Substrate for a pregnant snake??

[soad]

Hey folks so I was just curious. I use newspaper for most of my snakes but currently my pregnant one is on somethings called yesterday's news. It's a pellet form of newspaper that works quite well. She's a very messy snake and newspaper was getting hard to clean up without moving her around. Is this ok for a snake to give birth on? She is a boa by the way. I would appreciate any tips and suggestions!

[Albert Clark]

Hey! Hello. I would probably want to use a more humidity retaining substrate for a pregnant boa. Yesterday's news would be okay if you went ahead and misted it. That would help. Also it's a drying type of substrate. 100% cypress mulch or Eco earth and Aspen shavings all would be better choices. All IMO only. Congrats on the new babies to come.

[Andy_G]

I've used corrugated cardboard, newspaper, and aspen with great success. I preferred the aspen.

[soad]

Thanks for the input! I ended up putting many layers of newspaper down on top of the substrate. It was the easiest choice without having to move her. Only nine more days give or take until she should give birth so that should be fine!

[Andy_G]

Layered newspaper will work fine. Looking forward to the pics!

[Albert Clark]

Actually the unprinted newspaper would be better bc you don't want to get any ink transferred onto your egg shells if it can be avoided. Uhaul sells unprinted newspaper by the box. 9.95 a box for 200 sheets. They fit a 41 qt tub with paper to spare.

[Andy_G]

Umm...boas don't lay eggs, Albert...and for species that do, the ink wouldn't hurt the eggs...but who wouldn't use a lay box?

Stick with what you're doing soad, it's fine.

[Albert Clark]

Oops! I missed that! Thought she was a python. Lol. A lot of breeders will use their substrate of choice on top of unprinted newspaper, And forego a lay box.

[soad]

Once again thanks for the input! And it is unprinted newspaper. I bought a ridiculously large roll of it awhile back! Hopefully I will have some pics soon!!