...Despite Shiori's help by PM I've pretty much lost the plot with Orchid Bark. I CANNOT find anything in my area by that name - apart from some Orchdid Repotting Material, made from graded bark and coconut fibre, and it turned out the graded bark was pine (which I don't think I can use).


I've been round garden centres, Homebase and B&Q and NONE of their bark chippings contains any details on the packing as to what actual bark they're made from, so I guess it could be anything. As I have a BRB I'm looking for something that's good for humidity but that won't go manky LOL. I can get ReptiBark but am not overkeen on paying over £20 for a bag which will only cover half my viv, if there are cheaper alternatives.....

Can anyone help me or tell me exactly what I should be looking for?

Thanks all
x

__________________
0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!

well i was positive they sold this in my local rep shop (i dont use bark i use eco earth) and having a quick search around it would appear its either made from pine or is cocnut bark! lol

sorry i cant be of any help!

what reptile is it for?

__________________
1.2.0 Chinese Water Dragons (Physignathus Cocincinus) - Ryu & Tian & Maylin
0.0.1 Moroccan Uromastyx (Uromastyx acanthinurus nigriventris)- dib dab

22 incubating WD eggs
2 babys!! - Rocky and Kinky
9 more hatched!

"Rainforest Substrate" by EuroRep is orchid bark, you can get it in 25kg sacks, 5 litre bags and 10 litre bags and comes in fine and coarse.
You should be able to get that through your local reptile shop.

confusing but orchid bark is made from pine but i believe it is cured to make it safe. Please don't get from garden centre unless you want mites etc

__________________
My Pets

0.1 Sunfire Retic 06
2.2 100% het Caramel Albino Retics 05
1.0 Tiger het Albino Retic 04
0.1 Yellow Calico Retic 04
Various Normals

1.0 Royal Python (badly burnt rescue)
2.6 Ornate Flying Snakes

1.0 Green Ameiva

1.0 Urocoan Rattlesnake
0.0.1 Waglers Viper

0.0.1 Buthus Occitanus

1.0 Crazy Black Labrador

Scales and Tails Cornwall
http://www.scalesandtails.co.uk

I've been advised that it needs to be sterilised before going into viv so hopefully that would stop the mites.....

But I'm still being really thick about exactly what I can and cannot use, obviously I don't want to put anything in there that's harmful to the snake.

Scotty, it's BRB.

__________________
0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!

Orchdid bark is only called Orchdid bark because it is used to grow Orchdids...it holds moisture well especially when mixed with soil and therefore makes optimum growing substrate for Orchids....(I only know this cos of my mum )

Anyway it is safe for BRBs, although when we kept BRBs we mixed it with ecoearth......snd we still do use a mix of Orchdid bark and Ecoearth for our Big Boas and ATBs.

__________________

So the "orchid repotting medium" I found in my local garden centre, even though it is made from graded PINE bark and coconut fibre, would be OK providing I bake/freeze/microwave it first to get rid of nasties?

Cheers
xx

__________________
0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!

As far as I know, the Eurorep substrate has been treated to remove any parasites bacteria etc.

__________________



Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety - Benjamin Franklin



HARD CORE BADGER GIRL JUNKIE

some people have odd ideas.

How on earth wouold you get snake mites from a bag of substrate from a garden center? Or a SEALED bag from a pet shop?

People like to blame substrate for mites in their collection..

but sorry folks, it's complete bull-poo

it is possible but only if you buy unsealed stuff from petshops with mites. sealed non porus bag = no snake mites. Buying something from another shop = no chance at all!

__________________
---
Mason

1.0 of "Quixotic_Axotlotl"





http://masonexotics.co.uk/ourcollection.aspx

Locality Boas and Retics A Passion.

Well that's always been my belief. In another thread on this topic, it was suggested that mites may have laid their eggs on the bark in it's natural state, then the eggs hatch out on the substrate.

__________________



Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety - Benjamin Franklin



HARD CORE BADGER GIRL JUNKIE