Cypres mulch vs aspen bedding

[Duane]

Ok i was haveing low humidity problems so i called the breeder i got my bp from he suggested switching to cypress mulch as it will hold moisture better without any probs. but i bought the mulch from lowes an got to thinking about insects in it. Has or does anyone buy there bedding from lowes or home depot and do you treat in any kind of way?

 

[Susielea]

I've heard people say they zap it in a microwave, bake it in the oven (wrapped in foil) or pop it in the freezer. Apparently any of these should kill off any bugs and nasties that may be lurking

I've used the microwave to zap Sphagnum moss and never had a problem with bugs and suchlike

Hope that helps,

 

[RobbiesCornField]

I use the microwave for my cypress bedding. I got a big 25lb bag for $7 at a side-of-the-road vendor, so you KNOW there were bugs in it. A minute and a half in the microwave with a cup of water in the middle (just to make sure the wood doesn't explode) and you're good to go!

I also nuke all of my bedding, just in case. I had a mite problem a while back, and I never want to have to deal with that again.

 

[KDRGM]

>>>>> OFF TOPIC <<<<<<

does anyone know where i can get cypress mulch in the uk. i currently use orchid but spray daily. i bin told that cypress is alot better for humididty

Thank in advance

 

[BigByrd47119]

As far as aspen vs. Cypress, I have always used aspen. However, I don't have any humidity problems (unless you consider high humidity a problem:eats02:.

I use the freezer on any new bedding that comes into the house. Same goes for moss!

 

[StrangeCargo]

Ok i was haveing low humidity problems so i called the breeder i got my bp from he suggested switching to cypress mulch as it will hold moisture better without any probs. but i bought the mulch from lowes an got to thinking about insects in it. Has or does anyone buy there bedding from lowes or home depot and do you treat in any kind of way?

I buy the "NO FLOAT" brand of Cypress Mulch from Home Depot (around $4 a BIG bag). It is used in a few of my lizard cages. I do NOTHING to it. The NO FLOAT brand has no chemicals/pesticides/dyes/etc added.

If there are any bugs in the bags, they shouldn't be harmful to your animals.. think about nature- it's full of insects- I've NEVER found a snake in the wild with mites (have found lizards with red mites- very common). The only external parasite I've ever seen on snakes are ticks. Mites and ticks are BOTH bloodsucking parasites...there isn't a food source/host in the bag.

A director of a Nature Center told me about the NO FLOAT CYPRESS MULCH... he does nothing to it either. The Houston Zoo was also utilizing Cypress Mulch "behind the scenes" with montaine rattlesnakes last time I was down there. No special treatments/sterilization...

Heck, if you have the time to freeze or microwave it- go for it- doesn't hurt anything. Always better to be safe than sorry I guess.

Hope that helps!
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I still use Shredded Aspen in all my colubrid racks. It's WAYYY more expensive but gives me that warm & fuzzy feeling inside. If money was really tight, I would pick Cypress Mulch over pine shavings any day for my racks. I'd lay it out in the sun to DRY first (sometimes it's pretty wet---stored outside at Home Depot so it gets rained on and holds the moisture).

 

[StrangeCargo]

Here's the NO FLOAT CYPRESS MULCH being utilized in a 4' VISION cage...all dried out and working GREAT! The Beaded Lizards are messy- this is a very cost effictive alternative...