Substrate

[cinderbird]

I've had my "rescue" boa for a while now and am thinking about switching his substrate. He has an INCREDIBLE feeding response. I feed F/T and my rodents are pretty dry (i dont use water to defrost them).

I have him on newspaper, but i think he could use something better. I was wondering what a good substrate would be for him, i was thinking Aspen, but i worry about impaction. He can NOT be removed from his enclosure for feeding, his feeding response is just way to nutso.

From what I understand, he is a 2 year old, he's between 4-5 feet long, great body condition and very healthy. Im going to move him to a more apprpriate prey size (medium or large rats) in january when the next reptile show is here and i can pick up some more feeders. For now he's been happy with a few smalls and the left overs from my BPs who don't want to eat now that its cold.

Let me know what substrate you use for your boas.

[Wh00h0069]

I use indented kraft paper for my large boas, and am fairly happy with it. It is very absorbent. I just wish that it held humidity better... I would like to use cypress mulch, but that would be a chore to clean, and it would cost too much to order online.

[ladywhipple02]

I actually use a mixture... I put a couple layers of newspaper down, then cover that in a layer or two of paper towels. The paper towels soak up any liquids fairly well, while the newspaper just covers the bottom for solids. Easy to clean too... reach in, pull it up, scrub her down, put new in.

I also used carefresh for a while. It worked well until she got it all packed down. Spot cleaning was easy, but cleaning it out entirely was a pain the rear.

I've had my six foot girl for about four years now, and have never had a problem with her impacting on anything. I guess if she got a huge mouthful it might be a problem, but she's always spit out anything that wasn't food (best she could anyway) and any remaining pieces would be small enough to pass right through her big boa body.

Just my experience

[cinderbird]

I actually use a mixture... I put a couple layers of newspaper down, then cover that in a layer or two of paper towels. The paper towels soak up any liquids fairly well, while the newspaper just covers the bottom for solids. Easy to clean too... reach in, pull it up, scrub her down, put new in.

I also used carefresh for a while. It worked well until she got it all packed down. Spot cleaning was easy, but cleaning it out entirely was a pain the rear.

I've had my six foot girl for about four years now, and have never had a problem with her impacting on anything. I guess if she got a huge mouthful it might be a problem, but she's always spit out anything that wasn't food (best she could anyway) and any remaining pieces would be small enough to pass right through her big boa body.

Just my experience

Thanks

I just figure, hes so small that hes still in a 32q tub, when we move im getting him a much larger display cage, but for now i want him to have some stimulation. I think a burrowing movable bedding may be good for him.

[ladywhipple02]

Some of them love to burrow... I didn't even know Kinkers liked to until I put in that Carefresh. It's definitely something when you look into the cage and all you see of a six foot snake is the very tip of their nose.

Or with her, she would bury her head and about three quarters of her fore-body, but leave her butt hanging out lol.

[cinderbird]

Some of them love to burrow... I didn't even know Kinkers liked to until I put in that Carefresh. It's definitely something when you look into the cage and all you see of a six foot snake is the very tip of their nose.

Or with her, she would bury her head and about three quarters of her fore-body, but leave her butt hanging out lol.

i think he'd like that. I give him some extra news paper that i crumple up for him to move around and squish as he'd like but he still seems like he wants more.

You said you have a female, how big is she? Ive thought about getting a female because i'd like a larger snake than the balls, but not tooo much larger. Are the bigger females a real hand ful? Are they safe for an average sized girl to handle?

[Payton MacDonald]

I've got a 4.5 foot male BCI and I use aspen in a big tub. I feed him in the tub. I avoid impaction by putting the rat on a paper towel. I've used that for a year and a half and no problems.

I really like aspen because if you make it deep enough then the snake can thermoregulate. Mine will move up and down the aspen depending on what he needs for digestion or whatever.

Works great.

Payton