New snake mommy :)

[klassykrys562]

Hey there everyone, my boyfriend and I are going to be getting a snake in a month or two, I wanted to join these forums because I dont know anyone with a lot of snake experience. Right now I have a question about the bedding for a ball python, which is the type of snake we have chosen, I have read that Aspen shavings are the best but while at petco today I saw a huge bag of aspen shavings for a decent price, although it said for small animals and displayed a picture of guniea pigs and hamsters. Does anybody know if these would be useable for my snake??? Any amswers help thanks!
Btw, we have already named her Nagini

[infernalis]

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[klassykrys562]

�� Thanks!! I'm excited to be here and learn everything i can before my snake arrives!!

[klassykrys562]

👍 Thanks! Excited to learn everything and anything i can before my new ball python gets here!!!

[Lankyrob]

I wouldn't use aspen for a ball python. You need fairly high humidity in the viv and aspen is reported to mold quite easily.

Personally i use repti bark for sll my snakes whatever the humidity requirements and quite like the look of it.

[drumcrush]

Hey, welcome!

[thinkbig317]

Welcome aboard! I would personally use repti bark or cypress mulch as well. Much easier to maintain the high humidity that balls require.

[sharthun]

Hey and welcome.

[klassykrys562]

Thanks so much everyone!! You've all been helpful!

[Shyloh15]

Hey I have Blonde Spotted Python and use aspen shavings and i think theyre fine. My snake doesn't seem t have any problems with it. :)

[Pirarucu]

Welcome aboard! I use a soil substrate for all of my animals, it works great.

[poison123]

I too would use a deep soil type of substrate but you more then likely won't see the snake so often. Bark, eco earth and cypress mulch work well too.

[klassykrys562]

So one more question lol. Cypress mulch seems to be cheaper than the repti bark. Can i get it from the Home depot and it still be useable for my bp???

[klassykrys562]

And thanks to everyone for the advice!!! And the welcomes!!

[Mikoh4792]

Be careful on which cypress mulch you buy. Not all are "pure" cypress mulch and are often mixed with other wood types.

[toxicshadow]

what if I used coconut or orchid substrate, will it hurt my BP if the bedding was switched to newspaper once or twice in a long while? It would only be switched because of financial reasons.

[klassykrys562]

What if i use coconut or orchid mulch and every once in a while switch to newspaper or paper towels.??? The only time it would be switched would be if financial problems occur.

[Tsubaki]

I don't know how much coco costs there, but over here i can fill a 5*3 enclosure with a thick layer for about 4,-?

[klassykrys562]

For the coconut one its decently priced but online only. Cant find a 24qt bag in store for less then $20 a bag. And i am one of those people who prefer to buy in store lol. Im going to be using a 40gal tank.

[Lankyrob]

Jsut wondering, if you are worried about being able to buy substrate what would happen if the snake got ill and needed vet treatment? Without a decent amount of money behind you for emergencies maybe it would be best to wait.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Hello and welcome. :)

I have been using EcoEarth, and it has been my favorite of substrates I've used, and it's only $7 for 3 blocks at Petsmart. That's ~21 liters of substrate, so I usually pay ~$28 for all of my substrate. I've used paper towels, ReptiBark, and EcoEarth and EcoEarth is the best. Maybe I didn't use the ReptiBark correctly, but I found maintaining humidity nigh impossible with it and it was quite harsh on my ball pythons belly and he often got little splinters from it. Most were really super tiny, so they might not have hurt too much, but they were big enough for me to notice and he had a few decent-sized ones. So, now I use EcoEarth a few inches deep instead. He never buries himself, but my boa does when he gets new bedding, he must like the smell or something. >.>

I agree with Lankyrob, if you don't think you could afford even just substrate, I would wait on getting it. If you already have it, think about whether or not you could afford a vet bill and decide if it's really the best time to have one right now. Vet visits aren't cheap, especially since snakes are exotic and you'll need a specialist vet. Not even just a regular exotics will work. I've met a few exotics who didn't know how to work on snakes, only mammals such as Guinea pigs and horses.

[klassykrys562]

It's not that I'm.worried i won't be able to afford it. I'm trying to save myself money where i can when i can. And if time comes that she does need to see a vet i know I'm safe. I have done research on the cost of owning a snake. I was just wondering if it would be a problem switching it up every once in a while...