What type of substrate do you use?

I have not seen this poll before....Just thought it might be interesting. If you feel like it, write why you use that substrate too.

I use newspaper. Easy to clean and free for me :D

I use astro turf I purchased from Home Depot for $10. I was able to cut out a liner plus replacements for all 5 of my tanks. It works great, clean up is as fast a newspaper. except I have to rinse out the dirty liner and let air dry ( takes about 10 minutes for the whole process).

I use the compressed soil stuff that comes in brick form. Just add water and you get a whole lot of soil. It works pretty good for me cause I like the natural look.

I have been useing repti-bark ( the same as orchid bark) but I am going to change to aspen because the bark is not absorbent enough.

For all our BPs - newsprint.

Easy, makes enclosure maintenance that much faster and it is readily available at free or low cost.

i use repticarpet

Premium cypress mulch sears 5 bags for 10.00.



I like the woodsy smell. It’s cheap And I prefer a natural cage setting

Aspen, because it was free!!! We'll see what happens when I run out of it.

ha ha....looks like I forgot alot of substrates in the poll....:D

I have even used repticarpet and forgot to put it....ha

I'm using Newspaper right now, it's not very nice too look at though so I am thinking of switching to aspen.

newspaper in the summer, aspen in the winter. I've used the repticarpet stuff and it works great...but you can't beat seeing a huge poo in a tub and thinking "oh it will take 30 seconds to pull this out and put a clean newspaper back in" like I just did LOL

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Originally Posted by TekWarren

I've used the repticarpet stuff and it works great...but you can't beat seeing a huge poo in a tub and thinking "oh it will take 30 seconds to pull this out and put a clean newspaper back in" like I just did LOL

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Ditto...that is exactly how I feel. Repticarpet was too much work..ha ha

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Originally Posted by NocturnalBC

I'm using Newspaper right now, it's not very nice too look at though so I am thinking of switching to aspen.

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That is why you need you need to get some chinese newspaper. I swipe these from the free classifieds setups at the entrance of walmart...ha ha....they add character to the setup and are free :D
here is a pic: http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../9/7/thor1.JPG

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

That is why you need you need to get some chinese newspaper. I swipe these from the free classifieds setups at the entrance of walmart...ha ha....they add character to the setup and are free :D
here is a pic: http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../9/7/thor1.JPG

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HAHA..I love it! that actually looks pretty cool. I never thought about that. Thanks for the idea. :)

They have some that are spanish too.....Anything besides looking at the same english writting will make it look different.....ha ha...and it keeps me from reading the newspaper when I am trying to clean:D

I use newspaper, cypress mulch(baked to dry it out and to get rid of bugs), Sani-Chips aspen from Harlan Teklad, and papertowels. I use whatever is convenient at the moment(or whatever I have on hand).

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

I use newspaper, cypress mulch(baked to dry it out and to get rid of bugs), Sani-Chips aspen from Harlan Teklad, and papertowels. I use whatever is convenient at the moment(or whatever I have on hand).

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When you say "baked", exactly how do you do that? If you don't mind me asking... I've always been curious about how that's done... And doesn't it stink up your oven if you do it there?

Toss it onto a cookie sheet or whatever, pop it in the oven at like 300 degrees and leave it in there for, oh, half an hour or so. Keep an eye on it and stir it up a few times during the baking process and that should get rid of anything potentially harmful.

LoL, I usually leave mine in for a good couple of hours(5+). It has to be completely dry before I consider it "done". I put as much as I need in large cake pans and just toss it every half hour or so to make sure the heat thoroughly penetrates the wood. It is a pain sometimes since it takes so long to prepare. It doesn't smell up the kitchen though, only a slight "woody" smell in the oven.

Ahhh... I was imagining the smell being more like a soggy bar-b-que pit!! ;) But I guess it couldn't be much if any worse than a fireplace... And I love fireplaces!!

Thanks for the directions ladies!!

I am using aspin right now, but am planning on switching to repticarpet when Loki gets big enough to go into his large enclosure. I have a plan for the pain in the but to clean thing. I baught enough that I can line the tank, then still have enough to line the tank when the other gets soiled. That way, I can take the soiled outside and hoserdown. We shal see how that works one day (Sigh) I cant wait to get Loki into that larg enclosure, It looks so much better than that little 10gal geto tank he is in right now. Oh well, I guess time will alow it.

I used Astroturf for a long time, having 2 sheets (or more) is definitely the way to go. That way you can take your time and thoroughly clean the soiled one without leaving your tank torn apart. Just switch 'em out, it's a good idea!

I'm using cypress but I want to try using aspen.

60 lb. indented kraft paper (cage liner) i love it, soaks up more than newspaper!

vaughn

Where the heck do you get that? It's sounds great.

here you go http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_...ed+Kraft+Paper

i get the 18 inch wide rolls, 360 ft. long 2 rolls cost 40 bucks shipped.



vaughn

pretty cool stuff vaughn....when i get too many enclosures to get enough newspapers...that will definately be the way to go.

4 paws bark, much like reptibark but heat treated to cut down the chance of little critters.
I am thinking of switching to aspen, it's just so bright! My guy is use to the dark of everything in his cage.

Sani-Chips. Fell in love with the stuff the first time I seen it.

