Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry that this is not posted in the correct subforum but it moves too slowly. I currently am using a reptile carpet that I bought from a petstore but I don't like how un-natural it looks. While at the petstore today I saw a variety of natural looking substrates. I saw Eco-earth (compressed coconut fibers in a small block), I saw fir bark, and some cypress stuff. The last two look similar but they are appearantly made of different woods. I was wondering what you guys would suggest (besides astroturf, aspen, and newsprint). And I was also wondering the Repti-bark was made from, since that particular brand was not in the store. Thanks.

Coconut husks are the way to go, I use a fine almost sand like grade for my rat snake and a more course grade for my python and boa... great stuff, holds humidity like no other!!

Black Jungle sells both grades for less than $5 a brick, and they have a sale ending soon.

Good Luck
-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

Is that the stuff that comes in bricks and you put in a bucket of water than dry it? I looked into it looked nice but the drying part looked like it would take forever not to mention I though when it dried it would fly all over my yard and I would lose most of it.

You can find it in loose 10 to 15 quart bags, solves the mess and hassle of the drying out thing...

I did ses that but wasnt sure if it was same thing . I use coconut bark which is so so but have heard this was better however I didnt want the hassle of drying it out and having it fly all over the place .
I feed my snakes in the cage as I use paper towels in their hide areas so safe to feed in cage but prefer completely safe stuff in cage just in case thanks going to look for it now.

During the breeding season I use newsprint, some times newsprint with a very small amount of sani chips placed around the edge of the box. Easy to clean, easy to replace, and safer for the males.
The rest of the year I use sani chips. It makes it very easy to spot clean. Especially since so many snakes crap right after getting a clean box. It clumps up in the sani chips, easily removed and the box is still fresh and clean. Go through the racks once a day as routine maintenance. A large bag is only $10-11 at most feed stores.