Substrate for my BP

I was wondering what the best substrate for my BP is. I currrently hav him on Repti-Bark.

Thanks,
Koolio Jackson

We have quite a few threads on this subject, both what people mostly use as well as discussions on why so your best bet might be to use the search tool to have a look. =)

i use repti-bark also and it works great it keeps the humitidy up,and it doesn't seem to bother him.

I use Carefresh in my rack tubs, but when I had tanks, I used shredded coconut husk...the kind that comes dry in a compressed brick. It's great for humidity and safe to feed on.

I use everyday newspapers for a few reasons.Its easy to clean up and its available as i get the paper everyday.If you think about it i recycle the paper lol.

i just use plain old newspaper...nothing wrong w/ using it and its the easiest by far to clean up...just throw it out and put in new paper....but if ur going for a nice look in ur tank like a jungle or something then newspaper isnt gonna look very nice but it doesnt bother me...

For the last couple of years, I've been recommending newspaper ... I use the unprinted kind ... It may not be the prettiest thing to look at, but when it's dirty, you can't miss it ... and when it's clean, you know it's clean.

The most important thing you can do for your snake (other than fresh water) is to keep his house clean ... newspaper is a great substrate because when you clean the cage you get everything "out" and it only takes a couple of seconds to do so ... other substrates that are commonly "spot cleaned" are never truely clean unless all of the bedding is removed and replaced which is costly and time consuming ... "spot cleaning" always leaves something behind ... you might not see it, but it's there.

Newspaper is great for humidity too, just mist and go! ;)

Over the last 25 years I've used just about every bedding you can imagine ... potting soil, sand, aspen, mulch, rept bark, carefresh, etc ... I keep over 250 snakes on newspaper now and I love it.

-adam

Adam, where do you get unprinted newspaper from? I was using regular newspaper but they all started getting dirty bellies from the ink, so I switched to non-bleached Carefresh. I like it, but like you said, it's a bit time consuming to change it all out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JenHarrison

Adam, where do you get unprinted newspaper from? I was using regular newspaper but they all started getting dirty bellies from the ink, so I switched to non-bleached Carefresh. I like it, but like you said, it's a bit time consuming to change it all out.

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www.uline.com

-adam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

For the last couple of years, I've been recommending newspaper ... I use the unprinted kind ... It may not be the prettiest thing to look at, but when it's dirty, you can't miss it ... and when it's clean, you know it's clean.

The most important thing you can do for your snake (other than fresh water) is to keep his house clean ... newspaper is a great substrate because when you clean the cage you get everything "out" and it only takes a couple of seconds to do so ... other substrates that are commonly "spot cleaned" are never truely clean unless all of the bedding is removed and replaced which is costly and time consuming ... "spot cleaning" always leaves something behind ... you might not see it, but it's there.

Newspaper is great for humidity too, just mist and go! ;)

Over the last 25 years I've used just about every bedding you can imagine ... potting soil, sand, aspen, mulch, rept bark, carefresh, etc ... I keep over 250 snakes on newspaper now and I love it.

-adam

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He speaketh the truth!! I used newspaper but hated having newsprint all over my hands (and I disliked the smell). I changed to the brown corrugated kraft paper but that stuff really smells. I am loving the unprinted paper! It is awesome and so clean looking!

don't hate the brown kraft! :sabduel:



vaughn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I am loving the unprinted paper! It is awesome and so clean looking!

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I was wondering how that worked out for you??

Bet you wish you would have grabbed more now? :P

-adam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kavmon

don't hate the brown kraft! :sabduel:



vaughn

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Hatin it brutha! I dont like the smell when it gets a little moist.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I was wondering how that worked out for you??

Bet you wish you would have grabbed more now? :P

-adam

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I thought I emailed you and told you! Jeez dude, do my emails go right to the spam folder? :)

I wish I had grabbed more but i'm going to order some this week. I found a site with the 1600 sheet bundle for about $30!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Hatin it brutha! I dont like the smell when it gets a little moist.

