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Posted - 01/10/2008 : 15:22:19
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hey all, we have just returned from a jaunt to a liverpool pet shop, when asking them about hoggies fussy feeding habbits we were advised on using a different substrate to create a bit more humidity. The sugested bark was what she called orchid bark, this didn't ring any alarm bells, they also told us to use this on our corns (they had it with all of theres) and stop using aspen and beech chips as these were not natural enough. This we didn't swallow, but took a small bag of this bark for little hogtan, when we got back we noticed it was advertised as having a pleasent pine fragrance, this wasa bit of a concern and we looked more carefully and it's pine bark... this isn't safe for hogs.. is it? |
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259 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 15:39:02
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I was under the impression pine and cedar were pretty toxic to most snakes, but could be wrong. Personally I wouldn't use it and would take it back, mostly because they suggested they use it with your corns!! It's a little worrying to think they are using it with all of theirs...
Orchid bark does have a higher humidity retention -I use it mixed with coco brick with my scorpions and they love it, but there are other ways of creating higher humidity in your tank, even if you just add some fake plants and give them a light spray every so often. Misting is generally a good way of temporarily upping the humidity, or adding a hide with Sphagnum moss in it as a permanent feature will keep the humidity higher.. seems a weeny bit weird to me though... I thought Hoggies were a North American snakey? Kinda like corns and therefore not into super high humidity... |
1.0.0 miami x crimson corn snake (sirius) 0.2.0 leopard geckos (esma and gytha) 2.0.0 emperor scorpions (bebe and jim) 2.0.0 moggies (othello and tachikoma)
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433 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 16:58:35
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i'm with you siliconscience, wouldn't usually touch cedar or pine with a barge pole, i was just curious because it had been sold to us in this way by a supposidly reputable pet shop. |
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dazb
The Corn Snake Moderator
   
United Kingdom
1278 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 17:37:53
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i have been to a shop were they basically told me everything i was doing was wrong. from heat mat, type of viv, feeding, stats, light everything.
i came on here told everyone wot he had said and they reasurred me i was doing things ok.
i think keeping reptiles is alot down to wot works for the individual reptile concerned. everyone has there own preferences.
that is the beauty of forums like this. you can ask a varity of people for there opinions/advice/experiance then decide.
sorry to go off topic a little and rant
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Edited by - dazb on 01/10/2008 17:40:18 |
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Blackecho
The Corn Snake Admin
    
United Kingdom
4379 Posts |
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259 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 18:00:48
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quote: Originally posted by Blackecho
I'm not sure how Orchid bark is natural substrate for Corns!
Y'know, BE.. those corns that live in magical Orchid Land? Surely you've heard of those?!  |
1.0.0 miami x crimson corn snake (sirius) 0.2.0 leopard geckos (esma and gytha) 2.0.0 emperor scorpions (bebe and jim) 2.0.0 moggies (othello and tachikoma)
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sexychef
The Corn Snake Moderator
  
United Kingdom
937 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 18:19:23
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That's what i thought, but she made me feel all thick and was like why would you use aspen and beech chips and aspen?? Those are not natural environments to keep them in, you should only use bark and moss... Do you think the bark would do hoggie any harm though BE, or anyone else? |

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Blackecho
The Corn Snake Admin
    
United Kingdom
4379 Posts |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
    
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 21:14:33
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everyone's right pine and cedar are toxic to snakes, this is what orchid bark should look like

it's suitable for Royals as it maintains humidity better. when you buy it you can see the moisture/condensation in the bag, you can use it for cornsnakes but ideally it needs drying in the oven first. it should NOT smell like pine!
unfortunately each fantastic specialist reptile shop is only as good as it's most incompetant numpty! |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
 Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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433 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 21:23:50
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it does indeed look like that GP and it does have moisture and condensation on the inside of the bag, it even has a picci a royal on the front, says it is suitable for reptiles. It says on it REPTILE (and orchid) LITTER, quality pine products.. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
    
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 21:32:34
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couldn't be the brand name or advertising strap-line could it.....? *grasping at straws* |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
 Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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433 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 21:36:59
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piccies on the way... |
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433 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2008 : 21:41:43
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here we go...



any help? |
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259 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 10:58:03
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Quality British Pine Bark is a bit of a mega hint there. It also says tre boas.. i.e. boas NOT ON THE GROUND :P lol I'd steer clear. Got any friends who might want it? |
1.0.0 miami x crimson corn snake (sirius) 0.2.0 leopard geckos (esma and gytha) 2.0.0 emperor scorpions (bebe and jim) 2.0.0 moggies (othello and tachikoma)
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433 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 11:20:45
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not really don't know anyone that would want it, what a pain in the backside! |
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259 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 14:08:48
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Well.. I've just seen some housing pictures a la internets that seem to have hoggies on orchid bark, but obviously you can't smell pine content over la internets... (or can you? *sniffs*).. I see several options: a) Take it back and say you don't need it. If its unopened it should be fine. b) give it to a friend who may need/want it, c) obtain a new exotic pet that it will be useful for (a little extreme),d) ebay its ass! or e) if you have a garden it'll help keep weeds at bay :D |
1.0.0 miami x crimson corn snake (sirius) 0.2.0 leopard geckos (esma and gytha) 2.0.0 emperor scorpions (bebe and jim) 2.0.0 moggies (othello and tachikoma)
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433 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 17:23:46
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That's the thing though it doesn't smell like pine at all :S Oh well i'll find a use for it somehow, Cheers SS. |
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saddleninja
Sub Adult
   
United Kingdom
1400 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:24:21
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that stuff you got in you hand GP is also sold as forest floor, i use it for my royals and chameleon |
1 amel 1 okeette 2 normals 1 rosy rat x 3 royals
 1 cali king 1 publean milk 1 yemen chameleon 2 orange spotted agamas 1 colombian rainbow boa |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
    
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:35:26
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i've never experienced 'forest floor' so i'll take your word for it SN  |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
 Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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saddleninja
Sub Adult
   
United Kingdom
1400 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 00:12:01
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its quite an experience, just watch out for the thorns ha ha |
1 amel 1 okeette 2 normals 1 rosy rat x 3 royals
 1 cali king 1 publean milk 1 yemen chameleon 2 orange spotted agamas 1 colombian rainbow boa |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
    
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 11:51:10
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and nettles i presume?? lol |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
 Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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