substrate...what's the best?

besides Pine & aspen shavings, what should be avoided in regards to substrate for royals? When I had my corn, I used old newspaper shreds before moving on to shelf lining with various sized rocks to assist in shedding and basking (not heat rocks). But I was thinking of finding something abit more pleasing to the "human" eye. I don't want to use any type of sand....I have serious issues with it, but I don't want to rant and you don't want me to either...so that leaves pretty much everything else. The last thing I want is to get the enclosure built and then the snake to come down with something if I could have prevented it. Any suggestions would be most welcome, with the exception of that darn sand that causes way too many difficulties for me. I know that whatever I decide to go with will have to be changed and yet, at this point I don't mind the work it takes to keep an enclosure clean and the snake happy/healthy.

The search function works great on this site, and would be very helpful to you in finding many of the debates on the best substrate to use.

Aspen works fine and ranks right up there with newspaper for popularity. :)

Here's a thread here that has all the information you might want. Lots of responses and different information on what a lot of our forum members choose to use.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=24459


~~Jo~~

Avoid things that can mold. I know that corncob bedding can mold quickly if wet (never used it, but read it on a caresheet.) I would avoid sand altogether; it can clog up the heat pits on the face and generally makes for a too-dry cage.

Technically, the BEST bedding is whatever is easiest for you the keeper to keep meticulously clean.

Aesthetics aside; proper temps & humidity, access to fresh water, and a clean environment are critical when it comes to providing proper care for your animal.

Over the last 25 years, I've used every bedding imaginable from cypress to floor tiles and personally, I feel that unprinted newspaper sheets are "the best" ... they "show" everything that is going on with your snake, they're cheap, and when it's clean ... it's completely clean.

:D

-adam

I switched from repti-bark to aspen to paper. I'm not planning on switching from paper anytime soon...it's just so easy and cheap. Also, like Adam said, you see everything.

ok, I take some looks at that care sheet and thread and thanks everyone for all that great advice...Like I said "I have serious issues with sand of any kind." Both in and out of any kind of enclosure....

I was wondering, a friend who keeps black mambas (milks them)... (so gorgeous and deadly!) uses regular (kitchen) shelf paper for liners beneath the newspaper shreds...anyone have any thoughts on that??