coconut husk substrate

[Barak666]

Hi,

While looking into a gardening magazine, I went tru this : Cocunut Husk Chips (http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&cat=2,2300,33272,56694&p=56694)

Can it make a good substrate for garters?

Thanks

Mathieu

[infernalis]

I see no reason why not.....

I often use coconut fiber (eco earth)

[guidofatherof5]

Hi,

While looking into a gardening magazine, I went tru this : Cocunut Husk Chips (http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&cat=2,2300,33272,56694&p=56694)

Can it make a good substrate for garters?

Thanks

Mathieu

As with any substrate ingestion is always a concern. I would't use it with small snakes.

[ConcinusMan]

You could use it but it's less than ideal for messy stinky wet garter feces. If you want natural substrate, fir bark (reptibark) looks better but still not ideal so I mix it with a fair amount of fine, loose coconut fiber. That helps to absorb those wet stinky feces and it does a pretty good job of controlling odor. The fine coconut fiber makes it easier to spot and clean since wet spots will clump. Don't overcrowd and stay diligent when it comes to keeping it clean since it's just too expensive to change it out completely very often. If it starts smelling like death or urine, change it out completely. I think the hull pieces might be OK but I would mix it with something finer.

[Barak666]

Thanks for the advises.

So if I understand well I'm better to use this (http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=59422&cat=2,51603&ap=1) (not write on the net, but in the paper catalogue they say it is made of coconut) instead of the coconut husk?

[infernalis]

That looks just like eco earth...

Decent stuff.

http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3758909t400.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Seems if you buy from a garden store it's cheaper but essentially the same stuff. For some reason they think that if they label it for reptiles, it's worth 3 times as much.

http://www.amazon.com/Botanicare-CocoGro-Coconut-Fiber-5kg/dp/B000H11WRW

But yeah, use the fine coconut fiber. If the hull pieces get swallowed and swell, your snake is big trouble.


(http://www.amazon.com/Botanicare-CocoGro-Coconut-Fiber-5kg/dp/B000H11WRW)