What is the best substrate?

[Clear]

Newspaper turned my binos into normals! j/p but it does make them dirty. I switched over to cypress, its making cleanup easier and I dont have to deal with the snake pushing all the newspaper to one corner.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

but doesn't the newspaper print have toxic chemicals??

People have been using newspaper for a long long long time with no ill effects. You can use paper towels but they do shift around too much and are VERY expensive once you develop a bigger collection.

I don't even get the paper. I have friends who stack up their used newspapers and drop em off every now and then.

I challenge ANYONE using any other substrate in a clean tub test. Newspaper makes it possible for me to keep my entire collection clean all the time.

Once you use newspaper and see how much urin the snake produces, and how nasty it is, you won't sleep well using anything else.

Newspaper turned my binos into normals! j/p but it does make them dirty.

That is odd... the newspaper doesn't make my albino look dirty. are you using the shiny stuff or just the normal paper? I only use the normal paper, and when it has a big picture on it, I put that side facing down.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I switched over to cypress, its making cleanup easier and I dont have to deal with the snake pushing all the newspaper to one corner.

Please explain in detail how cypress mulch can possibly be easier to clean up then newspaper.

[cartman89]

thanks! and sorry for hijacking your thread. I can actually get newspaper FREE at my school

[twh]

but doesn't the newspaper print have toxic chemicals??

newspapers no longer use ink,they use vegatable dye,usually soy based.

[BlazingCasper]

I use Aspen.... Can't hold humidity too well. I also don't like the smell when I have to raise the humididty to 70 when my PB is going through shedding process.

I wanna try Mulch next time. Mulch looks nicest too!

[Oroborous]

For me aspen works the best. I've tried just about everything over the years and aspen is hands down my favorite. It looks nice, it's easy to clean, and it's fairly cheap. My snakes seem to prefer it as well, I even use it for one of my beardies and it works great.

[cinderbird]

i have to agree with Mike on this one, newspaper hands down.

ive used other "pieced" substrates before (aspen, sanichips, reptibark etc) and omg the MESS. not the one the snake makes, but have you ever spilled aspen on carpet? I'm glad i have a vacuum that works.

I use newspaper exclusively now.

[BAD Morphs]

I use all papertowels no after having an incident with the Aspen and the snake getting a mouth full of it!! And to be honost papertowels do move around but I place the water bowls and the hides on them to help keep them in place but it is no biggie to fix them if need be! But I only have seven and can make quick cleaning and fixings if need be but it would be a bit tougher with like 25-50 to do that all the time! And with aspen it is hard to see where they peed to clean it up!

[Exotic Ectotherms]

I've tried everything and I like Eco-Earth (coconut husk) the best. Granted it is not as easy as newspaper....but it holds my humidity perfect, looks nice and is absorbent when the snakes urinate.

I think the topic should be clarified by the OP whether they are housing in a tub or display tank. For a tub, I would definitely recommend newspaper, but the aesthetics of Eco-Earth are nice for a display tank without sacrificing the needs of the BP.