Strange smell coming from new cocofiber

Obelisk

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 15, 2009
Messages
337
I just finished expanding a new brick of eco earth, only to find that it has a strange BBQ smell to it. I'm just a bit concerned that it might smell that way from using some kind of wood that's toxic to T's. Has anyone noticed this with new coco-fiber and used it anyway?
 

grayzone

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
2,461
are you sure youre not just hungry LOL.. usually it just smells like hot, wet, dank earth to ME.. if it concerns you THAT much, bake it on 250 till its dry. The smell will SURELY be gone by then, then you can moisten to each individual ts needs/liking
 

Obelisk

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 15, 2009
Messages
337
are you sure youre not just hungry LOL.. usually it just smells like hot, wet, dank earth to ME
lol I'm familiar with that earthy smell. This is like a pungent, mesquite type odor. I'm just concerned about the fumes affecting the T in the same way that cedar and pine fumes can affect reptiles. I'm thinking about doing what you recommended or just using another brick.
 

grayzone

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
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ive never PERSONALLY noticed a smell like what your describing, nor have i read about a similar situation.. do the baking thing and post the outcome.. if it still smells and you get a new brick share THAT info as well, if ive noticed anything in my short time around this forum its repetition. I can safely bet that ONE DAY somebody else will have some experience similar to this:wink:
 

Curious jay

Arachnodemon
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
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730
lol I'm familiar with that earthy smell. This is like a pungent, mesquite type odor. I'm just concerned about the fumes affecting the T in the same way that cedar and pine fumes can affect reptiles. I'm thinking about doing what you recommended or just using another brick.
I've purchased a brick before that smelled like dead crickets after I soaked it while it was drying fungus and mold was rampant so I'm guessing spores got in a crack of the packaging and it musts been slightly damp at 1 point. Personally I'd chuck it.
 

grayzone

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
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2,461
wow.. you guys are startin to give me somethin to worry about lol.. ive honestly never paid too much attention to the smell of coco.. luckily ive yet to have a problem. Im a freak when it comes to sniffin things (cups, drinks, anything out of the fridge lol etc) and will now be paying more attention.. Thanks alot:sarcasm:
 

Curious jay

Arachnodemon
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
730
wow.. you guys are startin to give me somethin to worry about lol.. ive honestly never paid too much attention to the smell of coco.. luckily ive yet to have a problem. Im a freak when it comes to sniffin things (cups, drinks, anything out of the fridge lol etc) and will now be paying more attention.. Thanks alot:sarcasm:
Haha it really isn't much to worry about, every time I buy it now I make sure no seals are broken, if they are it's hard to determine when they broke and what they've been exposed to as a lot of pet shops just have them stacked on the floor etc they're liable to contamination, wether its a floor cleaning agent or spores in the air.
 

Obelisk

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 15, 2009
Messages
337
The smell was pretty noticeable in my room. I ended up throwing it away.

This person apparently had the same issue as me. At least one of the people who replied said they used it anyway for their salamanders, though I was wondering if any T keepers had the same issue.
 

infinitebohr

Arachnosquire
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
61
I've noticed that they smell strangely after being soaked, and not really like damp soil. Remember though it's not soil, it's cocofiber and they may have some kind of baking process to keep it clean. If some small pieces caught on a heat lamp or some other heat source, that whole batch might have been soaked with the smell. Try burning a little bit of the fiber and see if it doesn't reproduce the smell you are talking about, if it does I think you can assume it's safe. Personally smells aside, I've never had any issues with Eco Earth.
 

EmilyK

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
21
I've come across a few bricks that smell like that, Obelisk. I always toss them out.
 
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