My opinion is based on using it regularly for over 30 years. I can't atribute a single death to the stuff. I still use it in both fully enclosed enclosures and open turtle tables.
Of all the herpers and tortoise keepers I know, I have not come across a single first hand account of a death of a reptile that could be linked to the use of pinebark mulch.
Some have suggested that the majority of the mulch is the bark which does not have the oils that are suspected to be toxic.
As I said, I've used it early on and have not given it much though except when conversation like this comes up.
I now give the common disclaimer that any suggestions I give be used at your own risk but the suggestions I give I use myself or state otherwise.
>>Has anyone in So Cal come up with a source of cypress mulch? I checked out the lead presented some months ago, re Ace Hardware. The local store gave me the stock number, but said I had to go up the line with it; up the line they said they didn't carry it, even back East--in spite of the fact that I gave them their own stock number.
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>>EJ, at one point you mentioned using pine bark mulch, I think it was. Considering the toxic volatiles found in regular pine mulch, do you feel that the bark contains less of these toxins, or does it "gas out" quickly, or how do you get around the problem?
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>>Many tnx for your help.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
