Where do you get your substrate?

Well, I'm worried about getting mites again, so I'm wondering if anyone has a good online source for bedding? Preferably not from a pet store where it could come with mites :(. I've been using paper towels, but I would like something that looks......cooler haha.

I got my bedding from amazon.com (Forest Floor brand cypress bedding). Since I had read about mites being in the wood-based beddings, (even if they are not the blood-feeding parasitic snake mites) I still didn't want to risk it; so I put the whole bag in the deep freezer for a few days. It took about 2 days to thaw out and almost a week to dry out enough to use, but I've seen no living thing other than my snake in the tank since. I admit that the lack of seeing any mites (of any species) could also be because there never were any in the bedding to start with ;)

Freeze overnight or put it in the oven (set on a reasonable temp. like 250-300) for a couple of hours.

See if you have a feed/farm store near you. Mom and pop type are better imo, but try looking for a tractor supply? They should be able to get you shredded aspen or pine, even if it needs to be special ordered. Either way it will be cheaper than shipping costs.

You can also order giant rolls of Kraft paper.

i buy my substrate (shredded and chipped aspen) from a local mom and pop shop near my work where i also get my live feeder fro my picky snakes, freeze it for a day or so and then let it thaw to room temp before use.

if you really wanna buy online, yes Amazon has everything. or beanfarm.com, reptilebasics.com and tsksupply.com also sell snake bedding/substrate.

also post some pix of your albino boy already. :) i don't think i've seen u introduce him to the forum yet.

I buy all of my bedding from my local guy a the local reptile show. He sells bulk bags for $20, and each ones lasts me for two plus months. Its Harlan Teklad laboratory grade aspen bedding. I've never had a problem with it.

https://webapps.harlan.com/teklad-orders/ Here is a link.

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i buy my substrate (shredded and chipped aspen) from a local mom and pop shop near my work where i also get my live feeder fro my picky snakes, freeze it for a day or so and then let it thaw to room temp before use.

if you really wanna buy online, yes Amazon has everything. or beanfarm.com, reptilebasics.com and tsksupply.com also sell snake bedding/substrate.

also post some pix of your albino boy already. :) i don't think i've seen u introduce him to the forum yet.

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I don't have an albino haha! My snake's name is Albion :rolleye2:! Sorry for the confusion!

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Thanks for all the insight! I'm thinking amazon and oven power, yeah!:gj:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i buy my substrate (shredded and chipped aspen) from a local mom and pop shop near my work where i also get my live feeder fro my picky snakes, freeze it for a day or so and then let it thaw to room temp before use.

if you really wanna buy online, yes Amazon has everything. or beanfarm.com, reptilebasics.com and tsksupply.com also sell snake bedding/substrate.

also post some pix of your albino boy already. :) i don't think i've seen u introduce him to the forum yet.

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Originally Posted by jena.chris

I don't have an albino haha! My snake's name is Albion :rolleye2:! Sorry for the confusion!

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Thanks for all the insight! I'm thinking amazon and oven power, yeah!:gj:

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we still demand pix. :P

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Originally Posted by Ax01

we still demand pix. :P

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I uploaded some :D:snake:

I order Harland Teclad online petfooddirect.com we have to have about 6 bags a month for my small collection.

http://www.petfooddirect.com/product...ressed-bedding, I get about 6 at the time.

I get bedding from Tractor Supply.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i buy my substrate (shredded and chipped aspen) from a local mom and pop shop near my work where i also get my live feeder fro my picky snakes, freeze it for a day or so and then let it thaw to room temp before use.

if you really wanna buy online, yes Amazon has everything. or beanfarm.com, reptilebasics.com and tsksupply.com also sell snake bedding/substrate.

also post some pix of your albino boy already. :) i don't think i've seen u introduce him to the forum yet.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jena.chris

I don't have an albino haha! My snake's name is Albion :rolleye2:! Sorry for the confusion!

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for all the insight! I'm thinking amazon and oven power, yeah!:gj:

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

we still demand pix. :P

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jena.chris

I uploaded some :D:snake:

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he's a cute lil guy!

also haha, he's a stress ba;; that squeezes back. ;)

I buy a brick of compressed coco husk from my local reptile store that gives me about 40 quarts. All i do is add water and it significantly expands. Usually lasts me at least a few months.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11...84c8b40d5b.jpg

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I think I am going to be going with either kraft paper or dimpled kraft paper, but have not ruled out aspen. Is shredded more preferable than aspen sani-chips?

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Originally Posted by bproffer

I think I am going to be going with either kraft paper or dimpled kraft paper, but have not ruled out aspen. Is shredded more preferable than aspen sani-chips?

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Both are great substrate, I personally prefer shredded for larger snakes and sanichips for colubrids.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Both are great substrate, I personally prefer shredded for larger snakes and sanichips for colubrids.

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So for a BP between 2 months to one year old sani-chips would be ok then? Then maybe switch to shredded. I like the look of the aspen but using kraft paper seems like it would be easier to clean. The cage I have is a T8.

I am using Reptichip. Look it up. Reptichip.com I get it in bricks and add water. it makes about 72qts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bproffer

So for a BP between 2 months to one year old sani-chips would be ok then? Then maybe switch to shredded. I like the look of the aspen but using kraft paper seems like it would be easier to clean. The cage I have is a T8.

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You can use sanichip, I like shredded better because it is more absorbent IMO, sanichip is great with colubrids because it kind of clumps together when they defecate making it easier with them to scoop the mess out. (Obviously bowel movement between colubrid and BP is very different.

Bottom line try different things and see what work best for you.