Looking Into Kenyans

One of the sites I visited suggested mixing sand and soil together and then using some water to dampen it so that their burrows would hold.

My friend uses crushed walnut shells with no problems, I just don't like how it looks personally.

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Originally Posted by Nippy

One of the sites I visited suggested mixing sand and soil together and then using some water to dampen it so that their burrows would hold.

My friend uses crushed walnut shells with no problems, I just don't like how it looks personally.

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I've always heard the walnuts aren't digestable.

Hello..just a few thoughts on what Ive read so far in this thread.

Over the years I have tried just about every type of substrate for kenyans. In reference to sand,... 2 things always come to mind. One, it is a very heavy substrate. Two, when sand is cold, it tends to stay cold for quite some time...the opposite is true for hot. It can be difficult to get a proper heat gradient in a strictly sand substrate. You may also find sand between scales,under scales,around vent area, the obvious impaction possibilities. All in all, not a great substrate.

Currently I keep all my kenyans on shredded aspen. Its perfect for burrowing, lightweight, great with temp gradients,..and with the proper cage furnishings very astethically pleasing to the eye.

A note on crushed walnut for a substrate....I have had bad experiences with kenyans on this substrate. It is extremely hard and if/when caught in the small corners of a sandboas mouth, you could be in for a whole variety of problems. I know colubrid keepers as well as python,boa,and gecko breeders who have had problems with it.

...Just my 2 cents.... hope it helps, and good luck with the kenyan!!! Ken

Walnut is pretty much bad for everything. When I found out my friend was using it, I was thinking, ummmmmmm, okaaaaaaaay. :confused:

I've decided on aspen and if it doesnt work for me then im using that crap that you put in water and it expands. I know what it is I just dont want to turn the light on and lean over my box o crap and see the label so dont waste a post on telling me what it is. Anyways, thanks for all the advice and ill be sure to post pictures of my final project.

BTW, I plan on getting an anery. :D