hello. i recently started using a coconut fiber substrate in my viv because a) it was a lot of substrate for less money than others i have used in the past, which ofcourse is not necessarily a good thing, b) it seemed less likely to be home to mites and other insects and c) it was one of a very few options at the store that i went to for supplies. it comes in a brick and has to be submerged in a bucket of water for twenty minutes or so before it expands, after which it must be rung out and left to dry before adding to the terrarium. has anyone ever used this substrate before? after expanding it becomes EXTREMELY muddy and difficult to work with. it's filthy and not worth the time and mess, but i have two bricks of it left. i'm getting my second corn snake on saturday and am going to try to get his new home set up tomorrow night. for animals that require dry bedding the directions suggest leaving it out in the sun for a few hours so it can dry. that's not an option right now being that it's quite chilly in New Jersey and the sun isn't shining as often or as warmly, ummm...duh. yea, so should i bake it or get a different substrate for the hatchling? i made the mistake of putting my snake in the substrate when it was still somewhat damp. after realizing that's a no no i put him in a separate (dry) enclosure until the coconut fiber dried completely. i don't wanna risk putting a hatchling in a damp setting. if the oven is a good idea what is the recommended temparature? i'm making not to kill parasites, but to dry it. any suggestions would be appreciated. tata.
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coconut fiber...
- Thread starter norbert03
- Start date
Flygning
Axe'!
I use that stuff, but I wouldn't suggest using it for a hatchling. They are more likely to swallow the little fibers. I've heard that some people add water to it several days before they need to add it to a cage and let it sit in a bucket until it is dry. I've never had a problem with that. I just wring out the water and let the snake roam around for a few days in a damp viv. They seem to like the way it feels, but I have to be very careful about the temperatures.
Flygning
Axe'!
While feeding is the most likely time for a snake to swallow bedding, it can happen other times. The coconut fiber gets everywhere, so when the snake burrows or yawns or even just crawls around there is a chance he could get some in his mouth. I would recommend paper towls until the snake is a bit bigger, maybe a few months depending on how fast it grows.
Joejr14
Grand Bubble Burster
No worries. I use that stuff, provided that it's eco-earth, for my ball pythons and I use nothing else. It works great with keeping a constant humidity and it's very easy to clean.
I'm not sure what you're talking about in regards to it being muddy? If that's the case, you're using way too much water for the brick. If that happens, wring it out and put it into another bucket and let it dry out. For corns I'd suggest letting it dry out on some newspaper or something.
As far as your snake digesting it, the manufacturers claim that there isn't a problem with your snake ingesting it. Apparrently it will pass without an issue. I've never had a problem using it with my ball pythons, but I use a combo of pine chips and reptibark for my corns and that seems to work fine. You're smart for feeding them in a different tank, I've done that all along and suggest it.
I think doing so, in say another 10 gallon with some astroturf or lizard liner is much safer for them, and gets them used to feeding in a different location so when you pick them up from their cage they are not used to food being in their cage. I've never been nipped by my pythons or corns in their tank when I go to pick them up, even if they're eyes are cloudy during a shed.
Using the coconut fiber is fine for corns, but I wouldn't have it be too wet. Corns dont need a high humidity to thrive, so I'd soak it in water and then let it sit out until it becomes relatively dry and just use it as a dry substrate instead of a moist one like you would with a python.
Hope that all helps.
I'm not sure what you're talking about in regards to it being muddy? If that's the case, you're using way too much water for the brick. If that happens, wring it out and put it into another bucket and let it dry out. For corns I'd suggest letting it dry out on some newspaper or something.
As far as your snake digesting it, the manufacturers claim that there isn't a problem with your snake ingesting it. Apparrently it will pass without an issue. I've never had a problem using it with my ball pythons, but I use a combo of pine chips and reptibark for my corns and that seems to work fine. You're smart for feeding them in a different tank, I've done that all along and suggest it.
