Low maintenance tank decor suggestions

[ROSIEonFIRE]

I’m planning to get my first snake. I’m thinking about tank decor and I would like to strike a balance between aesthetics and ease of cleaning. Anyone have any tips to share? Im thinking maybe just using brown paper towel for sub. What about machine washing tank decor like hides and plants?

[dakski]

I may be an outlier, but aesthetics are of no real importance to me with my snake tanks. My priorities are temp and humidity, making the snake feel safe/low stress environment, and cleanliness.

For what's worth and IMO, your snake does not care as long as his/her needs are met. Snakes want to feel safe. That's a huge priority for them. BP's, which I see you are interested in getting, are burrowing snakes and in captivity want safe places to hide and feel snug.

Get hides that are easy to clean and will feel snug to the snake. Plastic hides like these are great. Easy to clean and when snug, will keep your snake feeling safe and secure.

https://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

https://www.reptilebasics.com/large-hide-box

What kind of enclosure are you looking into getting? If it's a glass tank (which I do not recommend), you will likely need some form of substrate to keep humidity up. If it is a PVC enclosure with a clear door in front and sides you cannot see in or out of, humidity should not be an issue because of the nature of the tank and how well it holds temps as well. In those, you can use paper substrate. I love paper substrate. Others do not. I am immune compromised due to a kidney transplant and nothing is cleaner and easier to clean than paper substrate.

I use printless newspaper.

https://www.uline.com/BL_1953/Newsprint-Sheets

For keeping the tank clean, make sure you have a good cleaner that is reptile safe and diluted to the proper formulation/ratio. I like this: https://www.reptilebasics.com/cleani...centrate-32oz/

Great disinfectant and deodorizer. Make sure to follow the directions of any cleaner/disinfectant. For example, this needs to sit for 10 minutes to be fully effective and then should be wiped up with a wet cloth. I use a mister to spray a little water on the surfaces I just cleaned (usually tank floor and walls) and then wipe up. Pretty easy.

I have spoken to the owner of the company and he is knowledgeable. Zoos use it too, but often in a higher concentration than you should. I have 9 reptiles tanks and go through about 1 oz a month, if that. This will last you a long time and the deodorizing aspect is huge.

If you want plants and other decor items, make sure they are easy to clean. Also make sure they are not sharp anywhere. Even a slight edge can hurt a snake who likes to explore and push on things. Also, a hungry snake striking prey is indiscriminate. I have had snakes miss a F/T rat and hit hides easily. Smooth edges.

Fake plants with big leaves are easier to clean than tiny leaves, for example.

Others can chime in on tank decor. However, please focus on husbandry over aesthetics. Also, per my response on your other post - regarding what I wish I knew before getting snakes - IMO, a BP is not a display animal. If you want something pretty to look at in your living room, etc. a BP might not be the right choice. They want quiet and solitude over commotion. Putting a tank somewhere where you can see the snake and the snake tank often might be pleasing for you, but probably not your snake.

[ROSIEonFIRE]

I may be an outlier, but aesthetics are of no real importance to me with my snake tanks. My priorities are temp and humidity, making the snake feel safe/low stress environment, and cleanliness.

For what's worth and IMO, your snake does not care as long as his/her needs are met. Snakes want to feel safe. That's a huge priority for them. BP's, which I see you are interested in getting, are burrowing snakes and in captivity want safe places to hide and feel snug.

Get hides that are easy to clean and will feel snug to the snake. Plastic hides like these are great. Easy to clean and when snug, will keep your snake feeling safe and secure.

https://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

https://www.reptilebasics.com/large-hide-box

What kind of enclosure are you looking into getting? If it's a glass tank (which I do not recommend), you will likely need some form of substrate to keep humidity up. If it is a PVC enclosure with a clear door in front and sides you cannot see in or out of, humidity should not be an issue because of the nature of the tank and how well it holds temps as well. In those, you can use paper substrate. I love paper substrate. Others do not. I am immune compromised due to a kidney transplant and nothing is cleaner and easier to clean than paper substrate.

I use printless newspaper.

https://www.uline.com/BL_1953/Newsprint-Sheets

For keeping the tank clean, make sure you have a good cleaner that is reptile safe and diluted to the proper formulation/ratio. I like this: https://www.reptilebasics.com/cleani...centrate-32oz/

Great disinfectant and deodorizer. Make sure to follow the directions of any cleaner/disinfectant. For example, this needs to sit for 10 minutes to be fully effective and then should be wiped up with a wet cloth. I use a mister to spray a little water on the surfaces I just cleaned (usually tank floor and walls) and then wipe up. Pretty easy.

