Don't use Eco Earth Loose coconut fiber substrate.

[bearhart]

To kill quickly, the peice would have had to have blocked the airway. Even for a large 10' snake, that opening is quite small. I would think that either it was some sort of freak accident OR the snake had so much bedding packed in its mouth that it somehow was forced to inhale solid dirt. Bizarre story.

My biggest beef with paper is that you can't really spot-clean it and anything like a large uriniation over water-dsh overflow creates an unhealthy mess. On the other hand, with an inch of coco mulch your snake could completely unload itself and then go and tip over its water dish and still find a nice dry place to coil up.

[joepythons]

To kill quickly, the peice would have had to have blocked the airway. Even for a large 10' snake, that opening is quite small. I would think that either it was some sort of freak accident OR the snake had so much bedding packed in its mouth that it somehow was forced to inhale solid dirt. Bizarre story.

My biggest beef with paper is that you can't really spot-clean it and anything like a large uriniation over water-dsh overflow creates an unhealthy mess. On the other hand, with an inch of coco mulch your snake could completely unload itself and then go and tip over its water dish and still find a nice dry place to coil up.

Yes it was lodged directly in the airway.The only thing they could figure out was it must have stuck to her prey items fur and was swallowed with it.

[BPelizabeth]

We use Eco Earth and have had them strike and get a mouthful quite often. We have had to pick hold the snake and pick it out....they love it....NOT. Anyways....what we have done now and it seems to work is prior to feeding we put down papertowels and put the snakes on the paper towels prior to feeding. So far ...this has worked out great. I have to note though...I cannot wait to get my rack so I can use newspaper or paper towels.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I know this is an old post but, to me, it seems that everyone that is having problems with their substrate is during feeding. I feed in different tanks than they are housed in. I have one tank that I cannot get the humidity to over 30%!!! I am thinking of trying reptibark? I have a huge water dish, UTH, 15w light and aspen bedding. Its a 20 long by the way. All the tanks are in the same room and on the same stand. This ONE is throwing me for a loop though.
Also, the top 3/4 or so is foiled. I can mist and it will go up to 45 to 50% for about an hour or so then start falling again.

[sookieball]

i'll say that i have a 16oogram ball and i have kept her in eco earth for a year. she does get a mouth full or very little sometimes.
but read the label,
its 100% degestable.
odor absorbent and breaks down overseen waste.
its reusable(if you know how to clean it)
and 100% safe for any reptile. and trust me i've seen them with a mouth full and they have a hard time getting it down. yes.

but think in the wild, how many times do you thing the get dirt in their mouth?
vs big chunks of repti bark, aspen, ect....

i say its the best stuff for glass tanks. if you put a peice of foam board on top with a cut out for the heat bulb (i use both a UTH and heat bulb) the humidity stays and heats the ambient perfectly.

just my 2cents.

[Zoe]

Just playin Devil's advocate, here...

its 100% digestible.

The issue isn't that it's not digestible, it's that a mouthful of it can, in rare cases, be harmful. For example, if it gets in the snake's mouth and festers, an infection could develop.

but think in the wild, how many times do you thing the get dirt in their mouth?

True, but in the wild they usually are not on loose substrate; rather, they are on plants, branches, and hard packed dirt. Additionally, the prey they consume would not usually be wet and therefore various debris would not stick as easily.

That said, I like coconut fibre. It is a renewable resource, resistant to bacteria and mold, but I find it needs to be kept damp. If you let it dry out, it definitely does start sticking to things.

[sookieball]

Just playin Devil's advocate, here...



The issue isn't that it's not digestible, it's that a mouthful of it can, in rare cases, be harmful. For example, if it gets in the snake's mouth and festers, an infection could develop.



True, but in the wild they usually are not on loose substrate; rather, they are on plants, branches, and hard packed dirt. Additionally, the prey they consume would not usually be wet and therefore various debris would not stick as easily.

That said, I like coconut fibre. It is a renewable resource, resistant to bacteria and mold, but I find it needs to be kept damp. If you let it dry out, it definitely does start sticking to things.

in rare cases maybe, but would you rather be standing there picking chips of wood outta their mouth while they down the rat or let them eat in peace?
ive tried all the other substrates and none are less of a worry than ecoearth.

oh and i let mine get pretty dry. and the humidity is still at 70%

and wait why would the rat/mouse be wet when feeding? mine are always dry.
with the exception of drool from my snakes.

for the most part theres always very little EE in my lill ones mouth from the strike not dragging in the prey,

but to each their own

[Zoe]

in rare cases maybe, but would you rather be standing there picking chips of wood outta their mouth while they down the rat or let them eat in peace?
ive tried all the other substrates and none are less of a worry than ecoearth.

I think you might have missed my point... Did you miss the part where I said I was playing devil's advocate and that I do like (and use) coconut mulch? IMO it's one of the best substrates but it's not 100% foolproof (nothing seems to be when you hear about snakes eating entire pieces of paper towel) and I wanted to clear up some of your misconceptions about the issues surrounding it.

Incidentally, I have had a snake get it in his "cheeks". Lemme tell ya, getting that out of a GTP's mouth is no picnic! Luckily I noticed right away, and he is pretty tame, so it was quick work. It was because the substrate was dry... which is why I recommend keeping it somewhat damp. When it gets dry it flies around and sticks to everything.

and wait why would the rat/mouse be wet when feeding? mine are always dry.
with the exception of drool from my snakes.

Lots of people thaw their rodents directly in warm water... I do. I pat them dry in paper towel and I don't feed directly on the substrate but if you did some could stick to it. Again, it's usually not a serious issue, but it can happen and there is no harm in being aware of it and taking steps to avoid any potential problems.

[Dundee]

I always lay something down in the tank over the coco fiber before i feed my snake to avoid getting it in there mouth.

[dembonez]

cypress mulch has worked wonders for me!