Thoughts on Cypress

[Dana C]

While I know that Cypress substrate has been the top choice among lizard keepers, it appears that its availability is becoming more limited by the day. I have checked with all the "big box" stores and they have all stopped carrying it. It can be ordered however from a couple of places on Amazon but the shipping is quite expensive.
I mention this because filling an 8x3 or larger Tegu or other lizard enclosure using 8 quart bags from your pet store is HUGELY expensive and impractical.
It seems that Cypress has been identified as a threatened species of American flora whose harvesting is being limited, hence the lack of availability and price increase. That brings me to alternatives. Some Tegu and Monitor keepers use playground sand mixed with sterile top soil. It works great but is difficult to change and weighs a lot. In my case the weight is the issue on 110 plus year old floors.
Another alternative is Douglas Fir Bark or Orchid Bark as it is sometimes called. It is not inexpensive but it works great. Another choice is Aspen shavings. I am not talking about the Petsmart variety but the feed store kind used as horse bedding. It is much more coarse and holds moisture better. At $5-7 for 3-4 cubic feet it is working great for me. Juniper bark, while not vigorously recommended can be used in a pinch mixed with Aspen.

I offer all this because I am in a pinch myself. I am picking up an 8x4x3 enclosure on Saturday and have to fill it to 12" with substrate for a monitor. I am going to go initially with Aspen but will likely order some Cypress or Fir Bark off Amazon. In other words we will soon all be facing looking for alternatives to Cypress.

 

[LizardzRock]

I am going to go initially with Aspen but will likely order some Cypress or Fir Bark off Amazon. In other words we will soon all be facing looking for alternatives to Cypress.

[/quote]

Yea Dana I have noticed this trend as well. Watch Amazon though because I have had bad luck with ordering substrate from them. It has often been busted open from poor handling and sometimes has little bugs in it from sitting around so long in the warehouses. As I know you know, remember to inspect and wash,rinse, and repeat if needed. Here is a decent price on orchid bark that i found in 4qt sealed bags and you can order up to 30 at a time if needed. I like mixing it with the coconut fiber substrate.

http://www.tsksupply.com/products/Orchid-Bark-4-qt-bag.html

Lemme know if you can find better and I will do the same.

 

[grimz]

If i have to look for a alternative for cypress mulch i will go with orchid bark and the coconut fiber i have used both of these before and they have done great for me just as good as cypress mulch in my case.

 

[Diesel]

well i guess i got off lucky this year since my local walmart carries huge bags of mulch that i got for 3.50 a back. and only needed two. However i have use to use aspen shavings for my Colombian. He hated it. he could hide under it but could not hold a burrow. Also not very good humidity. However the price is cheap and it covers odor especially well. I heard That soil works well will a little bit of peat moss in the hides for help with humidity and shedding. Also with the mixture of sand i heard it is almost or is the best to hold a burrow.

 

[Quartzyellowjacket]

I bought what I though was 100% Cypress, but when I got home it said "BLEND" so I didn't feel like playing Russian Roulette with my Tegu, so I used two bricks of Ecoearth. But I want to replace the substrate soon.

 

[poke]

Ive actually just ordred some cypress mulch online from boas and balls. Ordred 4 bags each bag is 2 cubic feet. Cost me $126 thats the best price I have found so far with out spending a arm and a leg on the bags and shipping.

 

[Dana C]

Ive actually just ordred some cypress mulch online from boas and balls. Ordred 4 bags each bag is 2 cubic feet. Cost me $126 thats the best price I have found so far with out spending a arm and a leg on the bags and shipping.

That may go farther than you think as it is likely 2 cu ft. compressed which could expand to almost double when unbagged.

 

[Bntegus]

ok dana dont take this the wrong way any of the barks you are talking about suck for most monitors if we are talking about your black throat you need to use dirt he/she does not need any humidity in the cage they borrow for that and you can not borrow in bark it can not hold together ask james to bring you some good dirt bye his house. you can build all the tunnels and boxes you want but monitors almost always build there own borrows if down proper.

 

[poke]

Oh yea one bag filled my 4x2x2 cage about 3 to 4 inches deep

 

[Compnerd7]

IDK what lizard you are looking for substrate for... Cypress is so effective because cypress is so resinous. I have some planks of Australian Cypress sanded down and framed around my front door because it's so beautiful, and goes with my decor. It has been there for about 8 years, and it has no finish on it, and none of the boards are warped AT ALL! I have it as crown molding in my living room as well and it is unfinished, and still no warp or buckling, the stuff is very hardy against the elements because of it's resinous state. That's why I love cypress for any animal that requires high humidity, it holds up against it. So basically what I am trying to say is, try and look up different woods / shaving / wood chips you can get a hold of in your area that come from a resinous tree, but also be careful as some can be harmful to your animals.

 

[Strange_Evil]

Top soil and play sand,is the absolute best substrate for mostly all monitors and even tegus,it holds burrows,humidity and not to mention its pretty cheap and of course always avail (its dirt) . 75% top soils 25% childrens play sand,or you could do 50 50,what ever works for you. Keep mixing until your able to grab a handful of the mixture and make a tight ball that doesn't immediately break apart or leak water,once you get that your good. Cypress really isn't a big choice for most monitor owners,yeah you can hold them on it for a few weeks,but top soil and sand mix is whats used most and works best.

I personally dislike cypress,it dries fast,holds crap burrows and like mentioned not easy to find. Aspen is just horrible for monitors.