Mandatory Substrate?

**Minkness** · 12-09-14, 03:12 PM

Sorry about asking so many substrate questions, but I'm a newb and so far this place is full of great info and friendly people willing to share their knowledge and experience. =)

So, my question is, do MBKs have to have a substrate at all? I ask because I currently have crestie and leo geckos and substrate is different for each one. What I have settled on is more of just a tank liner. I use antibacterial shelf liner for all of my critters except 2. I just put my AFT on eco earth because she requires higher humidity, and one crestie has simple, untreated potting soil (it was my first viv and I was going to attempt live plants....just haven't dumped the dirt out yet lol).

I do like the more natural look of eco earth or reptibark, or even sand so long as it's not a harm to the animal. However, my leos only require a moist hide, and I was wondering if having the liner and a moist hide would be good for my baby MBK as well.

Note: To help with humidity I do spray everyone down 2-3 times a week and keep moist hides moist. =)

**EL Ziggy** · 12-09-14, 03:58 PM

King snakes like to burrow so I would highly suggest a suitable substrate.

Rattlehead · 12-09-14, 04:07 PM

I used to have only astroturf for my milksnake, however, many visits to the pet store showed me that colubrids like to be burrowed most of the day day. I decided to buy and try aspen, and I think she likes it a lot. Now she regularly makes a tunnel and sleeps under the (kinda heavy) water bowl :P I think she feels more secure like that

**millertime89** · 12-09-14, 04:19 PM

One alternative is to use newspaper or butcher paper and just fold it over a few times to give the snake a way to get underneath and "burrow".

knox · 12-09-14, 04:54 PM

Aside from hiding places, substrate helps to soak up the urates from the poop so it doesn't get smeared all over the place and all over the snake.

**Minkness** · 12-09-14, 06:06 PM

Makes sense. Thanks guys!

SSSSnakes · 12-09-14, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

One alternative is to use newspaper or butcher paper and just fold it over a few times to give the snake a way to get underneath and "burrow".

This is what I use for all my snake and it work great. If they need humidity, I simply spray it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by knox

Aside from hiding places, substrate helps to soak up the urates from the poop so it doesn't get smeared all over the place and all over the snake.

Newspaper soaks up the urate and the snake hide under the paper if they want to.

**millertime89** · 12-09-14, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

This is what I use for all my snake and it work great. If they need humidity, I simply spray it.

Newspaper soaks up the urate and the snake hide under the paper if they want to.

Werd man. The only time I have an issue with newspaper is when a water bowl turns into a bath tub and it floods the cage.

SSSSnakes · 12-09-14, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

Werd man. The only time I have an issue with newspaper is when a water bowl turns into a bath tub and it floods the cage.

Same here, but other substrate still get soaked if they spill the water. Now I give them just a little water, so if they spill it, it's no big deal. Also newspapers allow me to keep their enclosures cleaner and it is free.

**millertime89** · 12-09-14, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Same here, but other substrate still get soaked if they spill the water. Now I give them just a little water, so if they spill it, it's no big deal. Also newspapers allow me to keep their enclosures cleaner and it is free.

I fill them more full during the winter and place them over the heat tape to aid in humidity since it's currently a nice and dry 20% in my apartment...

SSSSnakes · 12-09-14, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

I fill them more full during the winter and place them over the heat tape to aid in humidity since it's currently a nice and dry 20% in my apartment...

I use totes and vent the top for lower humidity and vent the sides for highrer humidity. plus my snake room is humidified and heated.

**millertime89** · 12-09-14, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

I use totes and vent the top for lower humidity and vent the sides for highrer humidity. plus my snake room is humidified and heated.

I was doing that but my roommate decided to get engaged and I had to find a cheaper apartment on rather short notice so I currently have my snakes in my room. Plus the big cages are the biggest problems. The totes are easy to manage.