Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last week, Chris started a discussion on the pH of coconut bark. I thought it might be interesting to test the pH of a few popular substrates to see if there was any difference. I decided to test a western fir mix that I'm fond of, Mallard Creek Pine Shavings, shredded coconut bark, and water for a control. I soaked 3 grams of each substance in 100 mL of water over the wekend. This morning, I tested the solutions with wide-range pH paper. Here are the results.

Wester Fir Mix - pH = 6-7
Pine - pH = 6-7
Shredded coconut - pH = 5-6
Water - pH = 7-8

No difference in the appearance of any of the solutiuons except for the coconut. The water it was soaking in took on a deep red appearance.

So, as Chris suspected, the coconut was slightly acidic. However, with pH strips, it's always a bit of a judgement call. I might try again with a digital pH meter.

Happy Monday all,
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Mike,
...Good information. Chris suspected and you have confirmed that shredded coconut substrate is acidic. If you could go to northern South America and find some of the ground leaf litter that these snakes are living in there and test it that would answer the next question I have. The water in the rivers here in the south is dark because it is stained with tannic acid from rotting leaf litter. I do wonder just what pH is ideal for these snakes?
Jeff

>>Last week, Chris started a discussion on the pH of coconut bark. I thought it might be interesting to test the pH of a few popular substrates to see if there was any difference. I decided to test a western fir mix that I'm fond of, Mallard Creek Pine Shavings, shredded coconut bark, and water for a control. I soaked 3 grams of each substance in 100 mL of water over the wekend. This morning, I tested the solutions with wide-range pH paper. Here are the results.
>>
>>Wester Fir Mix - pH = 6-7
>>Pine - pH = 6-7
>>Shredded coconut - pH = 5-6
>>Water - pH = 7-8
>>
>>No difference in the appearance of any of the solutiuons except for the coconut. The water it was soaking in took on a deep red appearance.
>>
>>So, as Chris suspected, the coconut was slightly acidic. However, with pH strips, it's always a bit of a judgement call. I might try again with a digital pH meter.
>>
>>Happy Monday all,
>>-----
>>Mike Lockwood
>>www.tooscaley.com

the coconut is made more acidic becaus eof the tannins in it that are released into the water. tannins also act as a natural antibiotic in some cases.

in one swamp in louisiana, the water is so black with tannins, that it is basically vinigar, and people scoop the water in to jars and use it to store food as is, because there is near zero oxygen content.

i was watching this show, and a man had a bottle with the water in it, and he pulled out an apple that had been in it fo like 2 years. and he bit it and it went CRUNCH, still as fresh and crisp as teh day it was picked. weirrrrrrrrrrrrd.

i dont know how this related to any of what your doing. but yeah.
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1.5 west papuan carpet pythons
2.3 brazillian rainbow boas
1.7 ball pythons