Substrate

Ringo · 01-01-09, 10:51 AM

i'm having a problem deciding what substrate to use for my two ball pythons...i would like to use the same substrate for my king snake as well...i would like to use the reptisand but i think it would be to dry...is there anything out there that is comparable? Or would the reptisand be ok....it is the look i want with the ease of cleaning..please let me know...i'm sure you will...thank you..

Smilts · 01-01-09, 02:55 PM

I dont care for reptisand. It looks nice at first but its not as easy as it sounds. I like coconut bark or reptibark, both seem to help hold humidity.

mykee · 01-01-09, 03:05 PM

I prefer paper towel or unprinted newspaper stock. May not look pretty but provides the best substrate for maintaining husbandry.

Silverbinder · 01-01-09, 07:52 PM

A man after my own tastes, news paper or butcher paper makes a cheap wonderful cage substrata. Cheap, non-toxic, no chance of impaction, and easy to use. If you don't like the daily news in you cage, try going to an art or grocery supply store and buying white butcher paper, brown wrapping paper or unprinted newsprint paper. I don't like that they hide under to paper so I use two sided tape to hold it down. It becomes a little harder to clean up but you live with it.

I don't recommend this for burrowing species. Give them a better substrata. Here begins the controversy! I am not going to tout one produce over another but I lean toward the easy and cheap. Coco fiber - the current prima dona of the substrata crowd is expensive and has been know to cauese impactions and ocular problems in some reptiles. Vermiculite has pro and oponents as well. I prefer vervicullite because I can control the humidity of the cage with it. Misting will remove the dust problem. Alfalfa is a good choice because it is edible if swallowed. But mold can be a problem and worse a powder mildew sometimes develops in moist climates. Tipsoil can be used if screened but it is messy save for the burrowers or naturalistic setings. Bark mulch - cheap but another dangerous produce. Not only from the posibility of impactions but from the danger to the eyes. Soft wood bark(pine, cedar, and redwood) mulch tend to give off toxic chemicals that can affect the liver. Lots of dust associated with the material. Sand and pea gravel can cause impactions but are cheap, easily obtained, and can be washed and reused. They are heavy and increase the weight of the cage a great deal.

I am almost to the point of following the zoos and using a foam material that is shaped, then placed into the cage complete with hides and holes for potted plants and water bowls. It can be painted and made to look like rock or soil.

Good luck and know there is no wrong answer merely choices. You must decied what is best for you! Weigh the factors, experiment a little then make the jump! If you don't like it change it!

Good herping!

**Aaron_S** · 01-01-09, 11:59 PM

I am going through some experimenting with substrates myself. I have used in the past newspaper, paper towel, reptile carpeting and mulch. I currently am using aspen shavings and going to try the unprinted newspaper stock when this stuff runs out.

So far, the paper towel is winning for smaller animals and aspen for larger ones.

Chu'Wuti · 01-02-09, 07:11 AM

I've used both sand and aspen shavings, and the aspen shavings win hands down for those two. I've also used potting soil in a natural vivarium, and that has worked very well, but it can be tricky with balls.

siz · 01-02-09, 09:49 AM

I use coconut husk and reptibark and both work very well for me. Personally coconut husk is my favourite if you are going for a more natural look. Easy to clean etc. I don't like reptisand at all, as Coy said it does like nice at first but gets clumpy and filthy rather quickly.

Ringo · 01-02-09, 10:55 AM

well you all have me thinking...i guess i'm just going to try them all over a period of time..see what works the best...i would go to a little more trouble for cleaning etc..if i don't have to look at news print or paper towels..

**Aaron_S** · 01-02-09, 12:17 PM

If there's anything you should avoid it should be the sand. Ball pythons aren't meant to be on sand. You can avoid sand with all snakes, even sand boas.

Smilts · 01-02-09, 02:55 PM

Other than just getting clumpy and being a pain to clean with alot of snakes reptisand will be a irritant to there skin.

siz · 01-03-09, 10:14 AM

The calcium sand also doesn't have a very nice smell to it but that's not exactly an important factor.

I have a question about reptibark - I've been worried (when it comes to keeping the humidity up with my BP) about mold etc. Obviously BPs don't need very high humidity for the most part, and I don't drench her, but is this something I should consider? I have just heard that it kind of absorbs the water.

edit: I use Forest Floor.

Smilts · 01-03-09, 11:32 AM

Well Ive only used the repti bark with my corn snakes but I love it.

Ringo · 01-03-09, 12:04 PM

i just got done doing away with my bark in my iguana cage...that stuff is a pain..it only keeps the moisture for about 3 days..after that it seems you have to water it ALOT daily to keep up humidity...another reason i'm looking for a different substrate..it might work well with your ball...but its not very cleanable...more times than not your buying new and throwing the old away....more $$$...

never a problem with mold though...

siz · 01-04-09, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

i just got done doing away with my bark in my iguana cage...that stuff is a pain..it only keeps the moisture for about 3 days..after that it seems you have to water it ALOT daily to keep up humidity...another reason i'm looking for a different substrate..it might work well with your ball...but its not very cleanable...more times than not your buying new and throwing the old away....more $$$...

never a problem with mold though...

Ok, thanks. Igs need a whole lot more humidity than BPs so you answered my question perfectly. What do you use for your ig now?

phil_7870 · 01-04-09, 06:08 PM

i use aspen or beech depends on what is there at the time beech looks nicer but aspen holds heat well