My baby ate a piece of Cypress Mulch!!

[Hallbomber]

Is this ok that she got a piece down her throat?? My gf saw her do it and didnt have time to grab it quick enough. With all the recomendations for cypress mulch I hope its digestable.

 

[Laura]

should be ok,, if it was small enough to eat, it should go thru...
make sure she is well hydrated and good food follows... maybe even some pumpkin...
If she is going to be one that eats it.. probably best to change it out for more of a soil type substrate.

 

[Yvonne G]

It should just pass right on through. Be sure the baby has plenty of water or frequent soaks.

 

[Hallbomber]

Ok well what is best that CAN be eaten. Coco coir? Sphagnum moss??

 

[DeanS]

Talk about fiber...a little isn't going to cause any harm.

 

[Hallbomber]

Well she keeps trying to eat it. Which one should I switch to?

 

[Yvonne G]

There nothing wrong with cypress mulch. Its edible, doesn't cause impaction and isn't toxic.

Now we have to figure out why..

Do you have a black or red light turned on during the daylight hours? Tortoises see different spectrums than we do and a red light sometimes makes the substrate look like something to eat.

Another thing to do is pat the substrate with your palm and make all the pieces lay flat.

 

[Hallbomber]

Yes I do have a red heat light on 24/7. Should I use a white colored heat light during day?

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes I do have a red heat light on 24/7. Should I use a white colored heat light during day?

Yes. We have heard this over and over again...babies eating the substrate and there is a red light on during the day.

 

[Hallbomber]

Gonna use coco coir with ceramic heat emitters now.

 

[Hallbomber]

Now they can dig easier, humidity is better, and at night its dark like it would be in the wild. Through all of the trial and error im feeling most comfortable with this setup so far.