How often do I change substrate?

[Naf Eeknay]

In the past, I have used newspaper or paper towels for my Balls. I now have a 2 year old that I have in a tank and am using the reptibark substrate. It has only been in there a few weeks and I clean it when he goes to the bathroom but my question is how often do you change the stuff out. It seems like it will stay in pretty good shape as long as you clean it on a regular basis. Just wondering if anyone else uses this and what their experience is.

Peace

[BD1]

I remember an insightful thread a while back that compared the amount of urates and turds they found when they changed from one substrate to newspaper. The newspaper didn't absorb the mess as much so it was clear when there was something nasty left behind. I use aspen and I think it tends to absorb quite a bit, so although the cage looks clean (from spot cleaning) the bedding is still probably pretty nasty. I would continue with the spot cleaning but definitely clean the whole thing out once a month, disinfect everything and add new bedding.

[cassandra]

We clean, disenfect and replace the aspen bedding after our snakes shed, so once a month, give or take...

[Naf Eeknay]

We clean, disenfect and replace the aspen bedding after our snakes shed, so once a month, give or take...

That's good. At least it gives me a time frame. I think I will wait until he sheds then change it out. I may go with astro turf next though I like the look of the reptibark that I am using now.

Peace

[Kesosip]

I spot check and clean every day if needed which it is not but every day I check for a mess, I completly change out the substrate and disinfect every month also.