Substrate Question

[TheGeezer]

I have a Merauke. So far I have been using cypress mulch so I can keep the humidity up in the viv.

Does anyone have any other sugestions? Is Cypress mulch a good substrate to use? I have heard some negative feedback on it.

[Susann]

I don't know what the negative feedback is, but if your Merauke isn't having issues on it, is shedding well and has bright, clear eyes and healthy feet, and you don't have issues with it, then it sounds perfect to me.
There's a thread here in the FAQ on substrates that I believe covers all the different options out there, but hopefully some of our gigas keepers will chime in with what products (or mixtures of products) works for them.

[splashy07]

I've used cypress mulch, repti-bark, and those coconut husk brick things that you add water to and it makes substrate, and even a mixture of all three at times depending on my inventory and have not had issues, although when I observe my Gigas
beginning a shed, I immediately soak them in a warm bath to ensure all comes off, and also saves the mess in the enclosure later on. Unfortunately they do not shed like snakes!

[TPceebee]

I've seen lot of people here use and have recommended using a mixture of eco earth and orchid bark, though I believe the reason for that is simply the limited availability of cypress mulch here. (I think even a few have bioactive setups, though I have limited knowledge of what that entails)

I don't know what the negative feedback is, but if your Merauke isn't having issues on it, is shedding well and has bright, clear eyes and healthy feet, and you don't have issues with it, then it sounds perfect to me

Susann, out of curiosity what would you define as unhealthy feet? Also, apart from poor shedding, Is their something specific to look out for when a skink is not getting on well with the substrate?

[Susann]

Susann, out of curiosity what would you define as unhealthy feet?

Any pink or red on the toes or bottoms of feet, any cracks, any swelling.

Also, apart from poor shedding, Is their something specific to look out for when a skink is not getting on well with the substrate?

The issues that some individuals of gigas species (+Irian Jayas) are having with low humidity often first manifests in the eyes, with either eyelids becoming dry looking, or a dry crust that starts to build up. Usually after the crust stars it gets to the point where they won't be able to open the eye without you soaking it. Often by then, the issues with cracking and swelling of feet and toes have begun as well. These symptoms are part of what I (for simplicity's sake) dubbed the Mystery Illness (M.I.), "mystery" because all tests run routinely come back negative.

...other than that, there are also some obvious problems, like, some skinks have a tendency to eat certain substrates...