Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was recently at my reputable reptile store and he actually recommended using cypress mulch that keepers choice stuff in place of bed-a-beast as the main substrate for my frog setups. I do not keep live plants so I am not concerned about that and he said that I would not have to worry about impaction AND that with this there is a less likelyhood of getting those little gnats. Does anybody have any opinions on that. Is it ok, or should I just steer away. Oh and he also mentioned that it holds the moisture much better so that I would not have to use as much moss.
Thanks for your help
Christina
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1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

i would most deffinally suggest the coconut fiber, such as bed a beast, forest bed, and/or eco earth by zoomed, they all are the same. cypres mulch did more harm to my frogs then good, it also did alot of damage to my whites tree frog. Frogs skin is so sensitive that any king of chip or wood chip barks for a substarte could possibly harm the frogs belly when walking on it. my whites tree frog got so red ,like a rash type of thing, that it first looked like red leg, but i new that was impossibale because he would have been bleeding if he had the bacterial infection. So all i use now is coconut fiber substates. anouther bad thing about cypres mulch is that if the frogs happen to ingest some of it it can cause gut blockages in the frogs or intestonal backups, because some cypres substartes have indigestibale chips in them. Also i would bet that cypres much coast a little more than some of the types of coconut fibers, and as you know your pet shop has to make a profit to, so they most willingly suggest the more expensive type to you. I know for fact because pet shops try the same thing on me time to time. they both are good substrates and are ideal for certain frogs so thats probally why the pet shop chose the more expensive one if you know what i mean, but again cypres mulch will effect certain frogs differently then others!

Well b/c I was a little leary I only put it in two of my tanks that had frogs they were my milky's and the tiger legs. I will just keep a very close eye on them. I saw that there were some big pieces but way to big for these little frogs to get. So I guess I will stick with the bed-a-beast.
Thanks for you advise
Christina
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1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

I have leopard frogs, I don't know if that matters, but I have chips with moss on top, and the chips show through in some places. It works fine.

Also, what is Bed-a-beast? I can't find it in the store.

-Casina

Bed-a-beast is compressed cocunut fiber sold in blocks I think there is another company that carries it and they call it eco-earth. It looks like a soil brick.
Christina
-----
1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband