Substrate?

This is a widely discussed topic I know, and I've searched this forum as well as the web for answers to my question, but can't seem to find one! So my question is this: which substrate will my snake be most comfortable in? Which one will allow him to move with ease? Which will feel nice on his belly? I want him to feel as comfortable as possible. I'm guessing not aspen or wood chips of any kind, that seems like it would be poky, bumpy, and hard to move around on. I was thinking coco coir, along with moss would be nice. Right now I'm using paper towel. Looks, price, cleanliness, moisture are NOT things I'm asking about, I just want my snake to be comfortable. Please let me know what you think and what you have used!


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Cypress mulch is the preferred substrate of many keepers on here.

Edit: Or aspen depending on the snake's age...

I use Eco earth in my pvc enclosure which he seems to like and it absorbs his messes great. In my glass tank I was mixing it with cypress mulch which I wasn't to crazy about due to the hog and sticks but helped with humity.

I use aspen for all my snakes and it works fine. I use the finely shredded stuff though, not the larger shaved stuff like you see for rodents. Its the Zoo Med stuff, more expensive but I like how its nicely shredded and packs down nice. I used Eco Earth for about a year and that stuff was just a mess. It gets all over the place and unless you keep spraying it down, it will dry out and get dusty. I've never used cypress but I also don't have humidity issues as I use Proline cages which hold humidity fine with just a large water bowl half under the RHP. Also the Eco Earth was a pain during cage cleanings. Aspen is much easier. I just pick it up by hand as like I said I packs down nicely. Then just hit the vacuum for the small stuff and chlorhexadine down the whole inside and throw new aspen back in. I usually change out the whole substrate every couple months and just spot clean inbetween.

Cypress, aspen and other wood substrate work just fine, might not be comfortable to YOU but they work and some have husbandry advantages .

Meeting a BP's needs and applying your human emotions or needs with it comes to husbandry are 2 different things. ;)


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I use cypress mulch and it works great.

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Originally Posted by gameonpython

Looks, price, cleanliness, moisture are NOT things I'm asking about

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Those are things the snake would benefit from as well. The better a substrate soaks up moisture, the more comfortable your snake will be after going to the bathroom. The better it holds in moisture, the easier it is to keep your snake's humidity where he likes it. You'll never really know what your snake likes or dislikes, so the best thing you can do is keep your husbandry top notch and that'll keep your snake as close to 'happy' as they ever really get :)

Paper towels.....
Easy for everyone.

The things you dont want answered are what matter most.

Double-chop cypress mulch is actually pretty soft and works well for maintaining humidity and absorbing messes. My baby BRB's love it.

Ok, so I know the other factors( looks, price, etc) are important and will help me decide, Just wanted people to stay on track.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Cypress, aspen and other wood substrate work just fine, might not be comfortable to YOU but they work and some have husbandry advantages .

Meeting a BP's needs and applying your human emotions or needs with it comes to husbandry are 2 different things. ;)


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Not trying to get emotional, just seems like it would be very hard to move on wood substrate when you have no legs or arms [emoji18]


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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Paper towels.....
Easy for everyone.

The things you dont want answered are what matter most.

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Yes they are very easy, but do the bps "like" them?


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I've had great success personally with the eco earth coconut mulch, its keeps great humidity. To keep my snake from ingesting any during feeding I lay paper towels over it. She's been having great sheds since I switched to eco earth

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by gameonpython

Yes they are very easy, but do the bps "like" them?


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I actually had to put paper towels at the bottom of my Proline cage because my snake doesn't even like to sit on top of substrate. He won't use any of his hides unless all the aspen is pushed out lol. He just likes to lay on bare plastic which wouldn't be an issue if he didn't pee on the bare plastic. It's a pain having to clean a pool of urine and scrape urates off the bottom of the cage so I had to line the bottom with paper towels then put the aspen on top. So now the paper towels absorb the mess which makes it easier for me to clean, and I think my snake enjoys how clean everything is. I also use paper towels in my racks and I don't think they mind :) lol. I have another weird snake that will sometimes sleep under the paper towels. The snakes make it work.