I think doing so, in say another 10 gallon with some astroturf or lizard liner is much safer for them, and gets them used to feeding in a different location so when you pick them up from their cage they are not used to food being in their cage. I've never been nipped by my pythons or corns in their tank when I go to pick them up, even if they're eyes are cloudy during a shed.
Using the coconut fiber is fine for corns, but I wouldn't have it be too wet. Corns dont need a high humidity to thrive, so I'd soak it in water and then let it sit out until it becomes relatively dry and just use it as a dry substrate instead of a moist one like you would with a python.
Hope that all helps.
that helped...
yea, i screwed up the first time i used this particular substrate. too much water, i should've just tossed it and tried again. i put another brick in water last night and it worked fine. i left it in the bucket to dry, i won't need to place it in the viv until friday night, it should be pretty dry by then, hopefully. i'm gonna go ahead and use it for the hatchlings enclosure for now until i run out of the stuff. the fibers are so small i would guess it will just pass through if ingested, like you said. thanks for your help.
yea, i screwed up the first time i used this particular substrate. too much water, i should've just tossed it and tried again. i put another brick in water last night and it worked fine. i left it in the bucket to dry, i won't need to place it in the viv until friday night, it should be pretty dry by then, hopefully. i'm gonna go ahead and use it for the hatchlings enclosure for now until i run out of the stuff. the fibers are so small i would guess it will just pass through if ingested, like you said. thanks for your help.
cornsnake234
New member
The trick with that substrate (i use it since 2 years and it works very well) is to take small balls of wet earth and ''squeze'' it with your hands to remove the most water you can so it won't be wet but just a little bit humid! And snakes loves it, especially when they are about to shed, they can burrow in the substrat and it is just the perfect humidity level they need.
You can also add other substrat on the top (dry substrat) it look very natural and the snake can choose between dry or humid substrat... like in the wild! :santa:
You can also add other substrat on the top (dry substrat) it look very natural and the snake can choose between dry or humid substrat... like in the wild! :santa:
Jynx
Digger, RN
I use it for my neonates all the time. They seem to like the damp fiber, and as it dries, they end up making little tunnel systems through it anyways. Also coconut fibers retain moisture better as well so you can keep up with a higher humidity level which is very good for babies. Joe is right about ingesting the fibers. As long as its not in huge amounts, the substrate is formulated so that it doesn't cause any problems when digested (like impaction) As long as you are feeding them in a seperate cage, you'll be fine. I would not suggest you use it with adults, as the small fibers can get caught in between scales, in the eys, cloaca and in the chin grooves.
Joe: depending on how big your corns are, its not really good to use pine. It can be very toxic to young corns and can cause a lot of respiratory problems in adults. You also want to avoid cedar as well. I use aspen with most of my adults. If I have a problem with keeping a high humidity level, I use cypress because it also retains moisture pretty good.
On another note...Cornsnake234...what the HECK do you have in that tank! thats a very "interesting" choice of plant decoration...
Joe: depending on how big your corns are, its not really good to use pine. It can be very toxic to young corns and can cause a lot of respiratory problems in adults. You also want to avoid cedar as well. I use aspen with most of my adults. If I have a problem with keeping a high humidity level, I use cypress because it also retains moisture pretty good.
On another note...Cornsnake234...what the HECK do you have in that tank! thats a very "interesting" choice of plant decoration...
cornsnake234
New member
lol!!! That is a plant i buy at petstore from exoterra... it's made of a soft plastic that is not hard when you touch it, it's very flexible and EASY to clean... each time I change my water i bring the plants with me and soak them in a soapy water solution, i rince it well and it's done!!! Easy to care and it look nice, snakes adore to hide in it, so it's perfect!! :santa:
Easy to care and it look nice, snakes adore to hide in it, so it's perfect!! :santa:
cornsnake234
New member
LOL!!!!!! :roflmao:
But you're wrong, that's not an immitation of canabis plant leaves, it's trident maple leaves!!!
But you're wrong, that's not an immitation of canabis plant leaves, it's trident maple leaves!!!