repti bark wo's

[Damian]

this happened to me about 2 weeks ago but i figured i would post it anyway. i have been using this stuff for awhile now and never had a problem with it. well, about 2 weeks ago i decided to put it in my red tail boas cage. after putting it in i walked by the cage and was sure i saw something move. i turned on the light and saw nothing but bugs all over the cage. they weren't mites they were big bugs like the bugs you would find outside. i know they came from the repti bark because i had just finished cleaning out the cage before i put the repti bark in the cage. well i was enraged. i took my boa out and kept him in another enclosure over night. i then took the cage outside cleaned it out again and sprayed it with provent a mite. i did get my money back from the place i bought the repti bark from but i WILL NEVER use this product again.

[Larry]

Re: repti bark wo's

This isn't the first time I heard of this. It happened to a friend of mine last year.

[Damian]

Re: repti bark wo's

after talking to some people over the last week i have found that many people have had this problem with repti bark. so i guess i will stick with my aspen and carpeting which i have been using for years anyway.

[carlsonj]

Re:repti bark wo's

i just had the same problem w/ repti bark. does anyone have an opinion on Sphagnum moss? i was recommended to use it but i haven't heard too much about it.

[sclark]

Re:repti bark wo's

As for Repti-bark.. Treat before you use it.. Bag it in a garbage bag , spray Provent-A-Mite and use as needed.. No big suprise.. problem is not always the manufacture, but the stroage and dist plant.. I would contact the company and complain.. It helps..
Steve

[sclark]

Re:repti bark wo's

Jennifer,

Welcome to the forums..

As for Sph moss.. For most snakes I would say no.. It holds too much moisture.. If you don't like newspaper, Aspen is a cheap and good bedding that looks nice..

Steve

[Barracuda_41]

Re:repti bark wo's

Yup carpet and news paper for me all the way, as for the bark i would deffinately contact the company and other people should to and let them know what a problem this has become...

[BadBoyJay]

Re:repti bark wo's

I used repti bark in my frogs vavarium and never saw a bug but I decided not to press my luck and stuck with the green terranium moss. I would NEVER put repti-bark in my girls cage, indoor/outdoor carpet, newspaper, or for a change of looks aspen is the only thing touching my girls belly. LOL 8)

[___LEE___]

Re:repti bark wo's

I used repti bark one time and ended up with a whole crap load of mites!!!!! I don't use anything but newspaper now and have been for about 6months now i used aspen once but got to be a pain to so i just stick to newspaper.

Lee

[Red]

Re:repti bark wo's

I use a bunch of differnt things in my rep's inclosers...
My fav. is
Forest floor bedding... I use it for wisdom, and my rosy boa ( I think it is the same stuff as repti bark. Different company...)

squisher... I think it is zoo med..

I also use aspen, For my corn.

News paper, for my boas

Paper towls for my crested gecko and leo's...

Peat for T's./

I use oat bran for my mealys and wax worms...

And nothing for my crix
Eric aka...Red

[FCF_PrEdaTor]

Re:repti bark wo's

Are you guys talking about Zoo Med Repti-Bark? I've been using it for over a year and have never had any problems.

Scott

[___LEE___]

Re:repti bark wo's

yes zoo med repti bark i have had a crapload of mites from one bag of it i do not like it what so ever lmao

Lee

[BadBoyJay]

Re:repti bark wo's

yea, someone was telling me they had a mite problem with the coconut bark too but like I told them, when it comes to coconut bark, you gotta get it in that vaccum packaging. Some have it in the bags and others in vaccum packageing. 8)

[___LEE___]

Re:repti bark wo's

it was me to jay lmao that was with the rescue lmao and the other mite problem was with princess when i first got her lmao. i still have a bag of coconut bark i may have to break down and provent a mite it in the garage and then put it in with my sav he loved it lmao. Never again with the snakes all newspaper besides easiere to clean.


Lee

[XzyluM]

Re:repti bark wo's

Please take precautions when using substrate such as bark or wood. Especially if they come from a petstore. If a petstore or store has mites, then there is a great chance anything that comes from there will have mites. Even if you walk into a petstore that has mites, then you will probably walk out with at least one. Wood and bark usually hold humidity well and makes a perfect bedding for mites and bugs. All substrates should be cured before being placed inside an enclosure. I even seen people treating newspaper. Funny, but no joke. As far as the moss, it is not a very good idea to use it as substrate. It holds moisture extremely well, thus creating an extremely high humidity. This would lead to scale rot among other ailments. Using it in parts of the enclosure to mist works great if you are having humidity problems.