Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 3 yr old red tegu who is quite large now. I've built a large cage for her (3' deep x 7' long x 3' tall) and used (per a post somewhere) peat moss as a substrate.

I don't think peat moss makes a very good substrate. It smells and my lizard just always has it all over her. Is there any other AFFORDABLE substrate out there that would do a job in such a large cage? Everything that I've looked at is like $7 for a small bag. I would need to buy like 20 of those small bags to fill my tank!

Any ideas? Please help anyone!
-Attila

Not sure where you live, but cyprus mulch makes a great reasonably priced substata. I see on the forum that people in some areas can't seem to get it, but here in Florida I can get big bags for under $2.00.

Leslie

Definitely check out some of the gardening stores around your area. It's getting late in the year, but you should be able to find some.

Lowes had it year round in my area, but I don't know if you have Lowes in your area.

Wal Mart carries it, but I'm sure they're out of it by now (Doesn't hurt to check, though). Also check out Home Depot, or any other place that sells mulch in your area.

Cypress is cheap. It shouldn't run you more than $1.75 - $2.50 for a big bag, unless you actually buy it from a pet store which is pretty foolish.

well it depends on where your having your tegu inside our outside I have mine outside year round and I use decompossed granite and it only costs me 9 bucks to fill a 6ft long by 3ft deep by 3ft hieght and it is 1 foot deep for burrowing

this is a couple pallets worth.

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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

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Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 23, 2004 at 00:15:05 by phwyvern.

I see. I checked with Home Depot without luck. I'm in the LA area. I also called around a few pet stores and they all want to sell me the little bags of this stuff (for $$$!). Are there any chains in my area that you think may supply this kind of mulch?

-A

I haven't had any luck, either. I'm down in Orange County. The best I could find for cypress is getting it online through pro exotics. I would say just try to find a suitable alternative to cypress; something not so messy that holds water well.

I see. I checked with Home Depot without luck. I'm in the LA area. I also called around a few pet stores and they all want to sell me the little bags of this stuff (for $$$!). Are there any chains in my area that you think may supply this kind of mulch?

-A