The Best Substrate for a BP

There is a lot of debate on this topic and it turns out that a lot of different things work here. However I preffer a more natural setting for my snakes and for me newspaper or paper towels is just ridiculous. So far I've been using Nature Bark which is ok I guess, but for one thing it is not very easy to scoop and clean . So I'm thinking aspen shavings . I've heard of mold issues associated with it but I think it will be ok in my case since I have a very large water bowl to provide for humidity and I don't really need to mist the substrate with water . Mites were a big issue with my last snake I got, because the guy kept it on Reptibark. So with that being said I'm looking forward to hear your experience on this topic and please no newspaper or something that carries mites;)

I'm using ZooMed cyprus mulch. In my dry home I need something that retains moisture, but I also like the 'natural setting' look - so this is working out just great. Salzedo seems to enjoy it too! I feed him in a feeding tub to avoid the possibility of getting any flakes of the mulch in his mouth.

I have tried carpet (back when I didn't know better), eco-earth (now there's some mold), cypress (just didn't like those big sharp pieces), and newsprint and have finally landed on aspen as preferred substrate.

I use Aspen on all snakes and rodents, and have never yet had a mold problem. As long as you clean up wet spots and fluff it every now and then, there shouldn't be a problem. It's cheap, soft, nice looking, easy to spot clean, and when you put a layer of paper under it a total clean up is a snap! Just roll and toss. :)

I, too, feed my BP in a different enclosure, but that's mostly because her cage is really really busy. The corns eat in their cages with no trouble.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by drugaria

. Mites were a big issue with my last snake I got, because the guy kept it on Reptibark. So with that being said I'm looking forward to hear your experience on this topic and please no newspaper or something that carries mites;)

---

Just wanted to let you know that the bedding is not where the snake gets the mites. They come from the snake its self. All natural substrates wether it be reptibark,aspen shavings,jungle earth ect are all cleaned to make sure there are not any bugs in them, most of the time the package will say "heat treated" or something along those lines. I use coconut husk that is ground up, actually right now my bp is in a tub so Im using aspen for the time being.

Just thought I'd throw that out there about the mites....

Yes, that is right and wrong !!!
If the bark says it's heat treated than it's fine . However reptibark is not heat treated and many people make the mistake of buying it instead of the heat treated nature bark which looks the same .That's when have mite problems. And also snakes do not generate mite themselves . Mites are present everywhere in the outdoors and lay eggs in the bark of trees.

For a loose substrate I personally prefer aspen for the ball pythons. All aspen is not the same though. We buy a quite nice fine shred aspen that I really like. It does as mentioned in a previous post need to be occasionally finger fluffed, especially inside hides, where the heavy weight of the snake will compress it down and make it less efficient in the way it allows heat through. It's just a normal part of my cage checks to fluff the aspen, really takes perhaps a second or two extra per enclosure once a week to put the loft back in the bedding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by drugaria

Yes, that is right and wrong !!!
If the bark says it's heat treated than it's fine . However reptibark is not heat treated and many people make the mistake of buying it instead of the heat treated nature bark which looks the same .That's when have mite problems. And also snakes do not generate mite themselves . Mites are present everywhere in the outdoors and lay eggs in the bark of trees.

---

I know snakes dont generate mites themselves, its just most of the time, the substrate is not the culprit.

Sani-Chips if you don't like paper

Or, if you don't mind, that paper based substrate that has colors?

Carefresh...

I found that for natural looking substarte chipped coconut bark was the best it is very absorbant, good for increasing humidity without having a damp bottom, leaves not powdery residue and has no sharp edges, but it is rough enough for the snake to shed against it. Coconut oil is also a natural moisturiser and antifungal so it doesn't get mouldy.

It also holds the heat well so my snake likes to bury itself in it. It is unfortunately rather expensive as substrates go.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LadyOhh

Sani-Chips if you don't like paper

---

Where do you get Sani-chips?