Not Your Average Substrate Question!

Ok! I have been using paper towels to line my tank with. I like using em, but I'm scared to use the PAM with them for some reason. Also, I have to change them once a week and Idk if that means I need to spray with PAM more often? I tried using the repti bark(i think thats what its called, its the stuff you get at petsmart), but even if I layer it really thin, my warm side is still too low. I can't raise my thermostat any higher b/c that would put my glass over 100 degrees and I dont want it that hot incase he tries to burry under the substrate. What is another good form of substrate I can try that might eliminate this heat problem?

Bumping this one time.

If you want to give your BP the healthiest,happiest living situation, put him/her in a tub.
I know...they are ugly...trust me I know. I hated them, and still hate the looks of them, but as far as the best way to control humidity, heat, cleaning, security and overall happiness of your snake, they are unrivaled.

Agreed. Everything here is in tubs.

You make it sound like you use PAM all the time? I only use PAM when i get something new, just in the new things cage, spray the day it comes and a week after, then leave it alone. I would only use after that if I had a mite outbreak.

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Originally Posted by Bass&Balls

If you want to give your BP the healthiest,happiest living situation, put him/her in a tub.
I know...they are ugly...trust me I know. I hated them, and still hate the looks of them, but as far as the best way to control humidity, heat, cleaning, security and overall happiness of your snake, they are unrivaled.

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x2!

I use aspen. It seems to hold the temps alot better than the bark, and you can layer it thin. It doesn't hold humidity in the well, so you have to mist the tubs/cages just about everyday. Another downfall is its kind of messy. It's very easy to spot clean though, just personal preference.

I assume you don't have mites and are using PAM as a preventative. In that case you don't have to spray the bedding all the time. Even though PAM is suppost to be tested and safe it is still a pretty heavy toxin and you don't want to be exposing your snakes to it willy nilly. If you have no mites and you are not bringing in new stuff then you really have no reason to use it. If you want a preventative use proper quarantine procedures, don't take your snake around other snakes and when you bring new stuff in and take a shower and throw your clothed in the wash as soon as you get home from a reptile show. You could also hang a no pest strip in the room (not in the snakes cage) if you want and change it per the instructions.

:8:
Took me a second to realize PAM stands for Provent a Mite and not PAM the anti-stick baking spray. :rofl::rofl:

Yeah, you don't really need to treat every week. Although I know some do. You could cut back to like once a month if you insist on treating. Or, if you still are wanting to treat more often, then try getting your paper towels ready in advance and hit the bottom of them with a light mist of PAM and let them dry and use them when needed. Kinda like pre-treating the towels. PAM has a long lasting effect, so it should not lose its effects. And it's the fumes that are the most harmful to the snakes.

just a thought

I'll try and answer your questions for yeah :).

1) Pam isn't something you have to use all the time. Only if you have a mite problem or a new snake. Even with a new snake, it's not a rule you have to use Pam. To be safe, use it once when you get it and your golden.

2) set the temp of the uth to the glass. Your snake can and will dig through the substrate until it touches the glass. Then if your at 100 you will burn your snake. No matter the substrate, always base your hotspot by the closest the snake can get to the heat source. In short, the glass should be 90.

3) why are you using Pam?

Sorry for the delayed response. I used PAM once and 3 weeks later had mites. So used it the day of this post and two weeks later, he has mites again. I'm wondering if it's because I change his paper towel bedding about once a week b/c he soils them that often? Does anyone have a link to the tub enclosures and what kind of substrate(if any) to use in them? I really wanna lick this mite problem. Everything in my enclosure is PERFECT exept for the mites. Do I need to do anything to his hides to get rid of the mites? He has two half logs that I keep against the glass which is blacked out.

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Originally Posted by Joelolly

Sorry for the delayed response. I used PAM once and 3 weeks later had mites. So used it the day of this post and two weeks later, he has mites again. I'm wondering if it's because I change his paper towel bedding about once a week b/c he soils them that often? Does anyone have a link to the tub enclosures and what kind of substrate(if any) to use in them? I really wanna lick this mite problem. Everything in my enclosure is PERFECT exept for the mites. Do I need to do anything to his hides to get rid of the mites? He has two half logs that I keep against the glass which is blacked out.

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Did you get new half logs after the first outbreak of mites? If not...I bet thats where they came back from. When you have mites, it is best to treat or replace all cage furnishings, especially those made of wood.

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Originally Posted by lmartelli77

Did you get new half logs after the first outbreak of mites? If not...I bet thats where they came back from. When you have mites, it is best to treat or replace all cage furnishings, especially those made of wood.

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Just nuke em in the microwave or put em in the oven?

Wood Oven at 225-250 15 minutes shuld take care of that... besides If You sprayed PAM next treatment Should be done after Month or so.. PAM have really long working Time...

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Originally Posted by Aes_Sidhe

Wood Oven at 225-250 15 minutes shuld take care of that... besides If You sprayed PAM next treatment Should be done after Month or so.. PAM have really long working Time...

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Right on.

Do I need to soak them in water before I bake them?

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Originally Posted by shelliebear

:8:
Took me a second to realize PAM stands for Provent a Mite and not PAM the anti-stick baking spray. :rofl::rofl:

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hahaha I was thinking the same thing ;)