Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if eucalyptus mulch (the undyed kind you can get at home depot) would be okay to use as a substrate. There will be a lot of airflow , so it won't stay damp. Just wondering... Thanks.
~Dan
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0.0.1 San Luis Potosi Kingsnake
0.0.2 Yellow Rat Snake
0.1 Normal Cornsnake
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Brown Water Snake

well the stuff at home depot isnt treated for mites or parasites or anything. when you buy the apsen it's been essentially baked (for lack of better term) to kill any and all parasites, mites, etc. It is compressed and should be kept inside both which are going to help mites/parasites getting into the wood. home depot's is kept outside not treated not pressure....I wouldn't do it.

If you're looking for price it wont save all too much. they also can't bury in it very well. plus a lot of it has cedar mixed and we know thats a nono.

I just wouldn't reccomend it.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

since that kind of tree produces aromatic oils that are actually used as natural medicines, my guess is that it is too strong to be exposed to constantly. It may not be detrimental with good ventilation - I can't say that for sure - but my gut feeling is to go for types of woods that have no aromatic oil smell to them, such as cypress and aspen. And try to stay away from bark products, since whatever insecticide defense a tree can produce seems more likely to be concentrated in the bark than in the inner parts of the tree. Don't know if there are any chemists or botanists out there who can give more detailed explanations, but that is what seems logical if you have no actual facts to base your decision on.

Better safe than sorry!

I'm in college for chemical enginnering...nothing that has focused on the biology of tree bark yet, lol. I am with you though, better safe than sorry.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

oh...and in the spring I go to garden to work for the season, and I have seen bugs crawling around in the bags...
-----
The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

Thanks. I'm not going to use it. Like you guys said... better safe than sorry.
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0.0.1 San Luis Potosi Kingsnake
0.0.2 Yellow Rat Snake
0.1 Normal Cornsnake
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Northern Water Snake