best type of substrate

[Fernando]

Thanks for your help. I'll keep that in mind.

[WanderingChai]

Sorry about this- but I have a question.

Is it possible to use EcoEarth? Since I already buy it for my hermit crabs(that I love oh so very much ) it wouldn't be a huge problem and I love the way it looks. It is very moist, but could you potentially just break it up with your hands instead of using the water method(as in having it be dry-ish)?

Just wondering, this is a great thread!

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

I've used it before, I have only found it to be dusty.

[Blucas]

Sorry about this- but I have a question.

Is it possible to use EcoEarth? Since I already buy it for my hermit crabs(that I love oh so very much ) it wouldn't be a huge problem and I love the way it looks. It is very moist, but could you potentially just break it up with your hands instead of using the water method(as in having it be dry-ish)?

Just wondering, this is a great thread!

Instead of breaking it with your hands if you wanted it dried out you can expand it as normal but then bake it in the oven, it's what I did for my tarantula.

[ShortStack]

I'm thinking of switching, too. I have aspen now, and it makes me sneeze like crazy when I spot clean/change Coby's bedding. I'm also revamping his tank some, and think a darker substrate will look better. I'm thinking of trying repti-bark, but not quite sure yet. I may just have to go look around and even go through a couple until I find one I like the best. I'm curious though- Can they burrow easily in repti-bark? I'm not sure if it varies depending on your bluey, but Coby loooooooooooves to burrow. I can't have something that he can't do that easily in because then he may protest cuddling with me and watching t.v. and that just won't do

[Karen]

I just recently started trying out Reptibark and Sylvia seems to like it. She doesn't so much burrow as dig out little hollows in her hides, but I'm not sure if that is her preference or directly related to the substrate. If you do try out Reptibark, would probably be best to freeze it before using, just to be careful.

[Toxique]

Reptibark, while expensive, is working great for my boy. I switched him from cypress mulch due to the fact that I found bugs within the mulch, not mites, but creepy crawlies i didn't want in the tank none the less.

[Kbell31]

I switched from aspen to repti bark. I originally was going to try cypress until I read about the environmental concerns that go along with harvesting it. I was worried about finding bugs in the repti bark as others have mentioned so I just left the entire bag outside for a few days when temps were dropping below freezing at night. I have not seen any creepy crawlies as of yet. It is suprisingly light, and I can't tell either way if it my skink minds or not. The aspen always did make me sneeze so the repti bark is better for that and I think being darker it looks asthetically nicer. I only have the one skink so I guess it would be $$$ for people with an entire tribe of them.

[Susann]

Can they burrow easily in repti-bark?

Maddie says:

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[nakerz_loves_bts]

I use 'Kitty's Crumble' and it is some good stuff. It can be a little dusty towards the bottom of the bag, but my blues don't seem to mind too much. The only problems with it are that I never see more than a poorly covered back most of the time and I have to spend ages trying to find stuff they have buried (like poo, urates, shed skin, the food bowl...)

[ShortStack]

Can they burrow easily in repti-bark?

Maddie says:

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Heh, thanks Maddie!

She seems to be quite the expert there, Susann.. Lol.

[Kurt]

i like coconut bark. I'm not sure that its the best, but i love the way it looks and my skink buries in it easily. also it absorbs well and hold humidity nicely. unfortunately it's not the cheapest...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... erralID=NA