Substrate and Temps

First, the green carpet isn't working (odor) and I want to switch substrate. I've read that newspaper is not that absorbent and doesn't help with odors.

So, best choice for odor control and humidity:
Aspen, Coconut Bark, Desert Snow, Cypress

Second, the green carpet suppresses the temp. For example, the UTH temp is 108 and the surface temp of the green carpet (temp gun) is 92. The snakes can't get under the carpet so there's no concern.

If I switch to a substrate that they can burrow under the temp will be much hotter on the glass than on top of the substrate. How do you compensate? The UTH has to be hotter to get the surface temp where you want it, even with a t-stat. What's the solution?

Thanks.
JohnNJ

Carpet is a bad substrate for snakes because it holds bacteria even after you wash it.

The best substrate I've found, after trying many different types, is a layer of aspen on a layer of newsprint paper. The paper allows you to see when liquid messes were made and also lets you just roll up and toss. :)

With any substrate, aspen or otherwise, you should always place the thermoMETER probe on the glass right over the UTH. Get that temp at about 93-94, then the temp on the substrate will only be about 1-2 degrees cooler. Substrate depth should only be just enough to cover the floor without bare spots, since BPs aren't avid burrowers like corns. If they burrow, it's because they want to get warmer.

Try those recommendations out and see how it goes. Good luck.

Like she said above me - I use a couple layers of papertowels with the substrate over it and with my probe for the thermometer under the papertowels and shoot for a degree or two higher than what I want Stan to be on. Works great.

I use Slate tile in all my herp enclosures, it is the easiest to clean, not too smooth, not too rough and still looks very natural and good. Also transfers heat pretty good as well, not to mention it's not really expensive at all either.

So I'm guessing that the snakes do not try to get under the newspaper.

What about feeding? Do they ingest the substrate much? I read in another thread that some people put down a paper towel or newspaper to feed on and then remove it.

Anyone have a preference for something other than Aspen?

Thanks.
JohnNJ

I've been using cypress and it works pretty well for my guys. I haven't seen them ingest any of it at all, but even if a small piece or two went down I don't think it'd be an issue. They ingest some of their substrate in the wild, I'm sure.

The LPS didn't have cypress when I was in last so I ended up with a bag of aspen. I hope I like it as well as the cypress!

v

Of course they'll go under the newspaper...if they're the type that want/likes to do that. One of my males has been nicknamed 'commando snake' by my BF since he prefers going under the paper to any hide I've tried him with. :)

This is why you place the probe down there - to make sure they aren't contacting a surface that's too hot in case they decide to go. As for probe attachment... well, I just use suction cups with the probe wired to them and put them back where they belong when they've been moved. Having a temp gun really helps in those cases to double check that the temps are still proper and the off readings are just because the probe was moved. :)

Ingesting substrate is no big deal for an animal that ingests bones, teeth, hair and the like. Just make sure you have no sharp pieces in the enclosure (the main reason I stopped using cypress) that could hurt them in or outside their mouth.
As far as other substrates, I've heard that the 'Desert Snow' brand has had some good reviews, but I don't use it because it looks too much like Carefresh (which is a dusty musty disaster for any animal). The coconut bark and other bark types can have big pieces and get moldy easily. As I said before, I've tried a lot of substrates with my first two snakes before landing on Aspen and staying with it. :D

Oh I will second the molding bark! I ran low on cypress and mixed in some "reptibark" chips from a friend and would occasionally find nice little blue moldy bark pieces in there. It wasn't a huge pain to scoop out the area but I'd rather not mess with it. The bark was also super dusty. I also found that the bark chunks weren't as "comfy" for my snakes. My bigger girl would get pink spots and indentations on her belly from the big chunks. I like the softer shredded cypress and aspen for this reason.

v

i have the same problem. i have a 20 gal long glass tank, and the substrate is on top of 1 single sheet of paper towel and just enough cypress mulch to cover the bottom, and i have to have the temp over a 100f for it to be atleast 80 on the coolside. i use 2 uth on each side. i tried all kinds of substrate but they all do the same. the probs to the thermostat and thermometers are all sitting ontop of the glass under the paper towel and cypress mulch. is there a substrate that lets the heat rise from the bottom to the top of the substrate. sorry to high jack, but i think thats what he is encounterting too.

Umm... a quick comment on that setup, MUSTANGGTANDGSXR: You shouldn't have the thermoSTAT probe inside the tank. That really messes up your temps! What you do is place the stat probe UNDER the tank right on the UTH, then the thermoMETER probe goes Inside on the glass right over the UTH. Yes, your t-stat will have to be set higher, but since it's the digital thermometer reading you want, that's what you follow.

And, for two UTHs I hope you're using two separate t-stats or a Herpstat II or Pro. They need to be controlled apart to get the right temps. Hope that helps ya!