• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Substrate for rhac geckos? (ie, cresties, gargs)

ShenziSixaxis

ShenziSixaxis

Sticking To The Ceiling
Pretty much just wondering what's okay to use.

I tried paper towels and newspaper and hated it. I've tried coco fiber but find my garg tracks it ALL OVER, and it sticks pretty bad to her feet if she's got CGD stuck to them (tips on how to get that off once it's dried..? >.>). I've heard that Repti bark is okay, but I know that stuff isn't really absorbent.

I find loose substrate is just a better option for me all around, so I'm curious about what else I could use...


One thing I am CERTAIN I do not want to use is cypress mulch. I can only get that at Petsmart, and the bag it comes in is tiny and 7 bucks, and is really humid, so I'm SURE there's things like mites in it, and perhaps even mold.

Another thing I'm curious about it aspen. I love the stuff for my snakes and can get both big flakes and shredded/fractured aspen. And also untreated and treated pine, since I've found a number of people on Ball-Pythons.net who use kiln dried pine for their BPs.

The last thing I can think of is Carefresh...
 
I only have one Rhac right now, (I need more!) and I use Repti-Bark. It looks nice, doesn't mold and actually smells pleasant!
 
Is it decently absorbent? I wouldn't mind it if I knew that, 'cause the garg like to dump her water bowl.

I had it before when I kept wild caught western fence lizards. Do you use the small, medium, or large bark (seeing as when I eyeballed some bags the bark got bigger with the bigger sized bags!)?
 
We use Bed-A-Beast with ours. It's dried and compact to store, one block makes a ton, and since the rhac's poo on the cage glass anyway, we have to wipe down the sides, so it doesn't bother us that they track some of it around.

Only thing about reptibark that would worry me is if they grabbed a chunk while going after a cricket. If they swallow a bit of the bed-a-beast, it will pass, but a good size chunk of reptibark might not. Then again, if you don't feed your rhac's bugs, it's a moot point.
 
I'm pretty much using bed a beast right now, since it's the same as Eco earth. I don't feed bugs (might try crickets, but not in the tub, or at least not on the substrate (ie, pulling the jumping legs off and putting them in a bowl)), so that's not a problem.

My garg is a horrible climber too; she can't even climb plastic. XD So the only thing getting on the walls is CGD that's on her feet.

So I'll pick up a bag of bark. Unless someone has word on aspen and carefresh?
 
Ehh I wouldn't worry about impaction from bark, the prices are so big that it would be difficult for an animal to swallow if. It would be like us swallowing our dinner plate. Her issue sticking may be a humidity thing. Aspen and Carefresh = Fail. Repti-bark = Winning!
 
I don't know a great deal about Rhacs, I'll admit that now, but one thing I do know is they need humidity... And when it comes to humidity, the LAST thing you want is something as dry and moisture-sucking as Aspen or Carefresh. Not to mention Aspen can mold rather easily.

Cypress mulch is a good substrate for the right animals. If you're worried about icks in the substrate, throw it in the oven for around 20 minutes before using it (around 200F should do, and make sure it's wet) to sterilize. As for cost, you might be able to find a big bag at Home Depot or another home improvement/gardening store. Same stuff, just different packaging (and better price!).
 
I checked last year a bit later than the same time of year for months until about July and could not find the stuff. I'll look around again though.


What worries me most about that is mold. I am pretty much a mold attracter when it comes to trying to up humidity by anything more than a light spray from a bottle no matter how clean it is.


I think I'll try a fresh batch of the coco fiber and see what it does, since I'm using the last of an older brick that's been dry since the dinosaurs were nomming on each other, and it's the fine crap on the bottom.
 
Carinata said:
I only have one Rhac right now, (I need more!) and I use Repti-Bark. It looks nice, doesn't mold and actually smells pleasant!
Click to expand...

In my opinion Repti-Bark sucks. We use it at work and I hate it, I'm constantly misting it because it doesn't hold moisture at all. And I get splinters from it.

Hypancistrus said:
We use Bed-A-Beast with ours. It's dried and compact to store, one block makes a ton, and since the rhac's poo on the cage glass anyway, we have to wipe down the sides, so it doesn't bother us that they track some of it around.

Only thing about reptibark that would worry me is if they grabbed a chunk while going after a cricket. If they swallow a bit of the bed-a-beast, it will pass, but a good size chunk of reptibark might not. Then again, if you don't feed your rhac's bugs, it's a moot point.
Click to expand...

I use the Bed-a-Beast too and so far it's working well. I have used paper towels but I like the Bed-a-Beast better because it keeps the humidity up and I'm not worried about them getting it in their mouths.

Carinata said:
Ehh I wouldn't worry about impaction from bark, the prices are so big that it would be difficult for an animal to swallow if. It would be like us swallowing our dinner plate. Her issue sticking may be a humidity thing. Aspen and Carefresh = Fail. Repti-bark = Winning!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be so worried about them swallowing it but I've seen lizards get it in their mouths and it has cut there mouth and they got infections from the cut.

We used the coconut bark at work for our cresties. It holds moisture pretty well but I still prefer the Bed-a-Beast but if I had to choose between Repti-Bark or cconut bark I would use the coconut bark. I despise Repti-Bark lol.
 
The only thing I ever used Reptibark for was my adult box turtle. She would track all other substrates into her water and it was a pain-- the reptibark she was okay with.

I absolutely DETEST carefresh for ANY animal. If it gets wet, at all, be it water or urine, it disintegrates and when it does it sticks to animals and gets into orifices and in between toes. It actually caused an infection in the foot of the cavy I had in HS. Had to take her to the drs to have it cleaned out and put her on antibiotics for a few days. This was with what would be considered a normal, if not excess, cleaning regime of whole-cage cleaning twice per week.

I think aspen would not hold humidity well, so I wouldn't use that. Sorry I can't be of much more help.

Have you tried looking into one of the soil-based substrates like jungle mix lizard litter?
 
I haven't really looked, but I can.
Interesting that everyone but me has had problems with Carefesh. I used it for years for my first rat and it was never a problem expect when I got to the bottom of a bag.

Although, the reason I'm asking about aspen is to see if it's safe, just in case there's something about rhacs and it. With a tub setting, I find that with it, humidity holds just fine.
 
Also, about the CGD getting stuck. Just get some warm water and dab it on the spot with CGD. Take a soft rag or paper towel and gently wipe.

I might have to try some Repti-back. I use it already for a Water Dragon I seemed to have gained.
 
We use the soil type mixture with the frogs and it's nice. If you really want to keep it from getting on them (it doesn't seem to as much as the b-a-b does because it's heavier) then you can put magnolia leaves along the surface. They are resistant to rot and keep the animal from directly contacting the litter. If you collect some and put them in a black bag in the sun, it kills any micro-critters that may be living on them.
 
^ I'll remember that. The vision of it in my head looks very nice, and I'd want to show that off. :p


Repti bark seems much nicer for Felix right now. I put her on it and she looked right at home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top