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Nathair2012
Hatchling
United Kingdom
158 Posts |
 Posted - 20/08/2012 : 17:58:54
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| Cheers guys. Orchid bark it is then!! :) |
Dee |
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Nathair2012
Hatchling
United Kingdom
158 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2012 : 20:01:34
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| I see that B&Q sell Orchid bark at an extremely reasonable price. I see that hiper2009 has used it. I presume it's safe? |
Dee |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2012 : 21:20:59
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| I've never heard of an issue using orchid bark. As for the specific B&Q brand, ask first if it is treated with chemicals. |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2012 : 04:09:15
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| I use Orchid bark for Marius and he doesn't seem to mind it. He doesn't burrow in it like he did the Eco-Earth, but he seems content enough. The only thing I seem to not like about it is that water tends to pool up beneath the Orchid bark in places, so when I do a weekly cage cleaning, I stir it all around a bit and spot clean as needed. I also put down fresh Orchid bark every month and remove all of the old. :) |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
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Nathair2012
Hatchling
United Kingdom
158 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2012 : 18:26:16
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| Cool. Sounds like a good idea incurable. I will deffo ask if their orchid bark is treated with any chemicals. I do t think it is but you can never be too careful!! Cheers guys :) |
Dee |
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Hidenshi
Snake mite
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 13/09/2012 : 01:14:48
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| So from reading this, best substrate would be Eco Earth for the soil and what kind of moss again? And for a 20gal viv, how much high should the Eco earth be from tge bottom of the viv and how much moss should be ontop of the Eco Earth? |
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Hidenshi
Snake mite
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 13/09/2012 : 20:09:29
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| Ok I was at PetCo and I see Eco Earth Coconut Fiber Substrate and for the other one is Zoo Med Cypress Mulch as a forest floor. Are both good to buy? |
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 14/09/2012 : 00:09:46
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| Hey Hidenshi! :) Both of those substrates will work just fine. There are even some people who mix them, so if that is what you're planning, it should work great. I would put down about 1 1/2 inch to 2 inches worth of substrate mix (less would be ok, too, I think it's really your personal preference, just so long as it's not too shallow). I think the moss you were talking about in the first post is Sphagnum moss. That's what I use in Marius' humid hides and he loves it. If you are going to use moss, don't mix it in with your other substrate, lay it on top. ;) |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
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Hidenshi
Snake mite
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 14/09/2012 : 03:08:53
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| Oh ok thanls! But does Beaked Moss work to? |
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 14/09/2012 : 05:36:08
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| Hrm, I dunno about that one. I never heard of Beaked moss, myself. Does it say it is for reptiles? I know Sphagnum is specifically for reptiles, so that is why I use it. |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
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Hidenshi
Snake mite
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 14/09/2012 : 06:48:11
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| Well it does say its for reptiles and its a Terranium Moss.... |
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 14/09/2012 : 16:50:43
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| Well, if it says that, it should be ok. :) You could at least try it and if it didn't hold moisture well or looked to be too scratchy for burrowing or if your snake doesn't use it, you could always switch over to Sphagnum. ;) |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
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Hidenshi
Snake mite
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 15/09/2012 : 17:03:48
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| Well I did use it when I had Niiji and there were times where I found her burrowed in it with her head sticking out. Sp I assume she liked it. But I was asking cause this type of moss wasn't mentioned in any posts. And as I remembered it did held moisture but had to spray it like 1-2 times a day. |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 17/09/2012 : 22:16:13
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| That much spraying means the moss (or viv) is not holding humidity well enough. My moss is fine with misting once or twice a week. |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Spugy
Snake mite
Canada
24 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2012 : 02:58:18
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I'm throwing in my two cents worth (two pence if you are in the UK, I suppose). I happen to have reptile coconut husk here that I might try (am am trying to get materials together to test my setup long before I purchase a BRB). I hear that snakies love to bury in it... I am guessing this means that these shy snakes are even harder to see than usual. Is it cruel to set them up with something like orchid bark if you have supplied enough hides? Just curious because I understand that BRB hide a lot and being buried and hiding probably makes them even harder to find/see. Also, spot cleaning is hard if poop is buried...
I like the idea of cypress mulch, especially if it is inexpensive. Where do you get it? I LOVED hearing that you can use gardening orchid bark. One person said he took it out of the bag and put it in a bucket? Was that for storage or to prepare it in some way for the viv?
Kinda a dumb question here. Sphagnum is undoubtedly great for retaining moisture, since that is what peat bogs do (hence sphagnum moss). Has anyone experimented with anything else? When I get my boa, his health and comfort will be important but sphagnum moss is endangered and I would prefer not to utilize an endangered species that cannot be renewed anywhere near fast enough to replenish human demand. I seem like such a tree (moss?) hugger, but it is a concern. Thanks. |
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Substrates