I have spoken to the owner of the company and he is knowledgeable. Zoos use it too, but often in a higher concentration than you should. I have 9 reptiles tanks and go through about 1 oz a month, if that. This will last you a long time and the deodorizing aspect is huge.

If you want plants and other decor items, make sure they are easy to clean. Also make sure they are not sharp anywhere. Even a slight edge can hurt a snake who likes to explore and push on things. Also, a hungry snake striking prey is indiscriminate. I have had snakes miss a F/T rat and hit hides easily. Smooth edges.

Fake plants with big leaves are easier to clean than tiny leaves, for example.

Others can chime in on tank decor. However, please focus on husbandry over aesthetics. Also, per my response on your other post - regarding what I wish I knew before getting snakes - IMO, a BP is not a display animal. If you want something pretty to look at in your living room, etc. a BP might not be the right choice. They want quiet and solitude over commotion. Putting a tank somewhere where you can see the snake and the snake tank often might be pleasing for you, but probably not your snake.

I’ve been planning on getting a front opening PVC tank. I have to say, this conversation is really comforting to me because I am actually in the middle of getting a serious and life changing medical diagnosis and I suspect the treatment may involve immune suppression. When I realized the direction the diagnostics were taking (yesterday PM) I pretty much just cried for hours and the only thing that could distract me last night at all was thinking about getting this snake. And then I realized that I might be on immunosuppressants and that I might not be able to get a snake after wanting one for years and that was very upsetting. This isn’t even what lead me to post this question, I’m just the kind of person who prioritizes low maintenance anyways, but what you said about keeping snakes while immunocompromised gives me a lot of hope. Thanks so much for your thorough answer! All of this information will be really helpful to me and for sure confirms in my mind that PVC is the right way to go as I am seriously concerned about mold growth in wood type subs.


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[Bogertophis]

@ROSIEonFIRE: I'm sorry that you're dealing with some sort of medical issue & a difficult diagnosis- I know how scary that can be, but honestly, sooner or later, that's most everyone ...so take heart. You're right to ask questions about keeping pets while keeping yourself safe too, health-wise, & snakes are a good choice IMO. The trouble is that if you ask your doctor about it, roughly one in a thousand might actually know enough about keeping snakes to give you an accurate response- there is a LOT of misinformation about snakes carrying salmonella (it's mostly aquatic turtles & various lizards- bearded dragons can carry quite a few things too) but snakes are just not a big offender in this area. Sadly, there is rampant hatred of snakes so it's way more likely that your doctors will be repeating false & negative information about their health risk to you- so be prepared, not shocked, okay?

Sure, snakes can carry some pathogens, but since they're cold-blooded, they tend to have very different issues than us warm-blooded types get. There's also ways to mitigate the risks- use a decent (but snake-safe) disinfectant to clean the enclosure (glass is recommended- it's easier to sanitize, as is PVC), wash your hands, wear a mask when cleaning the enclosure (to avoid breathing air- born particles), etc. And don't handle your snake in the kitchen or when eating.
Also get acquainted with your nearest reptile-qualified vet: https://members.arav.org/search/custom.asp?id=3661

I've kept a house-full of snakes for almost 40 years now with no adverse health issues for myself, & they've always been throughout my house- in my bedrooms, den, living room & even my large dining room- not locked away in a "snake room". I vividly remember many years ago when a doctor hurriedly MIS-diagnosed me with a serious autoimmune condition based on aberrant lab work only, instead of considering all the factors needed for that diagnosis, & which happily proved to be quite false, but I didn't know that for quite some time. When my stress was reduced, voila! No more "condition"-my bloodwork was normal- I was lucky. Anyway, I want to point out that the comfort & "distraction from negativity" that a cherished pet can bring you can be a very POSITIVE factor in your health also, as I hope it will be for you. That doesn't mean you should take unnecessary chances, of course, & your questions about maintaining a ball python are the right way to proceed.

I'm more about convenience too, when it comes to substrates & keeping snakes. I honestly don't like newspaper though, as it offers no traction for snakes, & also because their feces will sit there waiting to be slid thru- it's not that absorbent. I prefer to line my tanks with white paper towels (better absorption), folding up the edges so there's no "spill-over", then adding dry substrate over that. In my case, since I keep colubrids these days (had BPs in the past), I use a mixture of Carefresh* & paper shreds (from my own shredder- bills & such). That adds plenty of 'cush' for the snake to even burrow in, & makes spot-cleaning easier. *You would NOT want to use Carefresh for a BP though, or any snake that needs higher humidity, as that product is actually hygroscopic & will work against you. But if you check around, there's various shredded paper substrates you can buy- Chewy carries quite a few, for example. And U-line, as dakski mentioned, has some options too, if you want to use a "cage liner". (When using 'dry' substrates for a BP- you should also make them a large "humid hide". Saturated & drained moss is excellent & can be rinsed & re-used unless contaminated with feces.)

