rack substreat.....

ok so I normaly use news paper for my racks BUT I want to see what every one else uses. I know when I watch vids from BHB and some of the big guys I see a wood of some type

I use brawny paper towels :)

I use newspaper, easy and it's free.

I use newsprint, just like newspaper only when it gets wet it wont stain your tubs/snakes. I believe what you are seeing is cypress mulch though, or possibly aspen. They are somewhat popular substrates.

If You Have Seen BHB Videos Then Yah Its Cypress Mulch Other Big Time Breeders Like Kevin Use Newsapaper. Hey Powers Nice Avatar Picture:gj:

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I use brawny paper towels :)

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Is Brawny Paper Towel That Brown Paper From Uline How Many Layers Do You Use.

I use coco coir, cheap and easy.

I know that many DMVs recommend against paper towels as they can stick to wet rodents and be accidentally ingested with them and they are very hard to digest and can cause impaction. I personally have never seen that but my vet has. The same thing is mentioned in the book,

Pythons of the World, Vol II: BALL PYTHONS Barker and Barker 2006

Lots do I just don't see any benefit over all the other options.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I use coco coir, cheap and easy.

I know that many DMVs recommend against paper towels as they can stick to wet rodents and be accidentally ingested with them and they are very hard to digest and can cause impaction. I personally have never seen that but my vet has. The same thing is mentioned in the book,

Pythons of the World, Vol II: BALL PYTHONS Barker and Barker 2006

Lots do I just don't see any benefit over all the other options.

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No heat build-up. One can always feed in a separate tub.

I use Cypress Mulch except for the animals being paired.

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Originally Posted by Black_Shark

No heat build-up. One can always feed in a separate tub.

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Just curious how is that different from newspaper or any other for that matter. Everything insulates to some degree.

Cypress mulch for a couple of reasons.... #1. It does wonders with regulating humidity. #2. IMHO seeing a ball python slid out of a drawer laying on newspaper with a water bowl is kinda upsetting to me. I can see why big time business breeders do it when they have hundreds upon thousands of snakes to deal with... These are my pets and I want to try and make them as happy and comfortable as possible. I dont know if they live in and around cypress mulch in Africa, but I'm pretty sure they dont live on paper towels or newsprint there either;) Not to mention it just looks like crap....

Ahhh answered my own question from the other thread.

There is actually a Cyprus tree in Africa. But the cyprus mulch you can buy is from one of the handful of native cyprus trees swamp/pond, bald there are some others depending on the region some are on the threatened species lists. The biggest reason why I will not use it. melaleuca mulch is one alternative some big Canadian breeders use it.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Just curious how is that different from newspaper or any other for that matter. Everything insulates to some degree.

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Just found this out actually.

My temps in the rack were fluctuating 0-5 degrees from what they were set at. After trying for 2 weeks to steady em, I gave up and posted a thread on here and called Rich over at reptilebasics. After describing my setup and checking the flexwatt to make sure the connections were good and the thermostat was working properly (Temps of the flexwatt were rock steady with the accurite test) He asked about my substrate. Told him it was aspen 2-3" deep and he told me that that was causing it. It was acting like a blanket and causing heat build up that may eventually fry my flexwatt. Well, after switching to paper towels, no more temp fluctuations. Just steady temps.

Funny huh?

Edit: didn't see the newest post haha

I use cypress mulch also, keep humidity better than newspaper. I'm now switch all my new racks and old ones im keeping will be back heated now. solves the temp fluctuation problem.

This is why I stopped using wood bedding.

Pulling this from the throat of a 2000 gram female was no fun...
http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...loodyaspen.jpg

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IMHO seeing a ball python slid out of a drawer laying on newspaper with a water bowl is kinda upsetting to me. I can see why big time business breeders do it when they have hundreds upon thousands of snakes to deal with... These are my pets and I want to try and make them as happy and comfortable as possible.

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Cypress creates way too much humidity for me to use, not to mention the cost.
I don't believe the snakes care one way or another about the bedding and 90% of the bigger snakes I've owned push the bedding aside and sleep directly on the bottom of the tub anyways :rolleye2:

holy f***! how did that happen that looks so bad I hope she is ok now

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how did that happen that looks so bad I hope she is ok now

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striking at a medium sized rat and missed and came up with a mouth full of aspen :mad:

the female is fine and hopefully gravid.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

striking at a medium sized rat and missed and came up with a mouth full of aspen :mad:

the female is fine and hopefully gravid.

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"Nom Nom nom.... wha da hell is this?! Dumb big idiot gave me grinded up rat. Oh well! nom nom nom..."

god thats nuts I always just feed mine in a empty tub whipe down in between snakes. so I have full attention when they are going to stirke

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Originally Posted by SiQ'

god thats nuts I always just feed mine in a empty tub whipe down in between snakes. so I have full attention when they are going to stirke

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I just feed mine in their tubs on paper towels.

I'm brave, but grabbing a 2000 + gram female that wants a meal and wants it now? Not I :rofl:

I use unprinted news print. :D

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I use Cypress Mulch except for the animals being paired.

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Do You Put Cypress Mulch On Hatchlings, Juveniles, And Adults.

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Originally Posted by LegitProblem

Do You Put Cypress Mulch On Hatchlings, Juveniles, And Adults.

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I keep my juveniles on coconut husks and once they hit 250 grams the go to paper. Imo smaller animals feel more secure on some type of bedding which helps with stubborn eaters. The one trick I use for feeding on bedding is to lay a section of paper in the tub and once the snake coils the prey place them on it. I use this time to spot clean hides and bowls.
One thing you will realize once your snakes go to paper is how often they pee :rolleyes: