substrate

[j.sawyer48]

I was thinking of switchin from cypress mulch what other substrate do you think is best?

 

[fisheric]

I was thinking of switchin from cypress mulch what other substrate do you think is best?

im setting up malcom's new enclosure today. I went with top soil and redwood mulch (gorilla hair). I would have liked coconut fiber, but unless i can find large bags its not practical.

 

[Dana C]

I had to switch to aspen because there isn't any cypress available in Idaho this time of year unless I want to spend big $$ at Petsmart. I buy small bales of coarse aspen shavings at a feed store for about $9 each. The bags are probably 3 cubic feet each. I leave the bags outside for a few days in low 20's weather to kill anything that may pose a problem.
I know that most people on this site won't endorse the use of Aspen because it supposedly doesn't retain moisture. I mist my large cage daily that has 6" of Aspen in it. It also has restricted ventilation to retain humidity and is working out great. I will however get some cypress at Home Depot later this spring when they can order it.
Most snake breeders use Aspen successfully and recommend it highly.
I should add that I mix unfertilized potting soil and peatmoss into it as well.

 

[j.sawyer48]

thanks for the info guys

 

[james.w]

I use dirt.

 

[BillieJeAn]

I've heard sand and dirt mixtures are good

 

[dragonmetalhead]

Eco Earth is my substrate of choice. Works great for all sorts of critters.

 

[Rhetoric]

I use hemlock

 

[Dana C]

I would consider using soil but here in Southern Idaho, we have a clay soil that gets very hard when dry and turns into brown grease when wet. I can buy bags of "top soil" however and I may use it along with some fiber type of substrate like Cypress, Hemlock or Aspen.
Even if I had decent sandy loam to dig up, it would be frozen hard as a rock for a couple more months.