How do you keep your substate put?

I use paper towels, but I guess it can apply to any substrate. I often come home to find it all crumpled up in a corner. Are there any tips for keeping it where I put it?

Nope, nothing really you can do about it other than a heavy water bowl on one end, heavy hide on the other. Even still, they'll move the paper towels when they want to...

I use coco coir an I don't really try. I just let the snakes move it about as they want. Sometimes I will push it around again. Just a side note on paper towel, substrate ingestion happens sometimes paper towel is usually fatal if the snake eats a sheet. You should supervise feedings or feed with it removed. It does happen every now and again my vet has operated on 4 snakes trying to remove paper towel from the intestinal tract. Small snakes it usually isn't a problem but bigger ones it has been.

Yeah I use aspen and it doesn't move too much but when it does I just reach in and fix it. Not much else you can do.

I'd have never thought that my snake would eat the paper towel. Hmmm... I always supervise his feedings. Mostly 'cause I just like to watch, but partially to watch out for issues. :P
I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, and it does make me a little nuts when things are out of place. Lucky for me Jackson is such a chill little dude, and lets me fix it without getting stressed at all. Bradley, on the other hand, I have to be really careful with. I haven't even wanted to look at him directly and just glance at his reflection to check on him... but his paper is a mess. :rolleyes: I have gently changed it out twice since I've had him.

My mojo male makes a total mess of his tub no matter what we use. When it was newspaper he would rip and crumple it up so bad id swear he had hands! We use shop towels now and everyone else's will stay nice and flat but his ends up in a ball in the corner.

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Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

I'd have never thought that my snake would eat the paper towel. Hmmm... I always supervise his feedings. Mostly 'cause I just like to watch, but partially to watch out for issues. :P
I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, and it does make me a little nuts when things are out of place. Lucky for me Jackson is such a chill little dude, and lets me fix it without getting stressed at all. Bradley, on the other hand, I have to be really careful with. I haven't even wanted to look at him directly and just glance at his reflection to check on him... but his paper is a mess. :rolleyes: I have gently changed it out twice since I've had him.

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I use paper towels as substrate. Its usually everywhere by the time it needs to be changed, just part of using it I guess. I have never heard of a snake ingesting paper towels ever. As a matter of fact it is much less of a risk than using aspen or cypress. The heavy water bowel and hide trick does work occasionally, but they still seem to get under it and move it about. :D

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I had read a VPI article (Dave and Tracy Barker) that mentioned the ingestion of paper towel I thought it was odd but given the Barkers reputation for the science end of things I thought i'd ask my vet. She has worked around reptiles for a long time and learned under another vet she said that she has seen it four times in the past. No substrate ingestion is good but most are not as serious. Paper is also hydroscopic and reduces humidity as well. I felt that pointing out that others have had serious problems I thought it was a good thing to point out. It was mentioned that this was larger snakes and not hatchlings.

Ref. "BALL PYTHONS: History, Natural History, Care & Breeding" 2006 VPI library

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I had read a VPI article (Dave and Tracy Barker) that mentioned the ingestion of paper towel I thought it was odd but given the Barkers reputation for the science end of things I thought i'd ask my vet. She has worked around reptiles for a long time and learned under another vet she said that she has seen it four times in the past. No substrate ingestion is good but most are not as serious. Paper is also hydroscopic and reduces humidity as well. I felt that pointing out that others have had serious problems I thought it was a good thing to point out. It was mentioned that this was larger snakes and not hatchlings.

Ref. "BALL PYTHONS: History, Natural History, Care & Breeding" 2006 VPI library

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Wasn't trying to argue or anything :p I have personally seen substrate ingestion from aspen and cypress, its no fun. I haven't seen it at all yet with paper towels or even the chance of it. I do see how it is possible (anything is with these guys :)). Just think that its less likely than a small piece of wood substrate. Thanks for the reference to the book, I have been wanting to pick it up. I have read kevins book and a few others. Sounds like a good read. Amazon wish list ;)

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It is the finest book of its kind I have seen. It isn't cheap but when you buy text books for university or medical texts it isn't expensive either mid priced. It is well worth the cost.