Substrate change frequency?

[madbad]

Hi guys! Morla aka Tank is doing great (aside from a Brassica addiction lol!)

I do have a question though: How often should I be changing substrate?

I'm coming up on like 10 days on this batch of substrate, and last night I found small mushroom growing by the water dish!

Is this a bad thing? or dangerous?

I took it as a sign that the humidity levels were pretty good! I've been able to keep them between 70-85% by way of constant spraying (Morla/Tank now comes running to the spray lol!)

I'm also pretty religious about cleaning up turds, ureates, and old food.

Thanks in advance for the info folks!

 

[madbad]

Oh duh, I left out some important info, the substrate is 1/3 cyprus bark and 2/3 coco coir.

 

[Markw84]

I use Orchid bark, and replace mine maybe once a year.

 

[Tom]

Mushrooms are bad, remove them and the area around where they came from ASAP.

I use orchid bark and never replace it. The only time I remove it is when one animal "graduates" out of that enclosure and I'm going to bring a new one into it. I spot clean as needed, and because I soak them daily, they never poop in the enclosure.

 

[madbad]

My guy only poops about half the time in his daily soak, otherwise he poops in the same spot, about midway between his burrow and his food.

It sounds like I might want to change to orchid bark.

Morla spends most of his non basking/eating/sleeping time burrowing, and has made himself an impressive burrow that completely hides him! I'd say the full excavation is about an 16 inch curved run with the last 4 inches being fully underground.

Is orchid bark as satisfying to burrow in? Will it form stable burrows?

 

[madbad]

Mushrooms are bad, remove them and the area around where they came from ASAP.

Done and done, thank you for the advice.

 

[Runnergirl31]

Done and done, thank you for the advice.

did you change your bedding? curious how its working out for you.
MK

 

[Runnergirl31]

Also, to anyone in the thread, where do you get your Orchid Bark?

 

[Tom]

Also, to anyone in the thread, where do you get your Orchid Bark?

OSH sometimes stocks it in 1.0 cubic foot bags.

I get mine at local nurseries or garden centers. Big chain hardware store like HD or Lowes, don't usually have it, but some do. Sometimes its called "Fir Bark". People grow orchids all over the country, and they need this stuff, so anybody should be able to find it. Make sure you get the fine grade stuff with no additives. This is the type I use. $11 for a 2 cu.ft. bag: