Substrate in a rack system

so i made the switch from tanks to rack systems and im wondering what you all use for substrate in your tubs.

right now im using newspaper but i think i might need to switch to something that can hold humidity a little bit better.

what do you use and why???

Newspaper works great and won't affect your humidity much compared to other options. Unprinted paper is even better! It's the cleanest way to keep your snakes in a rack!

And just because one option might be more popular than another (which might show up in the poll) doesn't mean that one is truely "better" than another.

It really comes down to personal preference.

If you use paper, you're going to clean EVERY time the snake does anything. Some keepers prefer to do that.

If you use aspen or bark, you can get away with spot cleaning and cleaning the whole tub out less often. Some keepers prefer that method as well.

I use paper towels...

I chose newspaper, although I use both newspaper and paper towels.

I have a question, though. Looking at my rack right now :eek: ....6 of my 8 snakes are under the newspaper. Is this normal, or can I assume there is something about their hides that they don't like?

They smell like cat??? :8: J/J ! :P

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Originally Posted by Laooda

They smell like cat??? :8: J/J ! :P

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LOL, good one! Actually Cinder is one of the 2 actually in her hide, Emily the tiny one is the other.

A few of mine get under the paper all the time. Its just where they prefer to be I suppose!

some of mine are under the paper too! i guess if the temp at the bottom of the tub is correct then there is nothing to worry about!

My juvie would crawl under the paper also. I just took a single sheet and folded in half and put it over the cool side and his hide. Now he chills in his hide under the loose sheet on top. I figured he was trying to tell me he wanted a little more privacy

Unprinted newspaper rocks.

Hmmm, I might try that trick next time I clean tubs! And I think I might start getting the unprinted stuff and leave out the paper towels.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

It really comes down to personal preference.

If you use paper, you're going to clean EVERY time the snake does anything. Some keepers prefer to do that.

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So true.........i used to use coconut fiber, when i had tanks........and you really don't know how much of a mess these guys make until you use a rack, and switch to paper towels..........wow! stink little buggers! it's funny when they make a mess, and they won't lay in it, they'll try and get in a corner where it's dry, then when you open the tub they look at you like....what took you so long idiot!

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Originally Posted by reediculous

it's funny when they make a mess, and they won't lay in it, they'll try and get in a corner where it's dry, then when you open the tub they look at you like....what took you so long idiot!

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Not all of them... I think my male pastel likes to use his poo as camouflage to fit in with the other snakes. :( :snake: :tp:

I used to use paper towels then Adam told me it can be dangerous if swallowed. He sat in on a surgery from an injested paper towel so I switched to newspaper. Newpaper disinergrates if wet or injested and paper powels swell and hold together. he recommended only usuing paper towles for small snakes which couldn't swallow it by mistake. If you are trying to keep humidity up reduce air holes and/or get a wider(not deeper) water bowl. I live in a dessert and have no problems controling humidity that way in my racks.

Raul, thanks for that info! I'll remove the paper towels now, don't wanna endanger my babies :(

Unprinted paper...All day long!

I actually use 1-2 layers of newspaper with a thin layer of aspen on top. just my preference...dunno why.

I use aspen in the ball rack. As said spot cleaning is pretty easy but unless I'm not physically home for the weekend to clean, I don't go more than a week without a full tub cleaning. I will sometimes use paper as a first layer like Nate said. It can be helpful for soaking up those really juicey urates or for when the snake has pushed the aspen around the paper still "catches" the poopoo. When I bring a new snake in I use just paper so I can easily see if there are any mites while in quarantine.

can the ink from printed newspaper harm the animal in anyway??

paper towels for my guys.

yep I get all the leftover sunday papers for 10 cents each at walmart on monday.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

can the ink from printed newspaper harm the animal in anyway??

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i'm guessing no then?

Aspen: Less cleaning and keeps the smell down.

paper = more cleaning and no smell ;)

cleaning is a good thing.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

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i'm guessing no then?

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The ink is vegetable based...totally harmless.

Unprinted rocks my world.

I like to use newspaper...and endless supply for free......cleans up in a jiffy too!

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

The ink is vegetable based...

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yummy!

Ive heard the newspaper has small amounts of antibacterial properties to it, Ill be using it when my rack comes in, In show tanks I use aspen for looks. Where can I get unprinted newspaper?

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Originally Posted by Subzero

Ive heard the newspaper has small amounts of antibacterial properties to it

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Not so ... and even if it did, it would not benefit a snake living on it in any way at all.

Hope this helps.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Subzero

Ive heard the newspaper has small amounts of antibacterial properties to it

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Antibacterial paper is only used for Hospital medical records and pharmacy envelopes, etc.... Not newsprint ;)

I use newspaper. When added humidity is needed, I add in crumpled newspaper balls (loosely crumpled) that I spray with water.
I figure, the rack is made for ease of use, convenience, and not for appearances; so why feel compelled to use a pretty substrate? :)

Papertowels for the most part.

Sani Chips for the others...

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

Sani Chips for the others...

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Yup. Sani Chips are the way to go. Wayyy better than shredded aspen. I do newspaper laywer with Sani Chips on top.

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Originally Posted by jotay

My juvie would crawl under the paper also. I just took a single sheet and folded in half and put it over the cool side and his hide. Now he chills in his hide under the loose sheet on top. I figured he was trying to tell me he wanted a little more privacy

Unprinted newspaper rocks.

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same here lol. it worked for my corn snake.

I switched to unprinted and I dont ill ever go back. Its the cleaniest substrate. Im sure Danny Tanner from "full house" would be proud.

I found shipping paper in the shipping/package/evelope isle at Target. Its in a roll. The only thing that sucks is you have to cut it to specific size. I just guestimate the area.

