Do you ever feed directly on Loose Substrate

I have never fed my snakes on loose substrate like Aspen, Cypress Mulch, etc, and haven't actually used loose substrate for most of this year. It does looks like a lot of the bigger breeders feed directly on the loose substrate (for convenience with a large collection I'm sure.)

Many people believe that there is no risk to their animals accidentally consuming some of the substrate on occasion considering how powerful their digestive system is. Others worry about impaction or think it's not worth the risk, even if that risk is small.

Which leads me to the question and the poll above! Do you ever feed your ball pythons directly on loose substrate?

I feed my snakes on what every they are using as bedding. Some get paper towels, some get aspen and some get cypress mulch.

All of mine are on repti bark and they feed fine, now problem. People tend to forget in teh wild they wouldn't be eating on plates or smooth rocks necessarily. You should be careful, but sometimes people go too far and act like animals can't exist without them doing ABC. I've never met somone personally that had an issue with impaction.

I feed my Dumeril's boa on aspen and my king snake on Sani-chips.

Ball pythons/carpet pythons are on paper.

I feed mine on Aspen all the time. Not a problem.


1.0 - Spider
1.0 - Pastel, Het Orange Ghost
0.1 - Pastel, Het Orange Ghost
0.1 - Mojave
0.1 - Pinstripe

0.1 - German Shepherd (Kahlua)

1.1.0 Dendrobates Tinctorius “Azureus”
1.1.0 Dendrobates Auratus "El Cope"

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Thanks for the feedback. Don't forget to vote i the poll at the top! =)

We feed all of our BPs on shredded aspen and the colubrids on sanichips

Votes "sometimes" because out of all my snakes only four are on aspen. One is my corn who's my display snake and the others are my three biggest BP girl who I switched to see if their feeding improved (maybe being able to burrow would give them the extra security: they've been pigs lately but I don't think that's totally due to the substrate switch). The BPs have digested some aspen but nothing to worry about and I haven't had any problems. Everyone else is on paper towel/newspaper for convenience, I do prefer to NOT feed on aspen/loose substrate.

Earlier today I fed two of my three snakes in their terrariums for the first time. Previously I fed in separate tubs. My girl BP ThunderKiss is on cypress mulch. She had refused her last 2 frozen meals. I'm glad I have a field behind my house to toss uneaten mice in. Something will eat it. I picked up 2 adult mice at a feed store, and found out she hunts, and really lives up to her name. Both negative things associated with feeding on substrate happened today: First, she struck and wrapped up the mouse butt first leaving the head to bite. I was right there in a flash with my tongs to prevent any damage. Second, while she was eating I watched a 1/2" long piece if cypress go down with the mouse. Hopefully she will be fine. Also today my male spider Razor finally ate! He is 6-7 weeks old and this was his first meal in my ownership. I have him in a tub on paper towels so I didn't worry about any impaction. He refused 2 frozen meals so I went with the smallest live adult mouse I could find. After showing no interest for about 15 minutes my patience finally paid off. A perfect strike and coil. As thin as he is he took that mouse like a champ. I feel like a proud daddy today. Hope I can get them feeding on frozen sooner than later.

I feed directly on paper towels :)