ZooMed Aspen bedding for a skink and other brands

[MeepyMeeps]

I'm getting a skink soon and was wondering about some different brands for aspen. One of the brands I see a lot is ZooMed. It's also one of the brands at my local petsmart so I was wondering how well it fares for skinks. I was also wondering if anyone had any specific brands I could look out for either online or locally. I'm trying to guage my prices for this as I will be housing my skink in a 75g tank.

[Janella]

I personally wouldn't use Aspen bedding. Way to dry and doesn't hold humidity very well. I prefer jungle mix with reptibark on top. Others use Cypress mulch, ecoearth, plan top soil, etc.

[mb606587]

110% agree. I don't believe aspen shavings are a good choice for any BTS, outside Westerns and Shingles. Especially poor substrate for any Indo species which requires higher humidity.

* My 3 toed Irian Jaya approves this message

[MeepyMeeps]

Aspen is just what I've seen an overwhelming amount of recommendations for. I'll be getting a northern and while they need less humidity I still need to consider my options. So besides aspen are they any substrates that would favor less humidity? Kinda don't know how to word that question.

[mb606587]

If you're sticking with the ZooMed brand, go with the ZooMed Forest Floor. Even with a Northern, you want to maintain humidity levels of at least 40% to aid in shedding and aspen unfortunately is very dry, doesn't retain moisture well, molds easily, and tends to cause bad sheds.

[MeepyMeeps]

If you're sticking with the ZooMed brand, go with the ZooMed Forest Floor. Even with a Northern, you want to maintain humidity levels of at least 40% to aid in shedding and aspen unfortunately is very dry, doesn't retain moisture well, molds easily, and tends to cause bad sheds.

I'm definetley considering cypress mulch for the enclosure however i've heard about the possibility of having woodmites in it? Is this something you could prevent with the trick of freezing or baking the substrate?

[mb606587]

Baking it in the oven will kill everything. An hour at 250. If you are looking for the best value, head over to your local Lowes, Home Depot, or garden store. I pick up huge bags of organic garden or top soil for $6.99. Just ensure it's labeled organic and doesn't contain any of the white perlite balls. You can usually find cypress mulch dirt cheap there too. Make sure there's no color dyes in it.

[MeepyMeeps]

Baking it in the oven will kill everything. An hour at 250. If you are looking for the best value, head over to your local Lowes, Home Depot, or garden store. I pick up huge bags of organic garden or top soil for $6.99. Just ensure it's labeled organic and doesn't contain any of the white perlite balls. You can usually find cypress mulch dirt cheap there too. Make sure there's no color dyes in it.

Thank You!

[Janella]

Yup, I agree any home gardening store/hardware store you can find a good deal at. Make sure you provide a deep later of whatever you decide to use as skinks love to burrow in it.

[splashy07]

I breed Northerns. Absolutely positively NO aspen.