substrate question.

[concept3]

Hi just a quick question or two or three lol. I have kept my bp on bed a beast for about 2 years now, It was in an aquarium and I used bed a beast because it was easy to keep the humidity up. Now I just finished building my first rack so humidity will no longer be a problem. Any who should I stick with the bed a beast or could I use aspen chips? I think wood chips would be alot easier to clean/change. If I used wood chips and they were fairly deep (about 4 inches) would I still have to provide a hide? thx for the help.

[BornboreD]

I would say use aspen, cause it's cheap, and easier to digest for the snakes in case of accidental ingestion. It also is pretty absorbent but also dries out in a decent amount of time. I find with my balls it doesn't really matter how much shavings I use, they end up flattening it all down within a day anyhow. Depending on how you built your rack you may not need a hide at all.... in a rack the tub itself basically is like one big heated hide.

Just my thoughts, see what the others have to say....

Colin

[mykee]

If you're going to use a chip substrate, I would recommend Sani-chips, they're little sqaure chips the size of mini-chicklets. I've never used them myself but have heard good things about them. Personally, I use unprinted newspaper stock, it's easy to clean, cheap and did I mention easy to clean?

[BornboreD]

A few after thoughts.......

Humidity is not as critical for Balls, as with most other reptiles. 40 - 60% is all they need. With proper ventilation in your tubs, a water dish alone will provide at least that if not more. Whenever I notice that ones in shed, I just give the warm end a light misting each evening. Perfect sheds every time!!

Hope this helps...

[mykee]

Good point, humidity is not that hard to keep if your environment is NOT an aquarium. I keep 60% humidity in a rubbermaid with newspaper. Also depends on what type of heat you're using in your dwelling; when I lived in an apartment, I had electric heat, and the humidity in electric heat was consistently around 20%-35%. Now that I live in a house, with a forced-air gas furnace, I don't have to do anything to maintain 50%-65% humidity in the entire house.

[concept3]

where I ive in Edmonton Is ALOT drier than the southern ontario region. AVergae humidity here is 20-30 percent. Mykee do you put a hide In with your bp's? thx

[nita]

With my rack I use paper towel and no hides, they are eating great in the rack too. My humidity is good around 60% - 75% without no problems. I'm in Edmonton too and have no prob, the ones in the aquariums are another story!! I dump their water dish into the tank and refill it with fresh when I notice them going into shed.