Substrate/bedding in tubs

For those with tub setups, what substrate/ bedding do you use? I have a bag of cypress mulch but I am considering paper towels. Hopefully I can have everything ready to setup by next weekend. Waiting on my new uths and hides to arrive (expectedMonday).

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you want to keep the layer of substrate thin so the UTH can do its job. I suggest paper towels/newspaper/corrugeted wrap, but cypress/aspen can work as well just keep the layer 1/2" thick or less

I use newspaper with paper towels on top of that for a "cleaner and more organized" look to the tubs. Plus you can see urine, poop, and possible mites a lot easier on a bright white background.

I used to use aspen, never again! I use paper towels now for my snakes and my leopard geckos. When I used aspen I would always worry about the snakes ingesting it (which they did quite often). I don't have to worry about that with the paper towels. It is also so much easier to clean. Remove the paper towels and you can tell if the tub actually needs a cleaning, or if you just need to put in new paper towels.

I personally wouldn't use newspaper unless it hadn't been printed yet.

Let us know what you decide.

We use cypress mulch in our racks. We have considered changing, but like the way the cypress looks and helps with humidity issues here in the desert.

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Originally Posted by adamsky27

I used to use aspen, never again! I use paper towels now for my snakes and my leopard geckos. When I used aspen I would always worry about the snakes ingesting it (which they did quite often). I don't have to worry about that with the paper towels. It is also so much easier to clean. Remove the paper towels and you can tell if the tub actually needs a cleaning, or if you just need to put in new paper towels.

I personally wouldn't use newspaper unless it hadn't been printed yet.

Let us know what you decide.

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Actually your snake can ingest paper towel. I have it happen with one of mine. And luckily he passed it with out issue. There is greater risk involved than ingesting some aspen.
http://www.deviantconstrictors.com/i...ng.html#Towels
So saying there is no risk is wrong.

I don't mind using newspaper works great for babies. I use primary aspen because it is fairly cheap and I prefer some a substrate they can grip and burrow in.

Newspaper :)

Paper towel can be many times more dangerous than wood chip. I use coco coir, they randomly eat it but it is fine and passes with no issues. minguss one other out come emergency surgery, my vet has done 3 or 4 (i forget what she said now) they seem to have a 50% survival rate.

I started with aspen and switched to paper towels because of the risk of ingesting, then I switched to newspaper because my little buggers would basically pile the paper towels in the corner, for me its newspaper, easiest thing I have used!!

Indented Kraft Paper from U-Line.

I haven't decided yet what I'm going to put down. I dont want to waste the bag of cypress mulch I have but I like the idea of putting down paper towels. My bp is currently in a glass tank and its totally not cutting it with the humidity. I live in a basement and am really getting tired of the daily battle for humidity and temp. I finally got the heat right with 2 che and 2 incandescent lamps in addition to the uth but it is leeching the humidity right out of the tank. I mist the crap out of it and still only get about 40% out of it. She has a humid hide and seems to like it a lot but I am re wetting that every day because it goes dry. I am switching to a tub system and will hopefully have her in it by next weekend. As I said in my first post, I am just waiting for my new pad heaters and some new hides that will be a little more snug.
I have had her for 4 weeks today and she will probably be going into shed soon. I would really like to get her in the new home before then and will have it as ready as possible by the end of the week.
Thanks for all the advice and I will keep you all posted about what I decide.

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I use newspaper bc its easy and free. And my snakes dont mind. I used to use cypress but the bark was sharp and rough. My snakes never burrowed in it and occasionally they would ingest a little bit when eating
Id rather save some money for more snakes lol :D
Ive been thinking about trying sani chips or cocoa coir but the newspaper is working now so idk yet...

I dont want to stress her out too much. I already switched bedding once to try to improve the humidity (ecoearth to cypress mulch) and I am about to move her from a 50 gallon tank to a 60 quart tub. I think i will try with the cypress and see how that goes. If I notice any issues I will switch to paper towels

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Something to remember tubs do not hold heat if you have been having issues with heat tubs won't help much. There are limited methods to heat the cool end and ambient temps with tubs the only real way is insulating them and dual UTHs unless you are ready to heat the room. Properly ventilated it will sit at the room ambient RH anyway humidity is based on air flow and standing water (bowl) and substrate choice. Paper is hygroscopic it pulls water away from the air reducing the RH.

I have ordered 2 new UTH. I was informed that this may be an issue and will have a UTH for hot and cool, both will be on dimmers and monitored by a digital themometer. I was able to get the heat right in the glass tank but with all the heating equipment the humidity just got worse. The humidity is the part i am worried about the most. I have been over the tub setup thread that was put up by Vypyrs and will be using that as a guide. I will start with 6 holes on both long sides and will be drilling them in tomorrow.

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I used to use paper towels but never will again. They never stayed put and I was always fussing with how to tear them to get the proper size - the sheets just never fit in the tub/tank properly. And they were too dry - and if I misted, they got soggy.

I use Disposable Cage Liners now and I could not be happier! This is the simplest, cleanest, safest product I've ever seen! I'll never use anything else in my tubs!! :gj:

Oh! And I got 100 of them for $40 including shipping - which is nearly a year's supply for 3 tubs! :gj:

It is likely you will need to add some insulation as well, the UTH do little for the ambient air temps. I have a cool room and most of the enclosures (tubs or custom) have three heat sources hot cool and air. I would also suggest not using a dimmer unless you room temp is stable with a tub due to the thin wall and rapid heating I would recommend a proportional T-stat. ON offs work well when the heat source is not directly fastened to the enclosure of the enclosure is slow heating (glass heavy plastic)

I have been using a dimmer on my current pad heater and it rises and falls a little bit but is always within the appropriate range for the hot side. I also have the heat lamps. I would love to continue to give her the 12 hours "day," 12 hours "night." Do you think the lamps will give her the proper ambient temps?

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Not really with a tub. They need to be away far enough that the lid doesn't get very warm. You might be able to but it will take very careful height adjustment. Temp changes are much more pronounced with tubs. Glass takes time to heat up and time to cool down the tub will heat and cool very quickly, everything happens faster.

This might be a solution as well it will allow more flexable heating options, partially anyway. It problem with the tank isn't the lights but the open top. Turned sideways it will help hold heat and humid air both of which rise. Just make sure you have enough ventilation it needs to be high and low to promote air flow.

I have paper towels in my tubs. The hides at each end seem to hold it in place well enough. I used to absolutely hate those dang select a size paper towels. But now they work great. 5 sections goes into a tub perfect. And the clean up with them is super easy!