What Substrate Should I be Using with a Ball Python?

[noodle.obsessed]

I've been researching BPs for months now (I haven't got one yet) but I keep getting very contrasting research. I will have a water dish big enough for the BP to soak in (although I know that they shouldn't do this regularly in the correct environment) and I will also have a live moss cave for when they need to shed or need more humidity.

However, I have heard that Forest Floor is the best option and it prevents stuck shed and also that Aspen is the only substrate that you can use without risking scale rot. I will also have a hygrometer always in the vivarium and will try and keep it at 60% where the water and humidity cave are and more like 50% on the other end.

What substrate should I be using (is it true that Forest Floor can cause scale rot)?
And does my humidity sound about right?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The right substrate is the one that works for you and your animal, that mean it can be paper towel, news paper, coco chip, coco coir, aspen etc, depends on what you want to achieve, whether or not you have humidity issues, time of the year, geographical area etc.

Forest floor does not cause scale rot, damp and dirty substrate does and it goes for any substrate.

Some substrate like mulch, coco coir that comes in bricks and that need to be broke down with water will need to dry a bit before use.

[Turningstar]

You want a substrate that holds humidity. Aspen does NOT. Aspen will mildew and cause respiratory issues. Forest floor, cypress mulch, reptichip, coco block, paper, paper towels are all good choices.

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[Stewart_Reptiles]

You want a substrate that holds humidity. Aspen does NOT. Aspen will mildew and cause respiratory issues. Forest floor, cypress mulch, reptichip, coco block, paper, paper towels are all good choices.

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Funny I have used aspen for 14 years without a single RI. Again depends on the conditions not everyone needs a substrate that holds humidity, as for mildew the key is regular maintenance.

[Luvyna]

I use Forest Floor cypress mulch and I have never had any problems with scale rot. I love this bedding because it doesn't mold, holds humidity well, and doesn't require soaking like coco blocks, or have dusty fine pieces like coco fiber (that said this is just personal preference though and any of those substrates work fine and plenty of people use them!).

The one thing to know about it though is that it will be very damp when you first take it out of the bag, so if you put it directly into the enclosure you may have humidity levels of up to 80-90% for 2-3 days. However it will soon evaporate and the humidity will return to normal levels. Having humidity that high for just a couple days a month (or however often you do a fully bedding change) will not hurt your snake, but if it bothers you, you can also leave the bag open for a while before using it, take out the bedding and spread it out to dry, or bake it before using. I always just put it straight into the enclosure, though, and I've never had any problems.

Also, keeping the humidity in the enclosure between 50-60% would be fine, especially if you have your moss humid hide in there. It still helps to bump the humidity up to around 70-80% when your snake is shedding, though.

[Turningstar]

True. Maintenance is key. Ive heard of horror stories with new owners and aspen, so I tend to shy away from it.

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[Craiga 01453]

I use a blend of EcoEarth and ReptiBark. Been using it for years now. It holds humidity well, spot cleans easily, retains odor and looks naturalistic.

But like Deb mentioned above, there's no "one size fits all answer". What works for me in MASS might not work for others living in different climates, for example.

I personally don't like Aspen because I find it messy, it doesn't retain humidity well and honestly, I don't like how it looks. But that's ME.

Regardless of substrate choice, as long as it's reptile safe, it's important to keep it clean. Substrates don't cause scale rot or RI, improper husbandry and dirty enclosures do.

[noodle.obsessed]

Wow thanks for all the helpful responses (it has really helped boost my confidence in my choices).
I'm planning on going for the forest floor as it is easily accessible for me and i live in a dry climate (and i personally think it looks better). I will also try to increase the humidity if I notice the snake starting to shred.

[Caitlin]

I live in a dry climate. As others did a great job of pointing out, it all depends on your own circumstances - the ambient humidity levels and fluctuations where you live and in your snake room, what sort of enclosures you use, whether your snakes want/need to burrow, etc. Scale rot is an issue of cleanliness, not humidity, so don't factor that into your decisions about substrate. I really like aspen as a substrate for my Antaresia pythons and for my Gray-banded Kingsnake, but it doesn't hold humidity well enough for my Ball python or Brazilian Rainbow Boa.

I did like Forest Floor as a substrate, but eventually decided not to use it just because of personal concerns over the environmental impact of harvesting cypress trees. Other than that personal consideration, it was an excellent substrate. I switched to ReptiChip, which I've been really happy with. When moistened appropriately, it provides just the right humidity levels for not only my Ball Python but for my high-humidity-requiring BRB as well.

I mention all that to just emphasize that it's substrate combined with adjustments to individual enclosures that create the humidity range needed - my BP is fine at 60%; the BRB needs it constantly in the 90% range. When I see that they're ready to shed, I'll typically offer a humidity hide, but honestly most of my snakes never use it.

My Jungle Carpet Python is on paper towels, and paper towels are my substrate of choice for my Green Tree Python as well - his humidity is maintained by other methods. You have lots of options - almost all of them will work well for a BP as long as you make the right adjustments to enclosure, etc.

[viper69]

You want a substrate that holds humidity. Aspen does NOT. Aspen will mildew and cause respiratory issues. Forest floor, cypress mulch, reptichip, coco block, paper, paper towels are all good choices.

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I've been using aspen for over 20 years. Never any mildew, and no respiratory issues with the snakes on them. The above statement is not true, ie it's not a guarantee. I've lived in the highest humidity areas and no issues with it.