what do you use for substrate?

nick654377 · 03-03-13, 09:58 AM

I have my two boas in AP tanks in my main living room and was wondering what all you guys use for substrate. I saw someone post on here or another forum about reptibark drying out and cracking the belly scales of snakes over time on their ball python.

So what all do you use other than reptibark?

I have them on paper towel right now and i personally do not like the look of papertowel. it works, its cheap, and humidity is around 35 on hot end and 55 on cool end. i know it should be up a tat more but i cannot get it up that much higher and i just had a perfect shed with my dums with this set up.

let me hear you options please.

**Aaron_S** · 03-03-13, 10:07 AM

Go buy a huge bag of cypress mulch.

I personally have used mulch, ecoearth, aspen shavings, beta chip, paper towel and I currently use newspaper.

Lankyrob · 03-03-13, 10:09 AM

I use reptibark in all my vivs and even in the "dry" vivs have had no issue at all.

CK SandBoas · 03-03-13, 10:11 AM

I use cypress mulch for my BRB and my Royal, and aspen for my kenyans and grey banded king...

Chu'Wuti · 03-03-13, 11:32 AM

I've been doing more rescue work in the past couple of years and started using white paper toweling because it's easy to clean up, I can see fecal condition quickly, and I can see whether a rescue has spider mites more easily.

Previously I have done natural vivaria and shredded aspen; liked both really well and am planning to get back to the natural vivaria for some of my snakes. However, I will continue to use paper toweling for rescues.

Corey209 · 03-03-13, 11:37 AM

Wouldn't recommend newspaper, the ink never drives and can come off on your reptile.

Newsprint Sheets in Stock - ULINE

CK SandBoas · 03-03-13, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

Wouldn't recommend newspaper, the ink never drives and can come off on your reptile.

Newsprint Sheets in Stock - ULINE

I can honestly say i've never had the ink come off on my snakes, as i've used it for many years now as a base layer before i put the aspen or cypress mulch in......

bcr226 · 03-03-13, 12:15 PM

We're switching to cypress in all of our enclosures. It holds moisture well, isn't dyed, doesn't mold, and smells really nice. We've used Aspen which is okay, reptibark which is too dry and dusty and it bleeds dye if it gets in the water bowls, and we've tried papertowels and newspaper which is okay but doesn't allow the snakes to burrow if they want to.

I've been immensely pleased with the cypress bedding.

Gravelanche · 03-03-13, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I use reptibark in all my vivs and even in the "dry" vivs have had no issue at all.

yeah i have been recommended repti-bark by a few people too, i think it would only crack if it was super dry, if you were maintaining humidity properly it would be fine

Corey209 · 03-03-13, 12:39 PM

I like zilla jungle mix with eco earth

Zilla - Where Reptiles Rule » Jungle Mix | Products | Bedding

nick654377 · 03-03-13, 12:43 PM

Have any ofyou had problem with mites when buying substrate from pet stores?

Corey209 · 03-03-13, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick654377

Have any ofyou had problem with mites when buying substrate from pet stores?

I wouldn't imagine sealed substrates having mites rather then the store or someone bringing in mites.

nick654377 · 03-03-13, 01:35 PM

ok so should i go with

Zoo Med Forest Floor Bedding at PETCO

Zilla - Where Reptiles Rule » Jungle Mix | Products | Bedding

Cypress Mulch: Reptile Basics Inc

Corey209 · 03-03-13, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick654377

ok so should i go with

Zoo Med Forest Floor Bedding at PETCO

Zilla - Where Reptiles Rule » Jungle Mix | Products | Bedding

Cypress Mulch: Reptile Basics Inc

Option 1 and 3 are the same thing, I'd use jungle mix or eco earth personally.

NBLADE · 03-03-13, 01:41 PM

I've used repti bark for years,well i did use repti bark, then i changed to orchid bark which is exactly the same stuff just from a different company without the repti name and much cheaper. Don't know if you can get that over there though, but i've never had a problem with it drying out and causing any issues, it will be fine for the boas. I also like beech chips, that will be fine for them, i'm not a massive fan of aspen though.

You can get mites in most reptile relates substrates, if they are kept in an area where there are snakes with mites the mites can travel and get in them, has happened a few times, but generally freezing first or baking the substrate for a few minutes will eradicate any stow aways.