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then replace it with a clean piece! ( that moistness is snake piss man) jeesh. :rolleyes: :rockon: i do get tired of cutting the rolls to size sometimes.


vaughn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kavmon

then replace it with a clean piece! ( that moistness is snake piss man) jeesh. :rolleyes: :rockon: i do get tired of cutting the rolls to size sometimes.


vaughn

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Then spend a couple bucks more and get the precut, cheapskate! ;)

The unprinted is niiiiice!

i'm too anal, i like them to be one piece and fit the tubs perfect! so i cut them and cut them and cut them. lol


vaughn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kavmon

i'm too anal, i like them to be one piece and fit the tubs perfect! so i cut them and cut them and cut them. lol


vaughn

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Scary! :)

I've been using aspen. It looks nice, my ball seems to like it, and I've never had any problems with it. Cleaning it is never fun though, and there are times where I miss stuff then find it later. Also, changing it is not really fun (have to vacuum the stuff that I can't pick up) and costly. I wonder if there's a place around here that sells unprinted newspaper.

BTW, would blank computer paper work?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kavmon

so i cut them and cut them and cut them.

vaughn

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It rubs the lotion on it's body.

-adam

Adam, is there are specific type of paper you order from that site?

If and when I get fed up with the aspen (not!) I'll contact our local paper and just buy the roll ends. :D Don't have to pay shipping, and there's plenty of "feet" left for only about $15. < I've already talked to 'em about it.....> :) But I use the aspen for the ratties, so it's no trouble using the shop vac and aspen for the snakies.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sputnik

Adam, is there are specific type of paper you order from that site?

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I use the 15x20 unprinted newsprint. A couple of sheets overlapped fit perfectly in my CB-70s and for my baby tubs, we just cut them on a paper cutter! :sweeet:

-adam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I use the 15x20 unprinted newsprint. A couple of sheets overlapped fit perfectly in my CB-70s and for my baby tubs, we just cut them on a paper cutter! :sweeet:

-adam

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Thank you, much appreciated! :)

Good mornng everyone. New forum member here. I was wondering if you still get good sheds using unprinted newsprint. I had switched from newspaper to mulch to help with sheds but with what I've been reading about mulch, I'm looking at switching again. I don't have the large number of snakes that some of you do - just 4 racks - so time to clean is not a real problem. I've been looking at sani chips but finding it here in Orlando is a pain.

Sheds are all dependent on humidity levels. I use Carefresh in my racks and when a snake turns blue, I give him or her a humid hide to use until the shedding process is finished. Basically it's a bowl or kitty litter pan with a few inches of very damp coconut husk substrate in the bottom. Works every time, they always shed in one piece. Plus I have a humidifier in the snake room. :)

what does carefresh look like??

ne one got a pic??

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

what does carefresh look like??

ne one got a pic??

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http://www.erodent.co.uk/Toys/CareFresh.jpg

It also comes in bright white and colors...

Jamie, do you know if the the dyes used in the colored versions would bleed when wet or if they'd be harmful to ball pythons in any way? I use the unbleached grey kind but have thought about using colors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JenHarrison

Jamie, do you know if the the dyes used in the colored versions would bleed when wet or if they'd be harmful to ball pythons in any way? I use the unbleached grey kind but have thought about using colors.

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I have never used the colored, only the white and grey. According to the company that makes it, it "Contains no contaminants, added inks or dyes, or chemicals, so it's safe for your pets!" . Your mileage may vary :)

i dont like the look of the carefresh....does ne one have a pic of coconut substrate or w/e its called

Look in here:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=32800

thankd, i dont like it lol

What kind of "look" are you going for?

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Originally Posted by JenHarrison

What kind of "look" are you going for?

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nothing really but i saw some pic a while ago that i cant find ne where that was these white shredded things that looked really good, looked soft too...dont kno what it is

Aspen?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ego/Diego1.jpg

Or like this?

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...atsucircle.jpg
(Image borrowed from MedusaOwl's gallery...LOVE her snakies!)

That is carefresh...same as the picture given earlier, but is their "white" version.