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Originally Posted by gameonpython

Yes they are very easy, but do the bps "like" them?


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That's a great question. Ask yours and see what he says. I'm curious to know what he's thinking, so if you could kindly post his reply I would appreciate it. ;)

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

That's a great question. Ask yours and see what he says. I'm curious to know what he's thinking, so if you could kindly post his reply I would appreciate it. ;)

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Very funny lol.


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Do your guy's' bps like to burrow? I went to petland today and the mulch stuff seemed soft and moist! For now I will stick with paper towels, but when I upgrade his cage I think I will try it. I like Eco earth, but it's very messy. I use it for my frogs, works well. Thanks for suggestions everyone!


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What I have noticed with the coconut husk is it will dry out pretty quick. I have tried adding a very small amount of water when putting in some fresh stuff and mixing it up. It helps but I have been considering changing it up to try to get the humidity better.

There seems to be mixed reviews on all substrates. I like the cypress mulch because it felt soft, it's appealing to look at, it seems very moist IMO, I could see the moisture in the bag! And the snake can burrow if he wants to. I love decorating terrariums and making them look nice, and when I get a bigger tank it will be harder to keep it humid so paper towel might not be best, which is why I'm looking into different substrates.


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I use cypress much and my snakes have no problems moving on it.

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Originally Posted by SnakeBalls

What I have noticed with the coconut husk is it will dry out pretty quick. I have tried adding a very small amount of water when putting in some fresh stuff and mixing it up. It helps but I have been considering changing it up to try to get the humidity better.

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How much are you hydrating it? The frog tanks stay moist for a week or two and they are open screen tops.
Never had a problem with coco.

Not much at all, just enough to make it slightly crumbly. I would say about a 1/4 to < 1/2 cup of water, to about an inch deep layer in an exoterra 20 gal long tank.

I never understand people having issues with coconut husk drying out too much. If it drys out that fast you have too much airflow. I actually had to cut it with cypress to bring the humidity back down in a couple tubs I had setup. I think people are just surprised at how much water it really takes to moisten it back up once you let it get dry, and misting just won't cut it at that point. I regularly pour water directly into my substrate, which is currently a mix of cypress and husk, and within a half hour or lessit has soaked in and my humidity is back. To give an example, i just yesterday dumped nearly a half gallon of water into one of my GTP cages, which is an exo-terra 18"×18"×24". Most of the screen top is covered, and now that cage will maintian humidity another week or so, even with hkw dry my house is right now.

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Originally Posted by SnakeBalls

Not much at all, just enough to make it slightly crumbly. I would say about a 1/4 to < 1/2 cup of water, to about an inch deep layer in an exoterra 20 gal long tank.

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Not adding enough. I buy the bricks and it takes a gallon to a gallon and a half to blow it up.
Even if you are buying the bag stuff it will hold a lot of water. Try adding a full cup or two and make sure you mix it very well.

Thanks guys! I didn't want to end up with belly rot so I was really gun shy about even adding it in the first place.

At what point would it be too wet for him?

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Originally Posted by SnakeBalls

At what point would it be too wet for him?

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Mud LoL
Should still crumble in your hand

I hate the eco earth stuff that expands, it is such a mess.


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Does the cypress mulch get stuck in their scales?


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Originally Posted by gameonpython

Does the cypress mulch get stuck in their scales?


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Nope. Been using it for over a year and never had any problems with that.

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Originally Posted by DVirginiana

Nope. Been using it for over a year and never had any problems with that.

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Ok cool. I just wondering because I know with the frogs everything sticks to them, although they are rather sticky:p


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by gameonpython

Ok cool. I just wondering because I know with the frogs everything sticks to them, although they are rather sticky:p


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I have a pacman; I assume that whatever I put in the frog's tank is going to end up INSIDE the frog, not just stuck to her. :P IMO dealing with frogs makes most other exotics seem simple.

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Originally Posted by DVirginiana

I have a pacman; I assume that whatever I put in the frog's tank is going to end up INSIDE the frog, not just stuck to her. :P IMO dealing with frogs makes most other exotics seem simple.

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Haha definitely!


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