Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have been using aspen for years but i always liked the look of the mulch. i was thinking of switching my balls over to cypress but im a little worried they may stop eating? any opinions? thanks!

I've used cypress mulch with my bp and feeding response has been great. However, I have never transferred her from a different substrate. I don't think it would affect feeding though, as long as temps are right, and there is a feeding schedule. I use aspen for my corn and hognose, but I find that the cypress holds humidity better for the bp, which prefers humdity to be a bit higher.

0.1.0 Royal (Ball) Python
1.0.0 Amenalistic (Red Albino) Cornsnake
0.0.1 Western Hognose

0.2.0 English Bulldogs
0.1.0 Piebald Dachsund

1.0.0 Betta

how many people feed on this substrate?
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.1 chocolate labs and bassett (Harley, Barker and Capone)
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

I used to keep them on aspen like my corns. But the BPs had more problems shedding, and if I dampened the aspen, it got moldy. But the cypress seems to hold just the right amount of moisture, and doesn't get moldy. I feed all of my BPs on the cypress without a problem. I have found a brand a Ace Hardware that is softer and fluffier than brands at other stores. I really like it!

I agree, kind of like a 5th cut of hay for calves. walmart will sometimes get in a good brand of mulch that I like to use,.
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Greg Holland
GMHERPS Hunting & Reptiles
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@gmail.com

They don't swallow the substrate at all when eating?
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.1 chocolate labs and bassett (Harley, Barker and Capone)
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

of substrate ingestion in my animals. I am sure it has happened, but probably with small pieces that just pass through harmlessly (although I have never noticed mulch mixed into the feces). But my rodents are dry - if you soak yours in hot water or they are wet for any reason, the substrate would tend to stick a lot more. In that case, maybe you would want to lay them on newspaper (assuming they are dead) and hope that most of the eating occurs on the paper.

I always just feed mine in an empty plastic storage tote, got it for $5 at walmart, they never eat the bedding if its not in the feeding cage.

matt