Substrate Question

Yes, I know, another substrate question. You must get millions of these.

I've done all the reading about it, and know what I should/should not use, and am picking up some aspen bedding (Which seems to be pretty highly recommended) on Friday morning, unless something better comes up between now and then. However, I have a question regarding the substrate I am using now, and how urgent it is that I stop using it... AKA, whether I switch straight to the aspen right away when I get it, or whether I can keep using the stuff I have now up first. Now, to be clear, the breeder I got the snake from sold me this first substrate, saying it was what they keep their snakes on, and has never given them a problem at all. But something bothers me about it, it's hard, pointy, and not particularly good at keeping the cage base covered. Here are a couple pictures of it, since I have no brand name or details... all I can tell you about it is that it is (according to the breeder) not pine. Despite that though, I feel it my responsibility to do a check and make sure that my snake is on a decent bedding for him/her, regardless what the breeder said.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...wolf/004-4.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...wolf/006-2.jpg

So simply, do I need to get the snake off this stuff asap, or would it be okay to use the rest of the bag of this up? I'm quite alright with either way, I'm just trying to make the right decision.

Thanks for any advice!

-Cornishninja

Here's the problem we don't know what it is. If it isn't pine or cedar I would stick with it. I use cypress mulch on my ball and boa. It is just a larger version of what you have pictured.


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Nothing wrong with pine................

Or maybe DarthKevin has some personal experiences he would like to share about how dangerous pine is.....................My Lord?

To the OP: that stuff looks very sharp and pointy - too sharp and pointy for my taste. However, not being a snake, I cannot attest to it's comfort.

I prefer softer stuff for my snakes. Unlike our feared Lord of the Sith, in three decades or so of keeping snakes, I have not had one single issue with pine bedding. Neither have the many experienced keepers who frequent this forum (or don't frequent this forum) who have used it for decades without problems.

In fact, most of the people warning about the dangers of pine have never used it, cannot point to one documented issue with it, but will readily advise others not purchase it based on internet bull poop.

A nice shredded aspen or flaked kiln dried pine will work fine, and is generally devoid of those nasty pointy bits you and I might object to.

It looks like Aspen Sani-Chips to me. Just not as uniform as I have seen before.

It could be anything Cedar it is not wrong colour. I unlike others would not use some unknown wood. There are many woods (uncommon to be use unless they were brought in from somewhere, china like everything else for example). there are many hardwoods (tropical mostly) that I would not use. I once was given some cashew wood once and well wen I decided to sand it with just a little dust mask well lets say I learned quickly wood can be quite toxic and very nasty. It looks sharp and I personally will not use any unknown wood period.

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-ar...-and-toxicity/