Can cypress mulch hurt baby water monitors?I herd that is is OK because is holds humidity in and they like it,but can it impact them like it can to other lizards?
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cypress impaction???
skatecoupard
Sep 14, 2006 08:29 AM
Replies (1)
FR
Sep 14, 2006 11:23 AM
Impaction is not caused by a substrate, its caused by an unhealthy animal. Most noteable, dehydrationed individuals. Also consider almost all captives are in some stage of dehydration.
Of course, once you have an unhealthy monitor, there are materials that are worse then others. Cypress mulch is one of them.
Its not because its Cypress mulch, its because its manifactured. That is, its made from big pieces beat down, shredded into smaller pieces. This means, there are lots of tiny splinters that can irratate eyes and other sensitive areas. It also makes it much harder to pass if consumed.
So natural cypress mulch is ok. I would reconmend, leaflitter. As its coming up on fall, finding leaflitter is going to be very easy for most of the country(not us). The leaves folks rack out of their yards, particularly thick leafed, like oak are great, oak is not magically better it just lasts longer in the cage before decomposing. Thin leaf, decompose quickly. They are good if you have a steady supply. Cheers