Apart from the substrate, you can give a more natural appearance to a glass tank by installing scenic background (outside the tank, on the back & sides) which also offers privacy for the snake- shy snakes like BPs appreciate that. (Never mind- you did say PVC-) And you can use some natural branches or driftwood for low climbing (BPs are not big climbers but they enjoy some variety). The branches can be sprayed with your disinfectant, & dried before re-installing. (NEVER use bleach on branches or anything porous though- it will not rinse away & the fumes are deadly to snakes- not good for us either.) Best disinfectants would be the F-10, or chlorhexidine (diluted, which is what I use). You can ask your vet too- they might be will to sell you a small bottle of what they use- since some of these products only come in amounts that you'll have trouble using up with only one snake. I too use the Reptile Basics black hides- easy to clean, & many sizes available.

More questions? Keep 'em coming- we're here to help.

[ROSIEonFIRE]

@ROSIEonFIRE: I'm sorry that you're dealing with some sort of medical issue & a difficult diagnosis- I know how scary that can be, but honestly, sooner or later, that's most everyone ...so take heart. You're right to ask questions about keeping pets while keeping yourself safe too, health-wise, & snakes are a good choice IMO. The trouble is that if you ask your doctor about it, roughly one in a thousand might actually know enough about keeping snakes to give you an accurate response- there is a LOT of misinformation about snakes carrying salmonella (it's mostly aquatic turtles & various lizards- bearded dragons can carry quite a few things too) but snakes are just not a big offender in this area. Sadly, there is rampant hatred of snakes so it's way more likely that your doctors will be repeating false & negative information about their health risk to you- so be prepared, not shocked, okay?

Sure, snakes can carry some pathogens, but since they're cold-blooded, they tend to have very different issues than us warm-blooded types get. There's also ways to mitigate the risks- use a decent (but snake-safe) disinfectant to clean the enclosure (glass is recommended- it's easier to sanitize, as is PVC), wash your hands, wear a mask when cleaning the enclosure (to avoid breathing air- born particles), etc. And don't handle your snake in the kitchen or when eating.
Also get acquainted with your nearest reptile-qualified vet: https://members.arav.org/search/custom.asp?id=3661

I've kept a house-full of snakes for almost 40 years now with no adverse health issues for myself, & they've always been throughout my house- in my bedrooms, den, living room & even my large dining room- not locked away in a "snake room". I vividly remember many years ago when a doctor hurriedly MIS-diagnosed me with a serious autoimmune condition based on aberrant lab work only, instead of considering all the factors needed for that diagnosis, & which happily proved to be quite false, but I didn't know that for quite some time. When my stress was reduced, voila! No more "condition"-my bloodwork was normal- I was lucky. Anyway, I want to point out that the comfort & "distraction from negativity" that a cherished pet can bring you can be a very POSITIVE factor in your health also, as I hope it will be for you. That doesn't mean you should take unnecessary chances, of course, & your questions about maintaining a ball python are the right way to proceed.

I'm more about convenience too, when it comes to substrates & keeping snakes. I honestly don't like newspaper though, as it offers no traction for snakes, & also because their feces will sit there waiting to be slid thru- it's not that absorbent. I prefer to line my tanks with white paper towels (better absorption), folding up the edges so there's no "spill-over", then adding dry substrate over that. In my case, since I keep colubrids these days (had BPs in the past), I use a mixture of Carefresh* & paper shreds (from my own shredder- bills & such). That adds plenty of 'cush' for the snake to even burrow in, & makes spot-cleaning easier. *You would NOT want to use Carefresh for a BP though, or any snake that needs higher humidity, as that product is actually hygroscopic & will work against you. But if you check around, there's various shredded paper substrates you can buy- Chewy carries quite a few, for example. And U-line, as dakski mentioned, has some options too, if you want to use a "cage liner". (When using 'dry' substrates for a BP- you should also make them a large "humid hide". Saturated & drained moss is excellent & can be rinsed & re-used unless contaminated with feces.)

