sand ok for ball python??

boa+python · 10-06-05, 04:30 PM

Im just wondering is sand ok for a ball python, i want a substrate that looks natural and is cheap and thought i would get sand, is it ok. My cage is gonna be desert themed, but if sand can be harmful im willing to change. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!

:dumb: :dumb: :dumb:

Jeff_Favelle · 10-06-05, 05:38 PM

If your cage is going to be natural and is going to be desert-themed, you'll probably want an animal that actually LIVES IN A DESERT.

You cannot force an animal to live in conditions that it did not evolve in, just because you want a "naturalistic" vivarium.

And to answer your question, no, sand is not ok for a Ball Python. You want a Kenyan Sand Boa or other Eryx. They would do ok in that setup.

DOMI · 10-06-05, 05:41 PM

Sand should never be used as substrate for ball pythons as sand can get underneath a snakes scales and cause irritation and skin problems, when you get your snake first use news paper as substrate so you can see if there is any mites on the snake.

boa+python · 10-06-05, 06:08 PM

i didnt mean a desert exactly i was going more along the lines of prarie/savanah but if sand is not ok ill just use repti bark. BY THE WAY THANKS FOR THE INFO BECAUSE I WOULD NOT WANT TO HARM IN ANY WAY, I MEANT SAVANAH/PRARIE/MEADOW, BUT I WONT USE SAND, THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP!!

Jeff_Favelle · 10-06-05, 06:59 PM

Repti-bark can be made to look nice. Choose the decor (like grasses and bleached wood, etc etc) and it can still be made to look like an "arid" setup.

Best of luck! Sounds like a lot of FUN!

Also, get your temps and everything calibrated BEFORE you put the snake in and not after/during. Works best that way.