[daggekko]

So I was at the petstore the other day and saw a bag of T-Rex reptile bedding. It was called something along the lines of beach walk. Basically it looked like it had crushed coral and cypress mulch. Looked really good.

I'm wondering what others think about this mix and what kind of substrates everyone goes with. Please if you give a mix that you use go into some details about what all goes into it. Thanks!

[ankan333]

I haven't seen the substrate that you mention, but then my closest reptile store is not enormous...
I would like to find a substrate that looks really nice. Reddish if possible and not too dark.
Now I use something that you find in garden stores, the translation from swedish is "peat bark". Doesn't look very nice in itself, but the plants seem to like it.. Especially my banana tree which grows like crazy..

[JSmithGirl]

I as well have never heard of the mix you mention. With my Days I use a type of orchid moss, some higher-grade lighter weight, keeps in moisture better moss. You can buy it at any garden store or even Home Depot in the gardening section. It seems to work best in holding in humidity and creating a soft substrate for them.

[daggekko]

I have always gone with cypress mulch. Never had any problems with this stuff. I was just asking more to see what other thought. The stuff was called "Canyon Trail" and the other was beach something. Can't remember all of the sudden. Looks very neat. Considering I have never seen natural habitat in person, I was thinking this might be more of a "natural" look.

[PrestonG]

Originally Posted by daggekko

So I was at the petstore the other day and saw a bag of T-Rex reptile bedding. It was called something along the lines of beach walk. Basically it looked like it had crushed coral and cypress mulch. Looked really good.

I'm wondering what others think about this mix and what kind of substrates everyone goes with. Please if you give a mix that you use go into some details about what all goes into it. Thanks!

I think this is what I got a month ago because it was on sale DON'T get it if it is the white beach stuff it was really dusty and the dust got every where and I didn't know there was random pieces of wood in it so ti looked like you just went out and swept it up from a parking lot of some sort.
I was getting it for my torts thinking it would be a good desert landscape but again seemed overly dusty. my two cents

I like to use the coco fiber stuff mixed with a organic compost with no added fertilizers. Plants seem to well and spring-tails and other small bugs live in the soil that I see both baby and adults enjoy.

[daggekko]

looked like you just went out and swept it up from a parking lot of some sort

This sounds about right!

Thank you for your 2 cents Preston, much appreciated

Since you got the stuff, did you actually use it or throw it out after dealing with the dust? Did you try misting it down real good?

[PrestonG]

did not end up using it but didn't throw it out in case I find a use for it down the line. I wouldn't really think of using it for Phelsuma given the various sizes of the crushed rock. I have seen my guys pick at little rocks/perlite that I missed cleaning off from potted plants. Don't know if it is anything to worry about but like to err on the side of caution.