How do you keep your substate put?

I have some that will have perfect paper till they pee all over it. I have others who seem to mess it up AS SOON as I put new in. Nothing you can do really.

I always keep an eye on them if they get some paper towel wrapped up when they coil the prey. So far, no issues.

What I do is separate the paper into 4 sections (I have 4' x 2' Animal Plastics cages) so there are 4: 2' x 1' pieces of paper. I then put one hide on each side of the cage and a big water dish in the center. I haven't had a snake mess this system up too bad yet.

I use sheets of a felt like material that I cut to fit the bottom the tank. My snake is actually very neat and tidy and has never disturbed it! I just have it weighted down with the water bowl and a couple driftwood pieces.

I think it just depends on the snake. I have heard people say their snakes completely uproot their tubs on a daily basis and others that are very prim and proper. I guess just like humans some are neat and some are trouble. :P

IMO Paper towels suck as substrate!

Snakes can definitely ingest paper towels...I've seen it first hand...More than once.

News paper with one piece of Disposal Cage Liner over that and I rarely have a snake go under the paper or move the paper.



Sent from my DROID BIONIC

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

IMO Paper towels suck as substrate!

Snakes can definitely ingest paper towels...I've seen it first hand...More than once.

News paper with one piece of Disposal Cage Liner over that and I rarely have a snake go under the paper or move the paper.



Sent from my DROID BIONIC

---

Are we talking the snake ate a whole sheet of paper towel or a piece that was ripped off. I can see how a large enough piece of any substrate could cause problems if ingested.

I use the thick blue shop towels and I'm having a hard time imagining a situation where any of my snakes would be in a position to eat it!

sent from my EVO

I like the shop towels idea. You use them just like paper towels and toss 'em whenever they get messed? Jackson is a very messy little guy, I have to change out his paper frequently. (He pees a lot...) Sooo, paper towels are ideal 'cause they're cheap and easy. I also have a layer of reptile carpeting under it that I switch out and wash in the tub once or twice a week depending on ick-ness...

The description the Barkers mention is a whole sheet. They have far more experience than I (40+ years each so 80 years together) and were called as experts by USARK in "the fight." I can't say for sure myself as I have never seen it personally, but when people of experience and reputation for having facts straight speak I listen. Look it up in is just after the morph section, I loaned my copy to my vet so I can't quote a page for you. I think they speak about a damp rat and the towel sticking to it.

I prefer to keep my snakes on Uline Indented Kraft Paper - it is very thick and stong. I do have one normal male who had to be switched back to aspen because he kept balling up his paper - what a mess his tub always was - so I put him back on aspen.

The rest of my snakes do well on the kraft paper - its sooo much easier to see any messes they may have deposited.

I usually layer my bedding by squirting super glue, adding some aspen, then adding more super glue on the top of that, followed by another layer of aspen. Okay totally being sarcastic. My snakes dont mess their aspen up too bad, but when they do you just have to reach in and fix it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pigfat

I usually layer my bedding by squirting super glue, adding some aspen, then adding more super glue on the top of that, followed by another layer of aspen. Okay totally being sarcastic. My snakes dont mess their aspen up too bad, but when they do you just have to reach in and fix it.

---

Hahaha! I literally lol-ed when I realized you were kidding! I was going "What? WHAT!? Wha- oohhh..."
I know I'm being super picky, I'm a little bit of a neat freak. Thanks!