Beech Chips

Beech chips are a soft wood chip that is used in many terrariums that have smaller reptiles.  Some of the beech chips come from German beech trees and act as a natural hygienic litter substance.  It has been used successfully in quarantine terrariums as well.
Because of the binding nature of beech chips it helps to keep down the smells in the terrarium.  While this is a good substrate for many reptiles it shouldn’t be used if there are frogs, salamanders or turtles.
Pets that live in a desert or dry arid climate will do well with beech chips in the terrarium.  It is used dry.  Corn snakes, bearded dragons and leopard geckos find this a pleasing environment.
Since beech chips are a natural ingredient for this substrate it is safe to use, hygienic and biodegradable.  It can be used with confidence in several terrarium environments.
Besides reptiles, beech chips can be used for many types of birds and especially demanding pets.  There are several package sizes available from small, medium and extra large.  Beech chips are reasonably priced and easy to use in a terrarium.
A natural coloured environment may not work for all types of pets and beech chips do come in an array of colours such as aqua blue, autumn red, burnt orange, white, black, moss green, slate, yellow and terracotta red.  Before putting any of the coloured beech chips in as a substrate, however, some research should be done to make sure it is acceptable for the reptiles.
The beech chips substrate comes in a fine or medium coarseness. Depending on what type of reptile you have one may work better than the other.
If you have a pet that burrows or digs, using one type of substrate may not work. It is always recommended that you check with a professional or engage in research before purchasing a substrate for your pet.
Beech chips are only one kind of tree chips that are on the market.  There are bark chips, coconut chips, aspen chips and cypress mulch that can be used in a reptile habitat.  If anyone of the substrates mentioned will work for the terrarium it may come down to a personal choice.
One substrate chip may work better on controlling odour than another.  While aspen may smell good in the terrarium it may not be enough to stop the smell.  The same thing can be said of any of the chips that can be purchased.  It may be a matter of finding out what works for odours and for the reptile.  Since reptiles have a personality they may show a preference for one chip substrate.
Beech chips work in a forest environment.  They really are not suited to an aquatic or desert substrate habitat.  They aren’t used for an incubation medium or for egg laying either. 
Other substrates that can work in a forest habitat are coconut husks, coconut bark chips, a cypress terrain, a reptile bark and several varieties of moss.