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I have already typed two entire messages but for some reason both messages were deleted right before I posted them so right now I am totally POed!

Oak Leaves

How long do they last (until you have to replace them)?
Do you have to wash them first?
Do I leave them whole?
How do MHDs nest in them?
Can MHDs hunt in them all right?

This message gets shorter every time I type it...
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Ryan

Hmmmm, no comment.

Evan

Jobi statted this (about a month ago).

"About the leaves, don’t crush them, just throw them in a pile over your other substrate, you can compress them a little with your hand. These leafs help in retaining moisture, your lizards will love them for sure."

And Ingo said the leaves in his enclosures were about 4 inches thick.

I have collected leaves but haven't put them in the tank yet. The washing question is a good one. I'm curious too.
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BONNIE

I didn't wash the leaves. I did mist them down to keep down the dust after I put them in tho. It has been about a month now and they haven't broken down too much yet, but have compressed some. I would think that in time they will break down just as they would in the woods/forest and form a nice forest type bedding.
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

Thanks guys. My greatest concern is how I will be able to keep crickets in the Viv. They will burrow themselves so deep in the leaves the dragons will never cathc them. They already hide in the small area of leaves that I have.

Marcia, what is that stuff that you use? Coir fiber or something like that? Any chance you can post a picture of it for me and tell me who makes it. It would be appreciated
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Ryan

It comes in a compressed block. Bed a beast or Eco Earth are two brands. Flukers also makes some but I didn't care for theirs. It was courser and much redder in color.
This will give you an idea what to look for.

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BONNIE

Oh, geeze! I already have some of that stuff! I feel stupid... Thanks anyways.

The problem with bed -a-beast is that it sticks to their feet and they get it into the water dishes. It annoys the heck out of me...

Sorry for troubling you
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Ryan

bonnie and everyone else,
This is a "tip" that has multiple uses. To wash your leaves, if you feel that that is necessary, you can use a bucket filled with water, put the leaves in and mix with your hand. This way you don't break them into thousands of tiny bits. Then, to dry them, you can use a salad spinner. I use a salad spinner to dry leaves, moss, mulch, bark, and various other substrates. This allows the keeper to re-use the bedding more than once. Especially for people like jobi, and any one else that maintains theirs on that kind of bedding, this saves a little money here and there. Hope this helps you all.

Regards, Evan