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Switching Substrates
So I've decided that once I use up all my aspen bedding, I may switch substrates. What substrates do you guys recommend and what are the pros and cons of it? I've been leaning towards using paper towels but I sort of feel that it might be too plain since my snake's been on actual bedding this whole time.
 Originally Posted by dkspftw
My ball pythons, so far as I can tell so far, are idiots. Lovable all the same, but not smart. In fact, my main moral dilemma as a BP keeper is the fact that we have to feed animals that are so smart (rats) to ones that are basically as dumb as logs.
I'm working on a Snake Tracker App! If you have any ideas or suggestions on features, feel free to post them in the Development Thread! I'll also be posting updates on the development of this program in this thread!
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Depending on what aspen you use can make a big difference.
I used this store brand aspen for a while and didn't like it, then tried a type of shredded aspen called "Harlan Teklad aspen" and I love it.
It holds humidity well, looks great, and is way better at absorbing.
I'd look into that kinda aspen if you're not dead set on switching to another substrate completely.
1.0 firefly ball python
1.0 100% Pastel het clown ball python
1.0 Enchi ball python
1.0 Super Pastel 100% het pied (Richard)
0.1 Butter 100% het ghost
0.1 Pastel 100% het pied (Keira)
0.1 Butter 50% het Ghost Ball Python (Penny)
0.1 100% het Ghost
0.1 Normal Ball Python (Irwin)
0.1 Mojave Ball Python (Eve)
0.1 Black Bee Ball Python (Charolette)
0.1 Pintripe (Olivia)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Peaches)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Dude)
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The Following User Says Thank You to Trackstrong83 For This Useful Post:
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Re: Switching Substrates
I like cypress in the winter for the humidity, newspaper during the warmer weather.
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Registered User
I just switched from Aspen to Repti-Bark, and found that the repti-bark was a better (worse?) insulator against my UTH. I had to adjust things around to re-gain the belly heat and bring up my ambient temp.
I also had read that Repti-Bark would hold humidity better, but I'm also struggling with it in that regard as well. Just part of the fun of changing things is adapting your practices to get what works
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Re: Switching Substrates
Originally Posted by Trackstrong83
Depending on what aspen you use can make a big difference.
I used this store brand aspen for a while and didn't like it, then tried a type of shredded aspen called "Harlan Teklad aspen" and I love it.
It holds humidity well, looks great, and is way better at absorbing.
I'd look into that kinda aspen if you're not dead set on switching to another substrate completely.
Is that the type of Aspen bedding that is almost like ribbons of stuff? The Aspen bedding that I use now is more similar to straw.
Originally Posted by dkspftw
My ball pythons, so far as I can tell so far, are idiots. Lovable all the same, but not smart. In fact, my main moral dilemma as a BP keeper is the fact that we have to feed animals that are so smart (rats) to ones that are basically as dumb as logs.
I'm working on a Snake Tracker App! If you have any ideas or suggestions on features, feel free to post them in the Development Thread! I'll also be posting updates on the development of this program in this thread!
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Re: Switching Substrates
I just switched to paper towels from cocofiber/cypress blend, and I LOVE it. It does look plain, but it's super easy to clean up after them. Odor hasn't been too much of an issue because I do a wipeout whenever their tubs put off any smell.
Sent from my warm hide using Tapatalk
1.1 Ball Pythons
a) Calliope 0.1, Banana Ball, 2018/19 season, 600g
b) Geralt 1.0 Chocolate Sable Mojave pos. Trick ball, May 27th 2020
3.2 Cats (Fury, Leviathan, Walter, Chell, Amelie); 2.0 Dogs (Bjorn, Anubis); 2.1 Ferrets (Bran, Tormund, Arya); 0.1 Beardie (Nefertiti); 0.1 Slider Turtle (Species uncertain) (Papaya); 2.0 Hermit Crabs (Tamatoa, Sushi); 0.1 Conure (Mauii); Two Axolotyls (Quetzl and Unnamed); Two Tree Frogs (Pluto and Colossus); One Anole (Zeus); One Crestie (Noferatu); 3.0 Guinea Pigs (Paco, Poncho and Piccolo); 0.1 Pink Toe T (Azula)
Fish:
1.1 Oscar Cichlids (Rocky 1.0, hx2020, Red Fire, and Bubble 0.1, hx2019, Tiger), 1.1 Convict Cichlids (Hurley and Sloane), 0.1 Strawberry Peacock Cichlid (Comet), Two Plecos, Rubby the Rubbernose Pleco and Trinidad the common Pleco, 2.0 Upside Down Catfish (Poseidon, Neptune), One Red Parrot Cichlid (Firefly), 1.0 Betta Fish (Jenkins), 2.2 Cherry Barbs ("The Worst"), 1.0 Electric Blue Acara (Goldeneye)
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The Following User Says Thank You to Archimedes For This Useful Post:
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Ah, so you keep your snake in a tub. Mine is kept in a tank, which is another reason on why I'm just wondering what substrate to use. It's a lot of ground to cover if I am to use paper towels.
