Reptile & Amphibian Forums

anybody have an opinion about using Rept-bark for a Carpet Python enclosure? Thanks for your help

I've never had any problems with it,but it will start to rot after awhile if kept wet.I use it in my Green Tree's planted terrarium,and it helps keep the humidity level up,plus it look's better than bare flower pots sitting on wet paper towels!
A cheaper alternative is cypress mulch,you can find it at garden stores.A huge 20lb bag of it will probably cost you half of what a small bag of Reti-bark costs!!
Hope this helps.

I use repti-bark for all my snake, including my jungle carpet. I find it does get dusty and breaks down after a few months, so I change it out then. I've never had a problem with it otherwise.

Due to the cost, it seems to get switched out less often than other substrates, being spot-cleaned instead. If this is the case, less thorough husbandry (a cage not being broken down and disinfected as often), opens the door for a whole host of opportunistic microscopic nasties to set up housekeeping.

If you do opt to use it, always feed your animal in a separate container on newspaper or such. Even if it is ingested and passes through the digestive tract, I question what it leaves behind on it's journey. Just something to think about, and totally my opinion.

regards,
althea

I use a lot of Reptibark but found that it may carry snake mites/eggs. Reptibark is not heat treated and doing so would limit its moisture holding properties. I kept getting mite infestations and the only variable was they ocurred when I put in new Reptibark. Now with each new bag I spray a bit of Provent A Mite in it and seal up the bag for a day. Have not had any mites for years now. Bill