Best substraight for brumating corn snakes

[rynwilliams]

What is the best substraight for brumating corn snakes, is paper towels or news paper ok? or is there something better.

[C.m.pyrrhus]

I prefer to use aspen, as I do normally. It gives more of a barrier from possible drafts or sudden temperature changes that may not be forseen. Plus, I actually notice my snakes bury a bit in their substrate during brumation, so I use it.

[Vengeance]

What about feeding? Do you feed inside the cage or in another cage when useing the Aspen substraight?

[rynwilliams]

If you are brumating you do not feed.

[Darren179]

cocanut chips work great for me

[Vengeance]

Pardon my newbiness but is it necessary to hibernate your snake? Also if it is necessary would you use the Aspen chips only during the hibernating period and switch back to newspaper or paper towel afterward or just use Aspen all year round? Then if you do use Aspen all year round I guess I'm back at my original question do you feed in the tank or out of the tank and if you feed in the tank what is the best way to make sure that the snake does not accidentally ingest the aspen chips?

This is all new stuff to me so again if my questions seem really newbish it's because I am and I'm just trying to find out as much info as possible.

[marisa]

If you use a substrate that is loose like aspen, do not feed on it. You can use aspen year round but you cannot feed on it.

yours will do fine if you do not want to brumate. They do not "have" to brumate. Usually breeders choose to because it helps out with breeding and gives a break to the keeper but for a pet corn its not a must at all.

Marisa

[Vengeance]

I guess that goes with any lose substrate? I was thinking with going with a carpert for that reason.

[marisa]

Yes that definitly goes for any loose substrate. Carpet is one thing lots of people like but for me its way to time consuming, it frays and stinks IMHO. lol! If I was you I would stick to paper towel, or aspen and feed outside the cage.

Marisa

[C.m.pyrrhus]

Personally I feel carpet is a big risk. It cannot be 100% sanitized nor 100% dry (thats the stench you smell, being the bacteria that is growing), and for those reasons it is risky. I would stay with the wood chips, newspaper, paper towels or "other." If using the substrates that can be ingested, simply feed the snake in another tub. Not that aspen is the only stuff around to use either, I just use it myself is all.

[Vengeance]

Hmmmmmmmm, didn't take that into consideration, good thing is I don't have the snake yet so I'm just looking into building his habitat. I'm sold on the not useing carpet idea, if I can't be 100% sure that it is going to be safe then I don't want to use it, that and if it smells, don't want that.

Thanks for the help

[Nicky]

i use the expandle substrates

[MouseKilla]

I've used everything the pet store carries, the only thing that I liked at all was the calci-sand stuff that is supposed to be ingestable and harmless. It's reasonably easy to spot clean, unlike moss and wood chips, and looks really nice. After a while it does need to be replaced because it will stink. The stuff is also incredibly expensive which is why as our collection got bigger I switched to newspaper. You leave nothing behind with newspaper or paper towel and you can change it in seconds. What you decide to put in your cage will depend on whether or not you have a designated snake room (as all of us addicts end up having) that is not meant to look pretty or you whether for you a snake is an ornament for the livingroom. When I first was buying snakes they were ornamental and I spent a bloody fortune on that sand crap and cage furniture but now I'd rather spend that money on more snakes. It all depends on how you look at owning the animal(s), some people name them and cuddle them and others have to assign them numbers so we know when to feed them. Whichever way you go though the same substrate is fine for brumation as well, should you decide to do that. At least I've never heard of any substrate that is commonly used that is no good for brumation.