Substrate questions for a new ball python owner

[sarbear]

Hello, I am a new ball python owner, new to the whole herp world actually. I am wondering about substrate. I am currently using aspen shavings which seem to work pretty well except that I live in Colorado and have a hard time keeping the humidity between 50-60%. It is usually too low unless it's right after I mist the tank. When I first purchased the snake almost 2 weeks ago I used cypress bedding which I think seemed to keep the humidity up better, but the next day I spotted tiny white bugs on the glass so I returned everything including the tank and all the furnishings and started over.

So my main questions are if there are ways to treat the cypress bedding to kill the mites and eggs and if I do that, what do I do to replace the moisture that the substrate has right out of the bag?

Thanks for any help. Sorry for the rambling

[llovelace]

Either bake it or freeze it

[bsash]

I use Eco- Earth expandable dirt for substrate. It holds humidity very well, and I don't have a single complaint about it.

[sarbear]

Thanks, I've heard that about baking or freezing. Do you know the temps and length of time for each?

[Kaorte]

225-250 for an hour or so should do the trick.

Leaving it in the freezer can kill them, but I think the oven would be a more effective method.

Also, just to mention, the mites are not harmful to your snake but you still don't really want them hanging around. Provent a Mite is a product you can buy online. It will get rid of the mites and keep them gone.

[DrEwTiMe]

I use Eco Earth which is made by zoomed. Its compressed coconut fiber which comes in blocks. You just run them underwater break it up, let it dry somewhat and then put it down in he cage. My snake loves it cause she can burrow and its extremely good at holding moisture and is treated to prevent any bacteria. I would definitely recommend looking into that.