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Post by chinlee on Dec 5, 2010 20:59:00 GMT -5
I also keep snakes and one of the bedding/litter things that is safe to use on many small animals is aspen shavings because they are non-toxic (unlike pine shavings). I was about to change out one of my snake's boxes and decided to mix up some of the aspen shavings with peat moss and spagnum moss. I wet it up nicely to see its texture and how well it holds moisture. I am very please with the texture so far in that it is very airy and light but compacts very well for planting. it is also holding the moisture very well. Does anybody have any experience using aspen in nep mix? Or does anybody know of any side effects of aspen?
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Post by frederick on Dec 5, 2010 22:35:41 GMT -5
I have no experience with it's use in substrate for any kind of CPs, however I too keep snakes and have found that when water was spilled on the shavings, after a few days a pretty strong greyish fungal growth issued. I guess the way to go here is the other way around than as for pets; you should use cedar chips or fir bark instead as resinous wood is somewhat more resistant to putrefaction and is acidic. Perhaps sterilizing your aspen and/or treating it with a light solution of fungicide or bleach would do the trick? Just my 2 cents!
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Post by chinlee on Dec 6, 2010 13:17:23 GMT -5
Thats interesting Frederick. what brand aspen do you use? I use kaytee and i've never experienced that fungal growth. Duing some busy weeks I don't realize the water had spilled and never had a problem with fungus/mold. But sterilizing it wouldn't hurt..... putting it into a pressure cooker at 15psi for 15-20 minutes should kill most if not all fungus spores.
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Post by mabudon on Dec 6, 2010 13:29:16 GMT -5
Jay might be a good person to post here, he has done a lot of experimenting with media, hopefully he can drop a few ideas in here now that I have summoned him
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Post by frederick on Dec 6, 2010 18:04:39 GMT -5
Thats interesting Frederick. what brand aspen do you use? I use kaytee and i've never experienced that fungal growth. Duing some busy weeks I don't realize the water had spilled and never had a problem with fungus/mold. But sterilizing it wouldn't hurt..... putting it into a pressure cooker at 15psi for 15-20 minutes should kill most if not all fungus spores. I can't recall the brand I use, and am too lazy to go check at the moment hehe ;D However, I'm pretty sure it is not the same brand as yours. In fact, I doubt it really has anything to do with the brand, but rather, the conditions in which it is used! Sterilizing in the PC should do the trick, although I am wondering if that wouldn't just delay any fungal growth....One thing I had in mind not too long ago, and have not tried as of yet, was using some cork stoppers (that is if you consume wine from time to time ). Chopping these into smaller, medium fragments would make a very decent aerating material as it is already extensively used in orchid cultivation for it's hydrophobic and mold resisting properties. good luck!
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