newspaper type thing ?
[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[StaticKaos]

I use tha cypress mulch an have no problems.. If you came down with mites heres tha deal.. Use the biggest pot you can find, fill it with water.. Put it on tha stove an wait til its boiling.. Already have your bark in some kind of larger bowl.. Pour the boiling water on tha mulch, let it clean it for a little while.. Then drain the mulch, spray it off wit tha hose or somethin 2 wash anything else off.. Put it in the over on 250 degrees for about an hour.. Thats what I had 2 do an it works perfectly.. Makes ya over smell all good 2, haha..
[addsig]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Ravnos]

Geeze, I'd have to have a big Macbethish witches kettle to boil enough cypress for all my cages. I stick with using marine carpeting... it is tougher than afroturf by a long shot, and uses a melted rubber backing, not that glue stuff that most house carpets use. Plus, it takes a heck of a lot of wear and tear. I can use the strongest soaps and even bleach on it and it holds up... and of course, it holds up to soaking in water for days on end.

I also use aspen for species that enjoy it... nice and easy to keep clean. Works well.

Rav

[addsig]