best substrate

so im asking you all on your opinion on what substrate i should use instead of newspaper...the more input the better :D

i prefer the aspen. you don't have to change the aspen every time you spill water on it, and the cleanup is not hard at all.

its good with humidity too right?

I second aspen. Has been working great for me!

It helps with smells, is pretty absorbent, looks great, and holds humidity fairly well (I have had no issues, but I also use tubs.)

tubs????

its holds humidity okay. it really depends on if you have a screen top and light if you have both than its probably gonna require a daily misting.

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Originally Posted by Scarcelime

tubs????

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yes tubs. some people have tubs for rack setups or just for the cheaper cost. there really the best way to go. they are economical and provide a secure environment where the bp feels safe as they cannot see out.

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Originally Posted by Scarcelime

tubs????

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Yep! My favorite!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/...b7515f.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/...eb5bc5.jpg?v=0

haha and what about breathing gotta make holes right? lol i know not big ones not that dumb :) but i wanted to go that way but im confused with the set up as how lighting and what not and heating?

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Originally Posted by Scarcelime

haha and what about breathing gotta make holes right? lol i know not big ones not that dumb :) but i wanted to go that way but im confused with the set up as how lighting and what not and heating?

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Yep! You poke air holes with a soldering iron (or a drill, but you could crack the pastic).
I just tape my UTH to the bottom and I am good to go. I don't use supplemental lighting.

ok cool im still new to all this stuff but not the snake iv had mine 8 years now and i havent done much of all the new precausions but i am now like humidity temp and what not..no more rock and everything making it safer and hes doing fine alot more livily too with a much bigger tank


and for me the best way and cheepest for tanks is garbadge hunt i just got a huge on recently i have him in right in some guys garbadge all cleaned out and fixed just no top so i made one of chicken wire =]

they dont require lighting just, some form of heat for them to digest there meal. some people just use belly heat, some just use back heat "lights", and some use both.

also with the UTH it dosent melt the plastic?

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Originally Posted by Scarcelime

also with the UTH it dosent melt the plastic?

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You have to have it on a thermostat or dimmer. Even if it was on full blast, it wouldn't melt the plastic.

You can do a simple tub setup like mine for around $50. If you already have hides, water bowl, and a thermostat (which you should have :P) then it is much cheaper.

You can find a tub at walmart for under $10 and a UTH from a pet store is usually about $15.

If you don't have a thermostat, I highly recommend you invest. Reptile Basics has some fancy ones, but there is one over at Reptile Supply which is much cheaper and gets the job done.

yeah i picked one uptoday with a probe yet i got the wrong one the one i got is just temp i read it wrong and didnt get the combo with humidity :tears:

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Originally Posted by joshn6805

yes tubs. some people have tubs for rack setups or just for the cheaper cost. there really the best way to go. they are economical and provide a secure environment where the bp feels safe as they cannot see out.

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How do you know they feel safer not seeing out?

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Originally Posted by Scarcelime

yeah i picked one uptoday with a probe yet i got the wrong one the one i got is just temp i read it wrong and didnt get the combo with humidity :tears:

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Sounds like you got a thermoMETER not a thermoSTAT. Which thermometer did you get? I have found the best ones are the Accu-rite thermometer hydrometer combos with a probe.

just threw out the box >.> idk just a thermometer digital with a probe imma go out and buy another secretly or just get a humidity reader thing i knwo what it is just not specificslly the name :( just need to work on getting more money dads gonna help but not alot comming from him =\

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Originally Posted by Scarcelime

just threw out the box >.> idk just a thermometer digital with a probe imma go out and buy another secretly or just get a humidity reader thing i knwo what it is just not specificslly the name :( just need to work on getting more money dads gonna help but not alot comming from him =\

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Well if money is tight, you can go to home depot and get a few items for under $25 bucks.

Accurites are usually in the garden section, with indoor outdoor thermometers. They are about $15. A dimmer (which you really really need until you get a thermostat) Should be in the lighting section and is about $10. Making sure you know your temps and are controlling your heat source properly is essential to the well being of your snake :D

thanks alot your being alot of help for me! im sure he should be fine for now. because hes been in great condition all his life besides a little mite trouble last past month but after i aquire all the stuff he will be in even better condition :D

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Originally Posted by scotty99

How do you know they feel safer not seeing out?

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I personally don't think it makes much difference.

