Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is gardening mulch safe to use as a substrate? Are there any particular types to avoid? Anyone have an experiences?

Thanks...
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-Iman

1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (On the way!)

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I would stay away from cedar wood because it's toxic. I would consider not using too much wood substrate due to ingestion. Newspaper works great.
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

I have used Cypress mulch from time to time. It is safe, natrual looking substrate and cheap to boot. The problem is that it seems to harbor pest and every time I switch over to it I seem to get a minor mite problem. I stay with newspaer now.
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

If you use regular mulch, be sure to use a hardwood mulch or cypress mulch. Cedar is definitely toxic and pine mulch can also cause problems because of the aromatic oils (which are similar to those of cedar). I know a lot of people use pine shavings (sold in pet stores for small animals) but that has usually been kiln dried, eliminating most of the oils from it (I personally still wouldn't risk it). Aspen shavings are also good, but a bit more expensive. Be aware that with mulch from the garden center/hardware store, there can - and usually are - critters in it. It's kept outdoors in most cases and, as Hoppy said, can cause mite infestations because the little critters are already in it. You could probably bake it in the oven in small batches at 200-250F for 30 minutes or so to try to kill off anything, just be sure to keep an eye on it (no sense burning your house down should it get too hot and combust).

FWIW, I tried cypress mulch years ago and while it did retain humidity well, it sure makes a mess too. There's also the risk of ingestion. My big boas all liked to try to burrow in it, so there was often small bits of it sticking between their scales and it was always all over the place when I pulled them out of their cages. I tried newspaper and it works well but it shows as dark smudges on light colored snakes, giving them a sort of dirty wash over their colors. I still use it for new snakes in quarantine, but otherwise use old cotton sheets. They're absorbant, look nice enough, the snakes seem to enjoy burrowing under and between them, and they make clean-up a snap (shake solids into trash or commode and drop the sheets into the washer with bleach and soap).

Hope this helps.
Raven

Guys you all seemed to add to each other with the response.

I have been wanting to try something different to papertowels, newspaper, apsen, and turf.

I will try the 'baking' technique with a cypress mulch and the worse that can happen is I don't like it.

Thanks again.
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-Iman

1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (On the way!)

Loving to Learn
Learning to Help
Helping to Love

Stimulate debates, stifle arguments.
Please be nice always.

Future Project Wishlist:
0.2 BP
1.0 BCI
0.1 CRB
1.0 BRB
1.1 ARB, GRB, DB & JCP