Sani-chips here too! What a small world........:crazy:

i use paper towel because it is an easy clean up

I use repti-bark i like the smell and it looks really good. it gives off mild

humidity

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif

carefresh purple :) It matches my daughters room-where the snakes are. They keep the monsters away:)

beech chips, kinda like aspen but chunkier

indoor/outdoor carpet from Lowesand not the thick plastic rough type. its really soft and hold humidity well

i have two sheets cut to the tank size already andd have enough material left for another two at least

Actually it depends on what its in. The tubs get newsprint 'cause you don't see it and it doesn't matter. The aquariums get mulches. Isay plural, cause there are a couple of different kinds I am using right now. One of the has the soil-in-a-brick stuff. I really like it, but its a pain to deal with.

Ohh yeah i hear ya ! i hate that Dirt Brick stuff, i used it when i got my first snake......that substrate didnt last long over here, its a pain so i tossed it. I have ZERO paitence, that why i love newspaper and reptile carpet although lately ive been expeirementing with aspen shavings, i really like the way aspen looks and the snakes seem to enjoy burying themselves in it.

So i use newspaper, reptile carpet and aspen. :)

Newspaper all day long! Free and easy to clean up. I am considering going to kraft paper at some point if i can find it cheap.

try www.uline.com they have it in sheets and rolls, prices are good. i use 18 inch rolls of 60lb. kraft paper, i love it. they also have unprinted newsprint.


vaughn

Thanks! I will!

Wow that Uline site has some good deals. And the shipping isnt too bad either! For an AP T3 cage should i get 18" or 24"? Im thinking 18" cause id have to trim the 24" and I can just overlap 2 pieces of 18". Also, what weight should i use if im going to overlap 2 pieces? thanks for the suggestions everyone, great thread!


Jared

Well, a T3 is 3FT long by 2FT deep. Seems to be that 24" wide pieces would work fine, right?

well the exterior dimensions are 3x2 but there is some overlap where the front of the cage is. The interior dimensions would be tough to find accurately but its probably 2-3 inches smaller on the inside I would guess. I think i answered my own question on the size, now i just need to know what "weight" to get. Thanks for the reply Jglass

JT

Ahhh.I have one T3 but never measured. You are right though that the door channels take up space. As far as weight, I am not quite sure which one to get. Good luck and let us know how it works out!

i use aspen since that's what i use for my ratties, mouse and all of our birds as well.

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Originally Posted by kavmon

try www.uline.com they have it in sheets and rolls, prices are good. i use 18 inch rolls of 60lb. kraft paper, i love it. they also have unprinted newsprint.


vaughn

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Check with your local newpaper. They'll usu. have roll-ends that they sell. They can't use them for newspaper printing because there isn't enough paper for a printing run, but the ones I've managed to get a hold of often have 60# or more of paper on them. They may be a little awkward to handle though, but if you can get them cheap.........


OOOps, I forgot to ask......N-Ebody hear of getting bacteria in the aspen??? I spot clean as necessary and then replace all every other week or for a poo event. Snoopy's developed pseudomonas and the vet suspects the aspen. All the temps, humidity are dead on. :confused:

I seriously doubt it's the aspen(unless he's just living in complete filth with WC snakes, which I also SERIOUSLY doubt). How did they culture the pseudo? Where did they get the sample from?

Here's some good info on it: http://textbookofbacteriology.net/pseudomonas.html

We studied pseudomonas alot in clinical pathology and even cultured it... It does NOT smell good when cultured I can tell you that.

It comes from bad water sources and infected dirt and substrate, but if you are getting your aspen in a sealed bag from the pet store, then I really don't think it's the bedding.

What are the snake's signs and symptoms? What is the vet treating the infection with?

Nope. No waste/filth, no WC snakes. All my babies were CBB. Snoopy's prev. family said they had her for 4-5 yrs. and she was an adult when they got her..but I don't know how big.


The vet took a sample of fluid from a belly scale. She was fine a day or two prev. but when it looked like a blister, and my temps were all okay I took her to the vet. On the odd chance, took a sample. Said it cultered as P. but I don't remember if he mentioned the other part of it.

He started her on Baytril IM. Now it's some other special Rx. I'm using bleach every day to clean her equipment/tank until my disinfectant comes from Matt. She's on paper towels changed daily, both temps are up 90 and 94. Betadine in her soaking water, & her drinking water bowl is smaller so she can't climb into it. She ate just fine a couple weeks before the vet. She had been eating a rat/week. That's why I thought maybe something was off, & then the "blisters". Water is municiple w/the chlorine in it. I've just started using the blue ZooMed drops to dechlorinate and turn it into "herp" water.

Isolation, & I do the other two before her. R's corn is in a totally seperate room as well, still in quarantine after being a new Christmas present.

Vet says not to even use the coconut husk(?) type bedding. Shredded paper..even after she gets well. Shots daily, and I've had to soak her for this shed. Thinking maybe that could have been part of the cause(?) last time, but it's so iffy.

I think I am going to use Aspen but where is the cheapest place to get this stuff, and I want to make sure it's sealed and clean, no bacteria or insects in it...

Around here, feed stores carry it, (or will order it for U) cheaper than the pet stores (PetCo, PetsMart).
www.kaytee.com will get you to their store locator for their brand of aspen bedding.

Between it and the reptile felt I started with, I like the aspen better. IMO it looks nicer, brighter, but the vet suggests the indoor carpet/reptile felt. Since my other snakes don't seem to have any problems, I'm not sure if I'm going to change or not. I still have the two pieces of felt that I kept, so.....*shrugs*

Good luck in whatever U decide. :)

RuLyn

ive been using newspaper since i get one everymorning and when im done reading them i just save them for when i need them. ive been thinkin about using aspen tho might make it look the least more attractive.