|
dirt?
Dec 15, 2005 13:09:41 GMT -8
Post by coloradogerbils on Dec 15, 2005 13:09:41 GMT -8
Has anyone ever tried using coco bedding that they sell for reptiles? I've used it for hermit crabs who also love to dig. It also has to be wet/damp, though. I suppose it's similar to peat...it's just made of coconut fiber instead. You can buy it as 'coconut bedding' or 'eco earth' in bricks at the petstore. You just put it in water and it expands a LOT. I once put a brick in a large kritter keeper and it expanded so much that it broke the plastic and exploded all over my kitchen...lol... I reccommend a much larger bucket to expand it in! ;D
|
|
|
dirt?
Dec 16, 2005 7:59:23 GMT -8
Post by lizzy on Dec 16, 2005 7:59:23 GMT -8
I've used peat myself. It's okay, but very dirty, dusty, heavy, gets everywhere and not for the houseproud!! You don't need to clean it often and I didn't notice any problems with them burrowing. I don't use it anymore because one of my gerbils is allergic, so I switched to aspen.
|
|
|
dirt?
Dec 16, 2005 17:09:24 GMT -8
Post by AndreaS15 on Dec 16, 2005 17:09:24 GMT -8
Has anyone ever tried using coco bedding that they sell for reptiles? I've used it for hermit crabs who also love to dig. It also has to be wet/damp, though. I suppose it's similar to peat...it's just made of coconut fiber instead. You can buy it as 'coconut bedding' or 'eco earth' in bricks at the petstore. You just put it in water and it expands a LOT. I once put a brick in a large kritter keeper and it expanded so much that it broke the plastic and exploded all over my kitchen...lol... I reccommend a much larger bucket to expand it in! ;D Never used it, never even heard of it, but it sounds like alot of fun! lol.... I'm guessing if there isn't anything else mixed with it, and that it is JUST coconut fibers, I wouldn't see that being a big problem with gerbils. Though how damp is to damp, how damp is peat? I'm just thinking damp things usualy mold, and i wouldn't want my gerbils being sick because they are housed in a damp and cold enviroment either.
|
|
|
dirt?
Dec 20, 2005 14:10:22 GMT -8
Post by coloradogerbils on Dec 20, 2005 14:10:22 GMT -8
Hmm.. well, when I had the cocobedding, I never had it mold. I used the same stuff for over 6 months...but hermit crabs and gerbils are much different...lol, so I dunno! To make the cocobedding you have to soak it in water, so it's damp when you put it into the tank. I would just leave it and it would slowly dry out again--I'd have to mist it to keep it wet. I wonder if once the gerbs made their tunnels you wouldn't have to keep wetting it down? I think it sounds like a lot of work, I'd probably just give them that kind of stuff to play in.
|
|
|
dirt?
Dec 20, 2005 14:27:41 GMT -8
Post by panthershadow83 on Dec 20, 2005 14:27:41 GMT -8
Well, you can dry it out in the sun, or just lay it out in a thin layer on a towel for a day or two to dry. My hermies LOVE the stuff too. It's not heavy at all, at least I don't notice it lol.
|
|