Eucalyptus Mulch

[Seadation]

Does anyone have any experience with eucalyptus mulch as a substrate for your BTS or reptiles for that matter? After searching online I am getting mixed reviews From good to not safe. Any advice would be great.
Thanks,
Ron

[Susann]

As far as I know, Eucalyptus is poisonous, so I wouldn't use it, but maybe one of our AUS members can tell me if I'm wrong.
What are the pros with it since you are considering it?

[Lea]

Eucalyptus contains phenols, which in the leaves are naturally occuring hydrocarbons. Phenols can be harmful to humans and animals, both by ingestion and by contact, causing skin irritation, liver and kidney damage, paralysis, tremors, heart damage or arrythmia, as well as death. Phenols are usually only present in soil for up to 5 days or so, but with mulch, the leaves are not always broken down, but continue to do so after mulch is packaged and then laid down, allowing for a continuous release of harmful phenols in to the mulch.


In animals, breathing air with high levels of phenol can result in irritation of the lungs. Repeated exposure can induce muscle tremors and loss of coordination. Some animals that just drink water with very high concentrations of phenol can suffer muscle tremors and loss of coordination. It can also contribute to low birth weights of animals whose parent has been housed on substrate containing phenols during pregnancy.

From my knowledge on phenols and the damage that can occur with exposure, I would not be using it as a substrate, even though eucalyptus occurs naturally underfoot of many wild skinks in Australia.

[critterguy]

The difference is that in a relatively poorly ventilated enclosure the phenol concentration in the air could get dangerously high.

I think if allowed to age for a while it would be safe-but unless it is much cheaper and easier to get then other options this is probably not worth the hassle.