I have been using coconut husk and I love it for several reasons. It looks great, it holds humidity, and it has no smell. What I DO NOT like about it is how much it sticks to rodents at feeding time. I only feed f/t and after I defrost them in water, I blow dry them until the are positively fluffy and the substrate STILL sticks to them. I am tired of watching my girl try to get rid of a mouthful of coconut husk every time she is finished eating. She always gets it out, but it's pitiful to watch and I can't imagine all that healthy.

So, any two cents worth from you guys would be appreciated. Here is a little about my set up.

I have a 2x2x1.5 fiberglas tank with a sliding glass front (I don't know the exact gallons, it was given to me, and made for ball pythons). It is in my living room, so I have a very naturalistic set up for aesthetic reasons. In addition to a UTH, I have a red bulb heat lamp, which is positioned over a large water dish to achieve correct humidity levels. I do not like the idea of newspaper or astroturf because there is no way to spot clean it, it all needs to be changed as soon as it is soiled. I check the substrate every day for poo and other nasties and grab out handfuls of soiled substrate and replace with a clean handful. I bleach all hides and plants and change the substrate completely every 2 weeks, so I go through a bag a month. Not too bad, I only have one snake.

In your experience, what other substrates look nice, don't smell when cleaned properly, are not magnetized to rodent fur, and are best for the snake's wellbeing? (good for humidity, etc.)

I really don't want to have to feed my girl outside the tank unless I have too. Just seems like unnecessary stress to her.