Alternative substrates

[prairiepanda]

I realize there are a ton of substrate-related threads here, but I'm curious about a few specific subs that I haven't seen many opinions on with regards to snake/reptile enclosures.

One is Vitakraft Eco-Bedding and similar products; this is basically just plain crinkled paper. I have used it with rodents in the past and I thought it might be good for snakes too. It is almost dust-free(I find aspen bedding to be incredibly dusty), which helps prevent RIs as dust is one of the easiest ways for bacteria to enter the respiratory system. It's also pretty burrow-friendly, allowing animals to dig to their hearts content and it holds burrow structures fairly well. Doesn't do much to contain smell, which can be an issue with rodents, but I don't think that's really a problem with reptiles. I'd say it's a bit more absorbent than aspen, though sogginess can be a bit of an issue since it is paper.

Then there's Eco Earth coconut fiber bedding. I've seen people say it's not appropriate for snakes, but I haven't seen anyone give a reason. I have a bunch of this stuff around as I use it for my tarantulas. It's great for burrowing, holds humidity well(can also maintain dryness well if needed), it's cheap, absorbent, and pretty mold-resistant. It's dusty, but not as dusty as aspen bedding.

Top soil: this is another one I frequently use for my tarantulas. It's incredibly cheap and very similar to coco fiber bedding.. It does grow mold quite easily in moist enclosures, though, and is difficult to dry out if you need to keep it dry.

And finally: pellets. Whether they be paper pellets, such as those used in ferret litter, or alfalfa pellets like the ones sometimes used in rabbit or tortoise enclosures. They are fairly absorbent, usually not too smelly, and virtually dust-free. They won't hold a burrow at all, though. These would only work in dry enclosures, I think.


I'm a rookie with reptiles, so I'd really like to know why I haven't really seen these substrates discussed in the reptile world. Either there's something that makes them unsuitable for reptiles, or nobody's thought of it because they're marketed towards other animals. What makes them bad? Or, are any of them actually pretty decent? I mostly have snakes in mind with this, since most other reptiles have more particular needs, but feel free to discuss this in relation to any reptile.