What is the best substrate for ball pythons?

[tkdlover123]

I'm using Eco-Earth for my ball python be it's great. However, I want to try some other types of substrate for my ball python. If you can recommend me a substrate, I will greatly appreciate it. Also can you tell me the pros/cons about it too? Thank you!

[KMG]

Much of this is a matter of opinion.

I like cypress mulch. I use Forest Floor as I find it very clean and well shredded.

I like to keep naturalistic cages and have found a mixture of cypress, Eco Earth, and ReptiBark is what I prefer. If holds humidity well but does not get dusty like using Eco alone.

[adamsky27]

I have my animals in racks, so I use paper towels. As long as you catch the mess quick enough all you have to do is remove it and replace it with another. Depending on the mess, lol. The pros for me is that its good for my dust allergies. Cons are price (depending which you use) and if you don't catch the mess quick enough its a pain to clean. I'd never use newspaper and I don't think I'd ever switch from paper towel.

If you are asking for a display type setup, good question

[ajmreptiles]

Aspen Shavings
pros: easy to clean, light weight, holds humidity fairly well.
cons: it's susceptible to mold

Cypress Mulch
pros: fairly easy to clean, holds moisture really well, mold resistant
Cons: can be difficult to find where it is finely shredded.
Note: I use every day cypress much found at my local garden supply store works well for me but I'm also careful when feeding to try and prevent them from swallowing a large piece

there is also eco earth, which works as well as the mulch but can get dusty if you don't mist it every so often.

unprinted news paper is also popular

[ProjectMKUltra5]

I started off using aspen but have since switched to paper towels and it's the best decision I've made. Finding little aspen shavings in my room got old real quick, it's hella easy to clean, and I like the simple look it provides in my T8.

[WmHrbst]

I use clean white packing paper. Just my preference.

[200xth]

Pine. Absorbs liquid waste well, controls odor, doesn't mold nearly as easily aspen, and is able to hold humidity well enough (depending on your location).

[TheSnakeEye]

It's all a matter of preference for you. I have tried paper, shredded aspen and even sani-chips.

- Paper gets messy quick and doesn't hold odor
- Shredded aspen was great but was just very dusty and drove me crazy
- Sani-chips doesn't hold liquid as well as the shredded aspen but is dust free. It's also a bit messy cus it's so fine but again I love it because it looks nice, and has a nice smell.

[BCS]

Unprinted news paper. I have a rack system and one roll last two months+. Super easy and fast to clean. Easy to spot the mess. No little shavings over the floor and does not mold. During shedding, the snakes gets moist paper towel to up the humidity. Simple easy and to the point.

If you are wanting to make a nice looking enclosure though, best thing IMO is cypress mulch. It hods humidity, looks nice and hides smells.

Eco earth or coconut husk are also really good options but the problem with them is if the dirt stays moist too long, you risk scale rot. It also makes it really had to sanitize a glass tank as it tends to stick to the sides and gets in the corners.

[jclaiborne]

A good old mix of dirt/sand/peat moss and now I may be adding some DG into the mix.