How do you keep your substate put?

I use paper towels, but I guess it can apply to any substrate. I often come home to find it all crumpled up in a corner. Are there any tips for keeping it where I put it?

Nope, nothing really you can do about it other than a heavy water bowl on one end, heavy hide on the other. Even still, they'll move the paper towels when they want to...

I use coco coir an I don't really try. I just let the snakes move it about as they want. Sometimes I will push it around again. Just a side note on paper towel, substrate ingestion happens sometimes paper towel is usually fatal if the snake eats a sheet. You should supervise feedings or feed with it removed. It does happen every now and again my vet has operated on 4 snakes trying to remove paper towel from the intestinal tract. Small snakes it usually isn't a problem but bigger ones it has been.

Yeah I use aspen and it doesn't move too much but when it does I just reach in and fix it. Not much else you can do.

I'd have never thought that my snake would eat the paper towel. Hmmm... I always supervise his feedings. Mostly 'cause I just like to watch, but partially to watch out for issues. :P
I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, and it does make me a little nuts when things are out of place. Lucky for me Jackson is such a chill little dude, and lets me fix it without getting stressed at all. Bradley, on the other hand, I have to be really careful with. I haven't even wanted to look at him directly and just glance at his reflection to check on him... but his paper is a mess. :rolleyes: I have gently changed it out twice since I've had him.

My mojo male makes a total mess of his tub no matter what we use. When it was newspaper he would rip and crumple it up so bad id swear he had hands! We use shop towels now and everyone else's will stay nice and flat but his ends up in a ball in the corner.

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Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

I'd have never thought that my snake would eat the paper towel. Hmmm... I always supervise his feedings. Mostly 'cause I just like to watch, but partially to watch out for issues. :P
I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, and it does make me a little nuts when things are out of place. Lucky for me Jackson is such a chill little dude, and lets me fix it without getting stressed at all. Bradley, on the other hand, I have to be really careful with. I haven't even wanted to look at him directly and just glance at his reflection to check on him... but his paper is a mess. :rolleyes: I have gently changed it out twice since I've had him.

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I use paper towels as substrate. Its usually everywhere by the time it needs to be changed, just part of using it I guess. I have never heard of a snake ingesting paper towels ever. As a matter of fact it is much less of a risk than using aspen or cypress. The heavy water bowel and hide trick does work occasionally, but they still seem to get under it and move it about. :D

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I had read a VPI article (Dave and Tracy Barker) that mentioned the ingestion of paper towel I thought it was odd but given the Barkers reputation for the science end of things I thought i'd ask my vet. She has worked around reptiles for a long time and learned under another vet she said that she has seen it four times in the past. No substrate ingestion is good but most are not as serious. Paper is also hydroscopic and reduces humidity as well. I felt that pointing out that others have had serious problems I thought it was a good thing to point out. It was mentioned that this was larger snakes and not hatchlings.

Ref. "BALL PYTHONS: History, Natural History, Care & Breeding" 2006 VPI library

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I had read a VPI article (Dave and Tracy Barker) that mentioned the ingestion of paper towel I thought it was odd but given the Barkers reputation for the science end of things I thought i'd ask my vet. She has worked around reptiles for a long time and learned under another vet she said that she has seen it four times in the past. No substrate ingestion is good but most are not as serious. Paper is also hydroscopic and reduces humidity as well. I felt that pointing out that others have had serious problems I thought it was a good thing to point out. It was mentioned that this was larger snakes and not hatchlings.

Ref. "BALL PYTHONS: History, Natural History, Care & Breeding" 2006 VPI library

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Wasn't trying to argue or anything :p I have personally seen substrate ingestion from aspen and cypress, its no fun. I haven't seen it at all yet with paper towels or even the chance of it. I do see how it is possible (anything is with these guys :)). Just think that its less likely than a small piece of wood substrate. Thanks for the reference to the book, I have been wanting to pick it up. I have read kevins book and a few others. Sounds like a good read. Amazon wish list ;)

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It is the finest book of its kind I have seen. It isn't cheap but when you buy text books for university or medical texts it isn't expensive either mid priced. It is well worth the cost.

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.



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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.



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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Originally Posted by jbean7916

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

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Yes a whole sheet! One or both died...Hard to remember exactly, they weren't my snakes.