how do you store de-bricked coco fiber?

[UnicornSpirit]

Ok, so in the past I've always used peat moss or vermiculite for my gecko's humid hides. Last time I went to the store they were out of vermiculite so instead of driving 30 minutes to another Ace Hardware I just bought the perilite. Well, I've been using it for the past month but I hate how it gets all over the tub floors and even scratches up the plastic.

I'm not out of the perilite yet but today I was near the petstore so I swung over and bought one of those coco bricks. I'm hoping that even if this coco fiber makes a mess it wont scratch up the bottom of my tubs. I wanted to try to break it in half because I didn't need the entire brick! It was hard as a rock so I went ahead and prepared the whole batch.

Now, I have this mini-trashcan full of moist coco fiber. My question is, how do you guys think I should store it? Should I just let it air out and will it redry or should I just keep it in some sort of tupperwear storage container with it being moist? I've never dealt with this stuff before, help plz!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

While it can't be broken in sections easily, when water is added you can just take parts off the brick. Let the solid part dry again. I use a dishpan to do it in and stored what was left in a closet. If using a sealed container, it should be dried out first. IDK if it could get some mold if still damp and sealed up. Ziplock bags could also be used.

 

[UnicornSpirit]

Thanks Laney.

Yeah, I was stupid... I didn't think it was going to make quite this much after expanding (I imagined it would just become about a gallons worth but instead it doubled that).

I'm going to set some of this aside and let it air out then I think big ziplock storage baggies sounds like a good idea. I'm def going to keep an eye on this stuff next time when it expanded it nearly warped the bucket I had it in!

 

[acpart]

I keep it in a large (2 gallon ziploc). It stays wet and doesn't mold and is available, ready to go, whenever I need some.

Aliza

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Ahh okay cool, thanks Aliza.

 

[Kristi23]

I keep it in a large (2 gallon ziploc). It stays wet and doesn't mold and is available, ready to go, whenever I need some.

Aliza

I'll have to remember that. I've always dried it out and then stored it. This sounds like a great idea.

 

[Joao]

I don't soak the whole brick, just little slices that I cut off, and I store the leftover. Haven't seen mold yet either. It just dries up with no problems.

Cutting it is crazy hard and messy, though. I think I'm just gonna soak the whole brick next time ahahah

 

[fl_orchidslave]

I put water in the dishpan but not enough to break down the whole brick. Then let the excess dry out. It works for smaller amounts. Glad to know it doesn't mold if sealed up damp. If it were garden center peat, it likely would. Thought about cutting some off but it did seem too messy.

 

[ajveachster]

I have a 5 gallon tank with a screen lid. I keep it in that. Scoop out as much as I need when I need it.

 

[Spots]

Yea...the whole brick makes tons! But you can break it off easily by using a knife (I used a bread knife) and cutting on the side WITH the grain. It cuts like a knife through butter that way lol Honestly, just slice it in pieces along the grain.