best substrate?

What is the best substrate for ball-pythons?

I have been using an astroturf sort of thing and it works great but i was wondering if that is the best

I've tried all kinds. But so far astro is my favorite.

i use this stuff called lizzard liner: Terrarium carpet.
it ran for about 9.00$ at petco but u can use newspaper bc its cheap and ez to get. i just used that bc i wanted sumthin to look real but ez to clean

I guess it depends on what your priorities are. There are cheaper and easier to clean substrates, like newspaper and astroturf, but I like repti-bark because it holds humidity relatively well; air can circulate through (or around) it, and it looks nice (that's the girly side of me talking).

newspaper rules.

How do they do with the ink from the newsprint? I HAVE to assume it's safe and all - but does it ever rub off on thier bellies or give em a hard time getting traction? Sounds like a hands-down winner on ease-of-use and from a cost perspective to be sure.

I've never heard of the ink coming off. I think it's the oils on our fingers that makes it come off on our hands if we handle a lot of it. Snakes wouldn't have that problem.

Astro turf is the best! I've tried newspaper, cypress mulch, and forest bed as well, but nothing beats Astro turf as far as clean asthetics go.

i can keep the substrate squeaky clean in 5 tanks for 50 cents every month or so using newspaper.

I like titanium. Easy to clean, looks great, no problem spotting mites, non-toxic, never causes an impaction.

:lol: