Cypress Mulch OK for Substrate?

[Beardo]

I have an A.avic and I was wondering if cypress mulch is ok as a substrate for them? I could go out and get some potting soil, but I have some cypress on hand because I use it for some of my snakes. Thanks for any info/advice!

 

[Navaros]

Avics don't really care what the substrate is and that stuff is great for holding humidity so I don't see why not. I would use peat/vermiculite mix though.

 

[Beardo]

Cool, thanks! I'll probably end up getting some peat moss for him anyways.

Another question...I am currently misting him once a day....is it best to mist them in the daytime or at night?

 

[Navaros]

I don't think time of day really matters but it would probably be better to do it at night when they are more active.

 

[Beardo]

Thats what I was thinking.....that way he can drink some of the water droplets if he wants to. I have a shallow dish of water on the bottom of his cage as well.

 

[Mendi]

Cypress is an evergreen tree and produces a very aromatic wood. This is done by the plant as a protectant from insects, and pretty much that would include tarantulas. IMO, I wouldn't use mulch from anything but a hardwood/deciduous tree, like oak. Even with it being arboreal, it will still have to "smell" it and this could stress it

 

[Beardo]

Hmm. Interesting. In that case I will go out tomorrow and get some peat moss.

 

[Navaros]

Mendi, I have never seen any inverts harmed by cypress. It has no pinelike smells or anything. I have seen lots of scorpions, roaches, centipedes, millipedes, etc. kept on it with no problems.