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  1. #1
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    Best substrate I should get?

    Hi all! I made a post yesterday about my first tank for my ball python I'm soon going to get. I have the temps correct with the hot side between 89-91F and the cool side at 80-82F. My issue is humidity. I currently have aspen shavings in there but the humidity is only between 20-25% and I don't want to wet the aspen too much because of bacteria. I'm going in a bit to pick up a different substrate that will hold my humidity better but I'm not sure what to get so I have link to 3 different substrates and I just need help in figuring out which to get. I need the one that will raise my humidity a lot as it needs to go up about 25% more. Here's a link to my tank if it will help also ... http://imgur.com/26szuVZ

    And the link to the three substrates...

    http://www.petsmart.ca/gsi/webstore/...SKU=36-5133039

    http://www.petsmart.ca/reptile/subst...6-catid-500013

    http://www.petsmart.ca/reptile/subst...Term%3Dcypress

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Registered User PufferManMike's Avatar
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    Re: Best substrate I should get?

    I like coconut husk based substrate the best . It holds humidity very well.

    Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Telling it like it is! Stewart_Reptiles's Avatar
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    The best substrate is the one that works for you and your animals.

    Can be newspaper, paper towel, aspen, cypress mulch etc

    I use mulch for my adults and aspen for my hatchlings.

    Now with humidity issue I would recommend mulch.
    Last edited by Stewart_Reptiles; 04-11-2014 at 11:54 AM.
    Deborah Stewart


  4. #4
    BPnet Veteran MJT_23's Avatar
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    Re: Best substrate I should get?

    Quote Originally Posted by puffermanmike View Post
    i like coconut husk based substrate the best . It holds humidity very well.

    Sent from my htc ph39100 using tapatalk
    x2

  5. #5
    Registered User purple python's Avatar
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    I am really pleased with the cypress and would recommend it. I have also used eco earth and it works well too but I didn't care for it.

  6. #6
    Registered User Shera's Avatar
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    I am still experimenting. For my tubs I use aspen without issue, but my tank doesn't hold the humidity well. I used coconut husk (the big chunks) and I liked it, but then I tired the eco earth (fine coco husk) and I hate it. It's messy and stinks. It also seems a bit too wet, then it dries out to dust. I love white carefresh, but it's pricey and while I find it a little better for holding humidity than aspen, it's not as good as the coco husk chunks. The carefresh is awesome for spot cleaning though, it's so easy to see the messes, even urates stand out because there is always a bit of yellow discoloration around them. I have never tried cypress mulch, it might be my next step for my terrarium.
    Shelagh

    1.0 Normal BP (Link)
    0.1 Pewter BP (Mara)
    1.0 Kingpin BP (Corona)

    1.0 Albino Hognose (Wilbur)



  7. #7
    Registered User RockNRollProcelain's Avatar
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    Re: Best substrate I should get?

    In my tanks I use a combination of EcoEarth and Cypress Mulch. The bottom layer is EcoEarth, as it is well known for holding humidity. The top layer is Cypress Mulch because it also holds humidity, and it looks nicer than the EcoEarth in my opinion =] I've never had an issue with humidity since making the switch.
    My beloved snakes, as of now 4/13/2014 (Links to albums included!):

    2.2 Normal Ball Pythons (Asher, Leo, Aphrodite, Nadezdha AKA Dezie) http://imgur.com/a/0PSeO http://imgur.com/a/uZHO4 http://imgur.com/a/fRRgs
    1.1 Mojave Ball Python (Morgaine Le Fey, Un-named) http://imgur.com/a/xVsVK http://imgur.com/a/vZOrm
    1.0 Cinnamon Mocha Ball Python (Binne) http://imgur.com/a/UTDrI
    1.0 Orange Belly Ball Python (Mellan) http://imgur.com/a/Ek1Bs
    0.1 Cinnamon Ball Python (Maiara) http://imgur.com/a/iHicX
    1.0 Pastel Ball Python (Riordan) http://imgur.com/a/llnRI
    1.0 Cinnamon Calico Ball Python (Vincent Van Gogh)
    0.1 Bumble Bee Ball Python (Un-named)
    1.0 Lesser Ball Python (Huckleberry) http://imgur.com/a/6lnjq
    1.0 Dumeril's Boa (Lucius)

    Additions coming soon:

    1.0 Champagne Het Red Axanthic Ball Python
    Possible Clutch of Ball Pythons Normal x Cinnamon Calico

  8. #8
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    I use aspen, but also place a tub of damp moss beneath the ceramic to boost humidity.... It also helps in the shedding process, because Zorro will hide in the moss box a few days prior to shedding..... so far he has had perfect sheds every time.....It obviously works for him, so happy days!!

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