Which is the best substrate for a BP?

Any relatively dry substrate that makes frequent, complete cleanings as simple as possible for the keeper is the best for a BP.

Over the last 25+ years I've kept ball pythons on every substrate you can imagine and they don't care ... keeping their enclosures dry and clean is the most important thing to consider as a primary step towards good ball python husbandry.

-adam

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Originally Posted by KittyJ

We use peat moss and grinded-to-dirt-form bark and it works excellent, here is a pic of Chester's tub and what the substrate looks like;

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66...7/S3700032.jpg

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WOW!!! Nice reduced BP!! Are you in Washington state or DC?? I'll be there in the morning. Leave the snake at the front door at 9am and I'll .... uh, borrow him!! :D

We've been using Care Fresh bedding. It looks like huge flakes of snow. But it's white, very absorbent, hold humidity well, and is easy to spot clean. We like it! I just looks a little weird.

Thanks for the replies anymore? So Far newspaper seems to have it!

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Originally Posted by randomdaydream

Sand...*shivers*

I use this stuff called 'Equine Fresh' and I'm not really sure what it could be compared to exactly. It works very well, though! I don't like the R-Bark because I have heard too many stories of snakes trying to eat it, for some reason. ^.-

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Equine Fresh is a compressed pine pellet. Much like Woody Pet and some others. Very good for small animals as it absorbs the ammonia in urine and turns to sawdust so you know when it needs to be replaced.

For me its unprinted newspaper. Once you get past a few snakes its all about ease of cleaning.

kittyj, i noticed you have greenery in your tank. i want some to make the tank look better and create more places to hide. do you buy the plants and stuff, or do u just go rip them outto the garden. cheers.

I've used newspaper, mulch, carefresh, sani chips, and aspen over the last few years. Here's my thoughts, for what they're worth:


1. newspaper - Pros: cheapest, easiest to see if substrate needs cleaning, easy to replace, great to use if you have a mite problem because you can see the little buggers. 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 (that's OK for hiding purposes) so you can't see him.

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.

Any body want to add to the pros and cons?

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Originally Posted by Alice

I've used newspaper, mulch, carefresh, sani chips, and aspen over the last few years. Here's my thoughts, for what they're worth:


1. newspaper - Pros: cheapest, easiest to see if substrate needs cleaning, easy to replace, great to use if you have a mite problem because you can see the little buggers. 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 (that's OK for hiding purposes) so you can't see him.

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.

Any body want to add to the pros and cons?

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Great post!! :rockon:

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Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

Newspaper with Aspen on top for me.

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Ditto. It seems that my BP likes the aspen as cushion. Whenever he digs deep enough to reach the news paper, he goes to the cool side where the aspen is stacked. Until I pack up the warm side with re-dig-able aspen again, he will move back to the warm side and start digging again...

And no it's not because it's too hot, rawr. He just likes the cushion!!! :D

I use paper towelling (sp?) I can order in large rolls from my work , so quite lucky in that respect . Brill' to use .

I use Newspaper as well. It's free, steril, and easy to clean out with!