Carpet As Substrate??

[miechBIG]

Hello there everyone.. First and most I AM a rookie at this reptile thing. I am a happy owner of two new reptiles; a veiled chameleon and BP. I've had the chameleon for two months and the BP for a month now.

With that out of the way I have read read read forums everywhere about husbandry.

So really I just have one question, has anyone ever tried using regular home carpet as a substrate?

It would seem to me in the area I'm in (Oklahoma) that the humidity would stay in the cage.
*It takes forever for my floor carpet to dry up so I figured this might help.

I know about plastic tubs, which is where the actual piece of carpet is, but if it would help in the glass tank I would like to replace the normal reptile carpet with it for humidity and mostly for shedding.

Also since the underside is kind of rough my thought was it would aid in shedding.

Any thoughts on this?

Its not an emergency, just thinking outside the box..

[ballpythonluvr]

Hello there everyone.. First and most I AM a rookie at this reptile thing. I am a happy owner of two new reptiles; a veiled chameleon and BP. I've had the chameleon for two months and the BP for a month now.

With that out of the way I have read read read forums everywhere about husbandry.

So really I just have one question, has anyone ever tried using regular home carpet as a substrate?

It would seem to me in the area I'm in (Oklahoma) that the humidity would stay in the cage.
*It takes forever for my floor carpet to dry up so I figured this might help.

I know about plastic tubs, which is where the actual piece of carpet is, but if it would help in the glass tank I would like to replace the normal reptile carpet with it for humidity and mostly for shedding.

Also since the underside is kind of rough my thought was it would aid in shedding.

Any thoughts on this?

Its not an emergency, just thinking outside the box..

I really wouldn't use carpet, not even reptile carpet. It would just get nasty when the snake pees and poops and be a breeding ground for bacteria. There are other good substrates out there that can help you achieve the proper humidity for your snake. It is initially your snake and your call, but I personally wouldn't do it.

[cletus]

Too hard to keep clean. Just thinking about it makes my head hurt. The smell would be really bad.

[piedlover79]

Even that carpet that is meant for snakes gets super gross super quick normal carpet would be a bacteria/mold nightmare in a week.

[CloudtheBoa]

I personally wouldn't even choose to use carpet in my home let alone in my snakes' enclosures...if we live at our current place much longer I'm seriously debating ripping up the existing carpet. The humidity bps need and all the pee and poop would make for a really disgusting carpet really quickly. I wouldn't use repticarpet, either, as others have mentioned, it's unsanitary.

[miechBIG]

Thanks to everyone.. I didn't think of it like that but makes perfect sense.. THANKS AGAIN

[melcvt00]

I am currently a month into using a bath towel in my 40gal glass tank. I was using cypress mulch.

So far, I have been happy. Makes it really easy to clean the tank frequently without lots of cost. I have also been putting a wet, folded washcloth on the hide under the CHE to bump up the humidity. Truthfully, the humidity has been holding better with this than using the mulch and misting at least once daily. Cheaper, too, because then I just throw the towel and rag in the wash once a week and rotate in a new set.

[ballpythonsrock2]

I am currently a month into using a bath towel in my 40gal glass tank. I was using cypress mulch.

So far, I have been happy. Makes it really easy to clean the tank frequently without lots of cost. I have also been putting a wet, folded washcloth on the hide under the CHE to bump up the humidity. Truthfully, the humidity has been holding better with this than using the mulch and misting at least once daily. Cheaper, too, because then I just throw the towel and rag in the wash once a week and rotate in a new set.

If you use this method instead of (paper towel or newspaper <----- which would be a lot better I think) I would wash it with bleach in your wash which hopefully you know to do. And then make sure it is rinsed real well to get the bleach out. I personally wouldn't do this. I like aspen, I change the aspen at the end of the month and clean and disinfect the tub ( and spot clean) it is not that expensive, I get a small block of it at Walmart in the pet dept. for three something. The towel would be better than reptile carpet at least if washed right. But still your snake is laying on pee on a towel. Where as the aspen soaks up the pee. When I used paper towel I would tear apart the sections and place it around everywhere, and that way I could pull up the sections that got soiled and put some new sections down. I like "choose a size" paper towels, still use them for our house needs. Then once a month I would still replace all the paper towel and clean the tank or tub. Instead of a wash cloth on the hide I lay Spanish or sphagnum moss on top of the hide and let it few strands hang over the opening of the hide a bit. I mist this real good when I need to mist my tub, and for some reason my snake never bothers or pushes off the moss. I also like fake plants, I mist them too and the tub inside lids.

[ballpythonsrock2]

I really wouldn't use carpet, not even reptile carpet. It would just get nasty when the snake pees and poops and be a breeding ground for bacteria. There are other good substrates out there that can help you achieve the proper humidity for your snake. It is initially your snake and your call, but I personally wouldn't do it.

I appreciate this good advice answer delivered in a very non-hostile way with respect for the person asking. I think it is a good example for us. I know some people on here can be bull headed and get the ones who have a lot more experience frustrated or even angry. People who have been on here a long time can get tired of the same ole "ignorant ideas" repeatedly asked but most of these ideas are started by the Pet Industry that is the breeding ground for all or most of it. They are going to continue to teach their bad ideas. We can't really blame the people starting out keeping snakes for them. That is why those with a LOT more experience should try to be like ballpythonluvr was here and say it is your call but this is how we feel. My mom always told me you catch more flies with honey then vinegar. And you can lead a snake to water but you can't make them drink. The mission of this website is to inform with the truth as we know it to be, share idea's, opinions, and experiences. So good going ballpythonluvr.

[GoingPostal]

There is a lot of nasty toxin and chemicals in carpet from how they are made and the backing, I wouldn't want that in a pet cage at all, especially not where it would be heated and wet. Having seen a lot of pretty gory cuts and deaths from strings and loops on towels or fabric, I also would not recommend that for a reptile. Plus the bacteria factor with wet fabric, nope, nothing about this is safe. Paper towels or newspaper if you don't want substrate. Tubs are easier because you can just run heat underneath, they hold humidity and you can control the amount of ventilation. In a glass tank if you are using a heat lamp you will have nothing but struggles and the fixes aren't great. Most people close off the top more but then you have a snake in what's likely a too wet or too dry or unstably both environment with unsteady heat and poor air flow. Viola! Respiratory infection. Don't waste your money and time on a fish tank setup unless you want to fill it with water. Get a suitable snake cage and you'll both be much happier.