However, remember that BPs are naturally timid and shy snakes. They seem to do better in smaller, more "cozy" quarters as opposed to a large, open glass terrarium where all sides are transparent. In other words, the snake might be more stressed when it feels "exposed" so to speak, as many animals have trouble comprehending the nature of transparent glass.

i havent noticed it yet hes loving it from what i see. hes everywhere on the sticks basking or in his hide or just roaming every night i cant sleep cuz of him haha so much noise lol

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Originally Posted by Scarcelime

i havent noticed it yet hes loving it from what i see. hes everywhere on the sticks basking or in his hide or just roaming every night i cant sleep cuz of him haha so much noise lol

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Keep in mind that too much roaming could be a sign of stress. Activity at night is not a problem though. Also, ball pythons don't bask :P

lol =] shhh

Why change from paper? It's the best substrate I've ever used.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Why change from paper? It's the best substrate I've ever used.

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i have really shaky hands and tend to spill water all over the place when changing water, so it gets to be a hassle to have to change the substrate everyday. you know the saying "different strokes for different folks."

Hi,

Put the water bowl in empty then fill it from a jug once it's in. :)

I have a couple of tanks with small openings and big waterbowls. :D


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Put the water bowl in empty then fill it from a jug once it's in. :)

I have a couple of tanks with small openings and big waterbowls. :D


dr del

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haha that's embarrassing never even thought of that:oops:

does anyone use desert snow ?? i just bought some, but i fed my snake today so i will not be trying it out till a few days.

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Originally Posted by joshn6805

haha that's embarrassing never even thought of that:oops:

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My mother was the one who originally suggested that. She bought me a pitcher to fill with water. ^_^ I still splash a little, but nothing half as bad as before.

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Originally Posted by keepzrollin

does anyone use desert snow ?? i just bought some, but i fed my snake today so i will not be trying it out till a few days.

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Before I went to a rack system, I did use Desert Snow. It's not a bad substrate, but I did end up picking some out of my BP's mouths after feeding. You can pack it down pretty tight, and they still manage to get a mouthful of it when they eat. Now that I have my guys in a racks, I don't use it anymore.

speaking of substrate how often should you change the bedding????

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

speaking of substrate how often should you change the bedding????

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With spot cleaning, you can probably go two weeks or so between substrate changes. Your mileage may vary because a lot of factors play into this. For example, a BP that likes to tip his water bowl will need more frequent changes and such.

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Originally Posted by Slim

With spot cleaning, you can probably go two weeks or so between substrate changes. Your mileage may vary because a lot of factors play into this. For example, a BP that likes to tip his water bowl will need more frequent changes and such.

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every 2 weeks that not even enough time for the snake to settle in to its new environment

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

every 2 weeks that not even enough time for the snake to settle in to its new environment

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What do you mean? a week is usually sufficient. You don't need to give them a week of alone time after a substrate change.

I think once a month would be right... aslong as u do spot cleaning and water bowl doesnt spill. I gues it would also depend on the size of the snake im sure an adult sure can drop some bombs.. i only have one and its a baby sooo i wouldnt know.. but i would asume.

i was told every 2-3 months aslong as you keep the cage clean from dropping and etc.

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

i was told every 2-3 months aslong as you keep the cage clean from dropping and etc.

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You were told wrong. I clean my enclosures weekly.

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

i was told every 2-3 months aslong as you keep the cage clean from dropping and etc.

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Everyone has their own method. Do what's right for your snakes and for your husbandry style. I don't think there is any one right answer.

what is the right answer

would you wanna clean a 4x2 everyweek 3 or them at that

IMO, the best substrate is cypress mulch. It holds water well, and doesn't mold. It is great for incresing humidity in a snakes enclosure. Even though this is the best substrate, I use unprinted newpaper (newsprint.) It is quick and easy...

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

what is the right answer

would you wanna clean a 4x2 everyweek 3 or them at that

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When I used to use aspen, I used to spot clean every few days, then do a complete substrate change once each month. I used this substrate in racks and a 4x2 cage.

Nothing beats newspaper.

like ive said coconut fiber works great. if it gets to dry just pour some water on it and it absorbs the water and there you go back to good levels of humidity:banana:

I'm liking the clean look of aspen right now. I'm not saying its the best substrate, its just what I use. I'm not sure if there is a best substrate out there I think its more personal preference.