Other good substances?

[BlueyBabe]

Hey everyone...

I made this post because, I have decided I don't like the carefresh that Hershal has in his cage. The carefresh was in the whole cage a few months ago, but now the carefresh is just on half of his cage.. and it looks horrible!

I am looking for something more like his natural envirment... what could I use?

I am going to petco, pet head quarters ect. next week. I want something that is not dusty or nothing that will not suck all of the humidity out of his cage...

Thanks for all the help everyone!!

[Fatal_S]

Between spot checks and your BTS re-arranging the carefresh to suit it's needs, you would naturally end up with different levels. Expect this with any substrate. My guys started out with a deep layer over the tank, and now have only a deep layer in their favorite hide spots (Pryce in the built-in hide, Wocket under the fake plant) with the rest being a thin layer. I just even it out myself or add some more between cleanings.

BTW, in those few months, there probably should have been at least one full clean, hopefully 2. At that time it would be leveled again, so the BTS would have to start its stockpiling over.

Other substrates that are fine to use are aspen, which isn't as dry, but otherwise is pretty much the same. Coco-fiber or coco-husk holds humidity better, but is more dusty and clingly. Reptile bark chunks (don't get the type with pointy bits) looks natural, holds humidity, but otherwise you'd still get about the same effect. Reptile bark can also grow mold if left damp though, say where the BTS splashes water out of the dish. There's also the compressed pellets (yesterday's news and such), which are pretty much like aspen/carefresh, but would be harder to re-arrange, thus staying more level. However they also have no natural-looking qualities.

Every substrate has it's ups and downs. Aspen is probably middle ground. However, you can still expect the same changes in levels for almost anything you use.

[BlueyBabe]

Thanks for the help fatal!
What does everyone use for substance?

[Fatal_S]

Are you meaning substrate when you say substance?

I used carefresh. I live in a moist climate, so I like that it sucks up the moisture.

[SailleSkinklover]

Aspen and paper towels.

[MartinsPerson]

I use carefresh and I love it. But substrate shouldn't stay in the cage for months at a time. Its important for the sanitation of your bluey's cage to clean it all out every once in a while. I do a full cage strip down about once a month.

[Herptiles.net]

My personal favourite for wood/grassland-dwelling herps is a homemade forest floor mix, but with my bluey I use peat that I pre-moisten in a bucket (feels moist but when you squeeze a handful, no water comes out), and leave it a few inches deep. It's much lower risk if ingested than woodchips or coconut fibres because of the small particles, it looks natural, it's burrowing-friendly, and it's naturally slightly acidic so it does inhibit some microbe growth to an extent. It's also really cheap!

The downsides: It does get dusty if you let it dry out, and you do need to scoop out a nice chunk of substrate when you remove waste (or rather, you should).

And... please buy peat from a renewable, environment-friendly source

[shingleback aus]

shredded paper works great

[Tattoo]

I use aspen.

[Blotch]

sticking with Dr harrys (carefresh).

Blueybabe - try taking more out. Maybe you still have too much in there. Give hides rather than having more substrate for your guy to burrow into. Sibstrate is really only there so they aren't walking on a hard flat surface - As I've told you - In most of my tanks I have up to an inch of Carefresh - in 2 other small tanks i have 2 inches - but I have less hides.

[herp boy]

Cypress mulch is what I use.

[zakkhogan]

XXL White Beech chips, works well, shows up poop and tings well

[rachel]

i use some wood shaving stuff - found in the small furry animal section and safe for reptiles. I've had no problems with it in the past year and its cheap (if you're wondering it comes compacted and you get 85 litres for $14, it expands to way more if that makes sense). so it gets fully changed once a month.

[Leigh]

chipped and shredded aspen

[Zach]

I really like the coconut husk type substrates...

[Lizardqueen&Chuckie]

I use eucalyptus bark

[mom22wins]

I used to use carefresh but I switched to a Coconut Husk substrate. I thought the carefresh was drying Sammy's underscales and legs out but I'm seeing the same thing again with the new substrate. The good thing is, I can spray the Coconut substrate with water and it holds the humidity so much better in her enclosure. I think the dryness may be attributed to the wood enclosure and the ceramic heat emitter. Gotta go, Sammy is stuck in the back of my hair! lol That's what I get for letting her roam!