substrate question

[Ophidiophile]

Another vote for cypress mulch!

[Tom]

Any substrate is going to dry out. I just dump water in as needed to maintain the level of dampness I want. No need to change your coir if it is working well for you. My favorite substrate for BTSs is the coco chips. Its basically little quarter to half inch sized cubes. Its very clean and they can easily burrow into it. I use 4-6" of it and my skinks like to disappear into it. I can keep it as wet, or as dry, as I want to suit the needs of any species at any given time.

I have been using humid hide boxes for many species for decades. In my climate and my enclosures, offering this option has never caused any problems and it prevents any shedding problems for my animals. I use an appropriately sized plastic box with a lid and fill it with damp substrate of one type or another. Then I cut out a door hole with a hole saw and semi bury the box into my substrate. I prefer opaque boxes, but clear ones work too.