Peat moss and tree fern fibre (another unsustainable choice, by the way!) have now been substituted for the big guns; coco coir. The only other major downside of cypress mulch is that it can cause wounds and splinters to keepers who carelessly run their hands through it. Orchid Bark

If salt is present within coconut husk due to companies soaking it in salt water, this will have an effect on water/soil parameters in a vivarium. The coco coir vermiculite substrate ratio to use when making this recipe is 1 part coco coir to 1 part vermiculite.

Oxygenated roots encourage a plant to respire; so that it may continue to grow healthily. 3. Coco chips Fungus and Mites: Coconut products are naturally antimicrobial, meaning that they resist mold and fungus growth. Occasionally, this kind of substrate can harbor mites. Cleaning: The beneficial organisms that live in the soil will handle all of the cleaning– including your ball python’s waste and shed skins! All thanks to naturally high concentrations of lignin. This organic polymer encourages the development of valuable micro-organisms and subsequently discourages decomposition. Your average hobbyist nowadays refers to terrariums as empty containers meant for housing reptiles or amphibians. In most cases, fake plants will be used but, depending on who you talk to, it can contain real plants too. Where the enclosure transitions from a terrarium into a vivarium in kind of a gray area. At least nowadays. And depending on who you talk to.

Cypress mulch will also allow snakes to burrow, provided that it is “fluffed up” (it tends to compact over time as your snake crawls over it repeatedly). Cypress mulch can also be spot cleaned like aspen shavings. When buying coconut coir in various forms, shop with companies that know how to properly process the compost.

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If too much water comes out, it’s too wet. If no water comes out and the substrate isn’t staying together in your hand, it’s too dry.

Similar to pine and cedar shavings, artificial outdoor carpet may release harmful chemical compounds into the air, which you now know can lead to respiratory and/or neurological issues.

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I touched on this a little already, but I would like to expand on how important it is to consider coco coir as an alternative to peat moss. For example, maintaining the right tank humidity and temperature also affects your ball python’s health. Clearly, the right substrate is crucial to keeping your ball python happy. But there are still many other factors to consider!

Low nutrient content – Coco coir contains a few important minerals and enough nutrients to grow some species of mushrooms. The three primary components of coco coir create the perfect environment for a large majority of plants commonly used in gardening, as houseplants, and within terrariums.In fact, the long fibrous material extracted from these coconut husks has long had a wide range of applications; from brushes and baskets to mattress stuffing. Let’s just say substrate plays a MAJOR role in maintaining proper husbandry which DOES significantly affect a ball python’s lifespan.