Apart from the substrate, you can give a more natural appearance to a glass tank by installing scenic background (outside the tank, on the back & sides) which also offers privacy for the snake- shy snakes like BPs appreciate that. (Never mind- you did say PVC-) And you can use some natural branches or driftwood for low climbing (BPs are not big climbers but they enjoy some variety). The branches can be sprayed with your disinfectant, & dried before re-installing. (NEVER use bleach on branches or anything porous though- it will not rinse away & the fumes are deadly to snakes- not good for us either.) Best disinfectants would be the F-10, or chlorhexidine (diluted, which is what I use). You can ask your vet too- they might be will to sell you a small bottle of what they use- since some of these products only come in amounts that you'll have trouble using up with only one snake. I too use the Reptile Basics black hides- easy to clean, & many sizes available.

More questions? Keep 'em coming- we're here to help.

Haha, I actually live with an OBGYN who hates basically all animals that aren’t dogs or cats and when I told her that I was absolutely buying a snake she said basically exactly what you’d expect about snakes and bacteria! I definitely will contact a herp vet in my area, both for my future pet and to get their expertise on this issue. Thanks as always for your thoughtful posts!

[Bogertophis]

One more substrate idea that I happen to love using on a limited basis, one that works great! (snakes LOVE the traction & it looks nice) & that will save you a lot of money: indoor-outdoor carpet!

The stuff they often sell from 12' rolls in big box stores (Lowes, Home Depot) by the foot. It's practically indestructible (you can wash it out, even disinfect it) & it never wears out. It's also not a fire hazard the way paper products can be if you're using UTH that's poorly regulated. There's virtually no backing on this type of nylon-fiber carpet (sometimes a sprayed on coating on the back, but not the woven stuff like indoor carpet has), & you can EASILY cut it to fit with scissors. I cut at least 2 carpets for each tank & snake that I use it for, so that when one gets dirty, I have a ready replacement. It's easy to wash out in your laundry sink or tub (I use dish-soap), & let it drip dry, which it does quickly. For a snake that likes humidity, like a BP, you can reinstall it slightly damp too. And unlike paper products, you can mist it without it wilting into mush.

Just something to consider. The downside, of course, is that you have to hand wash it (have your husband do it). If you go this route, plan the dimensions you need in advance. I like to cut the carpet about 4-5" bigger in width & length than the tank floor, then cut a square out of each corner, so that when you lay it in the tank, the sides easily fold up to "contain" the snake's output. It's easy to spot clean, & when it's dirty, I knock off the stuff into my garden, then wash it. This is also much better than the fake-grass stuff they offer in pet stores- that stuff traps a lot but also sheds- yuck!

[Homebody]

I’m thinking about tank decor and I would like to strike a balance between aesthetics and ease of cleaning.

Unfortunately, snakes hate smooth edges. They are easy for us to clean, but hard for them to grip with their belly scales. So, some compromise is necessary. Rather than newsprint, consider repticarpet. It's rougher than newsprint and it's easy to wash. Use two pieces and swap them during cleaning. This allows the soiled piece to air dry between uses which I feel helps with disinfecting. Sun drying would probably be even better. Your BP will also need something rough to aid in shedding. I use a paving stone. It's rough but easy enough to clean with a brush. Placed under the heating element, it will also provide belly heat for basking. Keeping the enclosure clean is very important just don't go overboard with it. Provide some rough surfaces so you bp can properly shed and navigate its enclosure.

[Malum Argenteum]

I personally use textured kraft paper in enclosures that I don't want to use substrate:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

More 'grip' for the snake than newspaper, and doesn't mold like white paper towels can (I've used both of those).

I disagree with the practice of tossing the solids outside, since there may be non-native pathogens carried by our non-native reptiles (as in Burmese pythons in FL). Best to double bag and put into the regular trash.

The trouble is that if you ask your doctor about it, roughly one in a thousand might actually know enough about keeping snakes to give you an accurate response- there is a LOT of misinformation about snakes carrying salmonella (it's mostly aquatic turtles & various lizards- bearded dragons can carry quite a few things too) but snakes are just not a big offender in this area. Sadly, there is rampant hatred of snakes so it's way more likely that your doctors will be repeating false & negative information about their health risk to you- so be prepared, not shocked, okay?

Unfortunately, this isn't exactly true. Chances are, any given captive snake is more likely to carry Salmonella than not, and a captive snake is more likely to carry Salmonella than any other type of captive reptile. While the overall number of cases of reptile-associated salmonellosis are higher from turtles than snakes (35% vs 20%), snakes are considerably more likely to carry salmonella (56%) than lizards (37%) or turtles (19%). The discrepancy between rates of infection and rates of zoonotic transmission are thought to be due to demographics, rates of ownership, and differences in housing and maintenance.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals...3.1251036/full

A very interesting couple passages in that paper are at 4.3.5, where it is suggested that naturalistic husbandry might reduce the risk of the shedding of Salmonella. I have not looked at the citations in that section, though.

