I was reading over the past substrate questions, and about the monitors not digging. My sav hasnt really dug a burrow, so I resolved to doing something about it. I currently have a mixture of topsoil, sphagnum moss, and a little sand. I am wanting to try a portion of the cage with mulch, cyprus is what I have read about, problem is that no one not even the garden centers carry it. The only mulch that I can find is eucalyptus. I am just wondering, since eucalyptus isnt really what I invisioned as the perfect substrate, if anyone has had any experience with it, or if it is toxic, etc. I have searched and searched on the internet, but to no avail. Thanks to all!
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Eucalyptus mulch?
SubSpeciesBoy
Aug 28, 2003 06:04 PM
Replies (4)
robyn@ProExotics
Aug 28, 2003 06:05 PM
eucalyptus is quite oily, and actually repels water. works terrible in a cage...
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robyn@proexotics.com
SHvar
Aug 28, 2003 09:08 PM
Its only $2 and change for a big huge bag.
bmendyk
Aug 28, 2003 09:37 PM
Hi there,
Eucalyptus is a very dry, and dusty mulch. It does not hold water at all, thus not retaining proper humidity gradients. THe dust can cause respiratory problems. I have seen tortoises kept on these, who developed severe breathing problems and conjunctivitis in the eyes. It also has rather sharp and jagged chips, which if ingested, can have a harmful effect on your monitor.
Where are you located? Agaway carries cypress mulch. When I lived in florida, cypress was readily available for dirt cheap. Unfortunately, now that I am up north, I have to do some searching and paying a bit more. Try Agaway, I think that they are a national chain. Good luck, just don't use eucalyptus. I also hear the oils secreted can have a harmful effect- similar to the oils in pine and cedar, I'm not sure if this is true or not though,
bob
Lucien
Aug 29, 2003 09:21 PM
Eucalyptus is a poison. The only animal able to really eat it are Koalas and thats why. They've adapted to the diet over thousands of years. The menthol oils it secretes are quite toxic in large doses.. Good in small doses for coughs, clogged sinuses and stuff like that hence the use in cough drops and menthol rubs.. but really not good for many animals to breathe in or ingest