Originally Posted by dkspftw
My ball pythons, so far as I can tell so far, are idiots. Lovable all the same, but not smart. In fact, my main moral dilemma as a BP keeper is the fact that we have to feed animals that are so smart (rats) to ones that are basically as dumb as logs.
I'm working on a Snake Tracker App! If you have any ideas or suggestions on features, feel free to post them in the Development Thread! I'll also be posting updates on the development of this program in this thread!
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Re: Switching Substrates
Originally Posted by ViperSRT3g
Ah, so you keep your snake in a tub. Mine is kept in a tank, which is another reason on why I'm just wondering what substrate to use. It's a lot of ground to cover if I am to use paper towels.
I'm actually on my way out to stock up on dollar store paper towels, haha. I used them briefly in my tanks before I went to tubs, and while it was simple, it did look kinda funky. The next best bet if you want to keep a nice display going would be that Harlan aspen, from what i hear it's very soft and easy to clean.
Last edited by Archimedes; 01-21-2014 at 10:24 AM.
1.1 Ball Pythons
a) Calliope 0.1, Banana Ball, 2018/19 season, 600g
b) Geralt 1.0 Chocolate Sable Mojave pos. Trick ball, May 27th 2020
3.2 Cats (Fury, Leviathan, Walter, Chell, Amelie); 2.0 Dogs (Bjorn, Anubis); 2.1 Ferrets (Bran, Tormund, Arya); 0.1 Beardie (Nefertiti); 0.1 Slider Turtle (Species uncertain) (Papaya); 2.0 Hermit Crabs (Tamatoa, Sushi); 0.1 Conure (Mauii); Two Axolotyls (Quetzl and Unnamed); Two Tree Frogs (Pluto and Colossus); One Anole (Zeus); One Crestie (Noferatu); 3.0 Guinea Pigs (Paco, Poncho and Piccolo); 0.1 Pink Toe T (Azula)
Fish:
1.1 Oscar Cichlids (Rocky 1.0, hx2020, Red Fire, and Bubble 0.1, hx2019, Tiger), 1.1 Convict Cichlids (Hurley and Sloane), 0.1 Strawberry Peacock Cichlid (Comet), Two Plecos, Rubby the Rubbernose Pleco and Trinidad the common Pleco, 2.0 Upside Down Catfish (Poseidon, Neptune), One Red Parrot Cichlid (Firefly), 1.0 Betta Fish (Jenkins), 2.2 Cherry Barbs ("The Worst"), 1.0 Electric Blue Acara (Goldeneye)
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Re: Switching Substrates
Originally Posted by ViperSRT3g
Is that the type of Aspen bedding that is almost like ribbons of stuff? The Aspen bedding that I use now is more similar to straw.
This is what it looks like.
Very finely shredded and absorbs very well.
1.0 firefly ball python
1.0 100% Pastel het clown ball python
1.0 Enchi ball python
1.0 Super Pastel 100% het pied (Richard)
0.1 Butter 100% het ghost
0.1 Pastel 100% het pied (Keira)
0.1 Butter 50% het Ghost Ball Python (Penny)
0.1 100% het Ghost
0.1 Normal Ball Python (Irwin)
0.1 Mojave Ball Python (Eve)
0.1 Black Bee Ball Python (Charolette)
0.1 Pintripe (Olivia)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Peaches)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Dude)
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Re: Switching Substrates
I use the eco earth bricks. They're much easier to store. When you put the water in and it expands it can be a pain because you have to wait for them to dry out a bit. They're great at holding humidity and absorption. Has anyone ever used sani-chips, heard that works well to
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Last edited by scooter11; 01-21-2014 at 12:08 PM.
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