For those who use tubs and paper ....

I have a Common Kingsnake I've recently moved from a 20 gallon glass tank to a 50 gallon Sterilite tub. She's growing rapidly, so, the move was warranted. I use Kraft indented paper as a substrate, and it has worked well.

One problem with the tub is the rounded shape, and the raised bottom with the recessed perimeter...this naturally makes fitting sheets of paper trickier and less flush then in a rectangular tank (with the flat bottom, and 90 degree corners).

The snake has recently taken to burrowing under the paper. Doesn't matter how many layers I put in, she goes right for the bottom, flush with the plastic.

Should I worry about this? She gets time out of the tub to defecate (which is regularly predictable), and she's pretty good about it, believe it or not. I've got humidity dialed in, now at about 62%, and there's no condensation. One concern is the UTH (on a thermostat). Above the paper, the temp reads about 84 degrees, and 89 degrees below it at the plastic. I have a heavy hide covering the UTH, so it would be difficult for her to get directly over it unless she's in the hide itself, on the paper. She's been close underneath, but smartly off of it. Should I worry about the snake's belly contacting the plastic, all things being equal? Thanks/any thoughts welcome...

No matter what substrate I use my hognose either goes under the paper or digs down through the chips until his belly is directly on the plastic. He's been doing this for four years with no ill effects.

89F won't burn your snake but you could turn your thermostat down a notch. I keep my kings between 84-88. Kings like to burrow so they will find the bottom of the enclosure. I use aspen sani-chips as substrate and it works great. Kings don't need high humidity. Ambient humidity of 40-60% will be fine.

I recently saw a photo of snakes in tubs with no substrate at all. Makes me wonder if we really even need paper. I use paper towels mainly because I'm dealing with a mite problem and they show up well on anything white.

I oriented my tub on its side. it has a more even bottom (not completely flat though) and provides front access.

Maybe you could try using the corrugated cardboard , for my larger snakes I use the single wall type stuff and it works a treat.

That being said if the snake is determined enough nothing will stop its instincts to 'bury' itself.

I'd tend to agree with Zig in the suggestion of turning that stat down a few notches.

AL

I have two layers of paper now...She'll sometimes sandwich herself between them, but still often heads to the plastic bottom. I have another layer covering the UTH. In any case, she'll come right out whenever it's feeding time. ;)