Physicians don't as a rule know much at all about snakes, but they tend to know a mind-blowing amount about human health. I'm married to one, and sometimes I get to hang out with a room full of them; in both situations, I try to keep the conversation off anything close to health or medicine so I don't make myself look like the most ignorant part of the world's dullest donkey.

[Bogertophis]

I personally use textured kraft paper in enclosures that I don't want to use substrate:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

More 'grip' for the snake than newspaper, and doesn't mold like white paper towels can (I've used both of those).

I disagree with the practice of tossing the solids outside, since there may be non-native pathogens carried by our non-native reptiles (as in Burmese pythons in FL). Best to double bag and put into the regular trash.



Unfortunately, this isn't exactly true. Chances are, any given captive snake is more likely to carry Salmonella than not, and a captive snake is more likely to carry Salmonella than any other type of captive reptile. While the overall number of cases of reptile-associated salmonellosis are higher from turtles than snakes (35% vs 20%), snakes are considerably more likely to carry salmonella (56%) than lizards (37%) or turtles (19%). The discrepancy between rates of infection and rates of zoonotic transmission are thought to be due to demographics, rates of ownership, and differences in housing and maintenance.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals...3.1251036/full

A very interesting couple passages in that paper are at 4.3.5, where it is suggested that naturalistic husbandry might reduce the risk of the shedding of Salmonella. I have not looked at the citations in that section, though.

Physicians don't as a rule know much at all about snakes, but they tend to know a mind-blowing amount about human health. I'm married to one, and sometimes I get to hang out with a room full of them; in both situations, I try to keep the conversation off anything close to health or medicine so I don't make myself look like the most ignorant part of the world's dullest donkey.

I'm always glad to get your take on things, MA. I've never had any mold on paper towels, but my tanks are kept with lower humidity too, so maybe that's why. I've used product you mentioned from U-line in the past- everything has pro's & con's, & it comes down to what each of us prefers, what works well for us (& especially for our snakes), & what fits our budget, etc.

I guess you're much more current than I am about the rate of salmonellosis in snakes- that's changed over the years, & quite frankly, if I haven't ever gotten sick by now, I'm not one bit worried that I will at any time in the future. Considering how many snakes I've kept over the years & how full my house was for many years, if the risk was substantial, I shoulda been a 'goner' by now?
I also tend to be rather "chummy" in handling snakes, & I've had snakes from all over the world too- though most were native to the U.S. & most c/b but also plenty of w/c locals at various times.

That's a good point I hadn't considered about tossing a little snake waste into my shrubs (& that was ONLY in reference to when I've used the carpet- not my routine otherwise), but currently all I have are long-term healthy natives anyway- very low risk. If I had a sick one, that would have been different for sure. But I have to agree with you, point well taken, thanks.

[Malum Argenteum]

I guess you're much more current than I am about the rate of salmonellosis in snakes- that's changed over the years, & quite frankly, if I haven't ever gotten sick by now, I'm not one bit worried that I will at any time in the future. Considering how many snakes I've kept over the years & how full my house was for many years, if the risk was substantial, I shoulda been a 'goner' by now?

Many cases of salmonella in immunocompetent adults are minor, and we might just write it off as 'stomach flu' or 'grocery store sushi, that was a mistake' or something less.

I didn't mean to imply that the general risk was substantial (since I don't think it is, and I don't think the data says it is). I was correcting the 'snake v turtles' claim, mostly.

But as to the knowledge level of physicians, there seems to be a lot known about the risk of infection as related to specific immunosuppressive therapies -- for example " A higher incidence of salmonellosis is seen also in patients with antibody deficiencies, defects in cell-mediated immunity and deficiencies in Th1 cytokines (IL-12, IFNγ) or cytokine receptors (IL-12R β1 subunit, IFNγR chains 1 and 2). " A physician prescribing immunosuppressive drugs might have reason to try to avoid one of the cytokine inhibitors if there's even a slightly elevated baseline exposure to Salmonella (or not; they could do the math on that).

It might depend in part on the condition being treated, such as the combined effects of disease and treatment in lupus. I'm sure there are many more specific considerations, and physicians tend to know a lot of this sort of stuff right off the top of their head (a visit to my rheumatologist is always a lesson in how much detail he knows).