Anyone know where I get the unprinted paper substrate that is not in a roll...rather in single flat sheets?

The reason I ask is because I hate uncurling the sheets because it comes in a roll.

Thanks in advance

You can purchase sheets from any uhaul packing store. They come flat in a box, folded in half length-ways.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

And just because one option might be more popular than another (which might show up in the poll) doesn't mean that one is truely "better" than another.

It really comes down to personal preference.

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I agree! We use aspen in our large racks and paper towels in our hatchling racks. I compiled the following info a while back for a friend and thought I'd share:

1. newspaper - Pros: cheapest, easiest to see if substrate needs cleaning, easy to replace. Cons: it's ugly, doesn't hold humidity, the minute water is spilled or urine is released the paper must be changed - this can happen daily, sometimes the newsprint rubs off on the snake (not a health problem, just makes the snake dirty looking) and many times the snake gets under the paper so you can't see him (that also could be an advantage).

2. Mulch - Pros: relatively cheap at your local garden store, holds humidity very well, looks nice, and you may only need to change the part of the substrate that's dirty. Cons: hard to tell if substrate needs cleaning, may have bugs (not harmful to snakes that I've heard), heavy to lift large quantities, and when changing a large # of tubs you have big bags of "trash."

3. Carefresh - Pros: just the ticket if you're going for a different look (it's available in grey, white, pink, blue and purple), usually easy to see if substrate needs changing, only need to change the part of the substrate that's dirty. Cons: Very expensive and can sometimes be difficult to find in large quantities.

4. Sani chips - Pros: very absorbent, need only change the part of the substrate that's dirty, and holds humidity pretty well. Cons: very tiny pieces, pretty expensive but a little does go a long way, hard to find, gets all over the place (the pieces almost seem to float in the air) and hard to vacuum up.

5. Aspen - Pros: very absorbent, need only change the part of the substrate that's dirty, easy to see if substrate needs cleaning, snakes like to burrow in it, relatively inexpensive, easily available at any pet store, and holds humidity well. Cons: pieces stick to socks and towels and are very difficult to remove, some don't like the idea that some small pieces may be ingested with the prey (I've never had a problem with this), and the size of pieces and the "cut" vary widely.

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Originally Posted by Krazy99CL

Anyone know where I get the unprinted paper substrate that is not in a roll...rather in single flat sheets?

The reason I ask is because I hate uncurling the sheets because it comes in a roll.

Thanks in advance

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www.uline.com

Aspen. Recently switched all of the snakes over and it is much easier for cleaning when you have this many snakes.

I have tried just about all the substrates I can find and right now I have all my sub adults and adults on Aspen pellets. I havn't had any trouble with shedding and as soon as one of the snakes poop. Those pellets suck it right up into a ball. As far as the hatchlings I have been using paper towels with them and the snakes I am cooling right now is on paper towels. I guess it should be ok to keep them on paper towels while they cool since there is no feeding at this time.

I use disposable cage liners, and love them. They soak up very well, and are extrememly easy to clean. Pull it out, spray the tub, wipe it down, put a new precut in, and your ready to go. :banana:

ill stick with newspaper. way more easy to clean and cheaper:gj:

I still use newspaper. I use my rack for ease of houseing; not for display purposes or aesthetics. So newspaper's "ugliness" does not bother me. And it helps me keep my snakes' tubs cleaner, easier. :)

how do you guys deal with front page news imprinted on the the belly of your snakes?

do you ave unspillable water bowls??

I officially switched to newspaper this morning. I've been going through way too many 8 packs of paper towels between cleaning everything to using it for substrate. And the best part is that it's free:banana:.
Plus paper towels were nice to soak up everything but im sure newspaper will be just about the same. And paper towels can be a pain to fit just how I like them in my tubs.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

how do you guys deal with front page news imprinted on the the belly of your snakes?

do you ave unspillable water bowls??

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I use heavy ceramic dog-water bowls. I have never had one spill. The only thing that gets water spilling out of them, is me, if I am clumsy in sliding the tubs back in!
I also use a few heavy Pyrex dishes too. Same difference; but those were missed by my husband (he cooks a lot) and I got some grief about it!
I really do not notice newsprint on my snakes. But I did have an egg last year that had a small corner of the newsprint that kinda got baked onto it, as it must have been moist when laid of course; the paper on the side had folded and touched the shell and dried on. It did not affect the egg.

I haven't been using newspaper any longer than I'd say a couple of months, and I love it. It is a little ugly to look at but the snakes get something to read during the day and you don't see it that much in the rack.
As far as the ink getting on their bellies I still haven't seen that happen yet. I use some big thick plastic dog bowls for them which my 700 gram boy doesn't even flip over.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

how do you guys deal with front page news imprinted on the the belly of your snakes?

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If you don't like the printed newspaper, go to the print shop of your local paper and ask for the ends of the newsprint rolls. You'll get quite a lot on a roll, unprinted and free.

When you have lots of snakes, it's nice as long as you don't mind spending some time cutting then to right size.

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Originally Posted by tncorns

I have tried just about all the substrates I can find and right now I have all my sub adults and adults on Aspen pellets. I havn't had any trouble with shedding and as soon as one of the snakes poop. Those pellets suck it right up into a ball. As far as the hatchlings I have been using paper towels with them and the snakes I am cooling right now is on paper towels. I guess it should be ok to keep them on paper towels while they cool since there is no feeding at this time.

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Where do you get aspen pellets from? what brand name? All I ever see is the regular type aspen bags. thanx.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

do you ave unspillable water bowls??

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I use pet food bowls from ikea. They are too big to tip over when the tub is in the rack and they also provide a good hiding spot. Every time I pull out the rack the snakes are under the water dish. here is a link to what i am talking about:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90140379