Substrate...blah...

[Rafikiballpython]

I used Cyprus mulch and it was too sharp in my opinion and I used repti bark which was fine and I also have used coco and it got stuck in his nose so now I'm trying shredded aspen


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[SCWood]

I understand completely, I started on carpet because of past good experience with it years ago, had a feeding disaster, so tried paper, hated it. Went to aspen, didn't care for it. Now I'm on this mix and it's decent so far for looks and comfort, but like you said can me messy. I'm finding it's kinda difficult to get a good looking, clean, manageable, and safe substrate. ><

BLAHHH XD

Repti bark is nice, but if your snake goes to the bathroom you will have a hell of a time getting rid of the smell. I suggest cypress mulch. It's similar, but the pieces are bigger, softer, and don't smell!

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They don't want cypress -.- -sigh- they say it's weird to put a snake on mulch...

Tried cypress?

No :/ want to but they won't let me

Newspaper, reptibark, aspen and now paper towels. Seven tanks. My wife likes natural, but reptibark and even aspen don't always spot clean well. And I don't want to argue, just stick your head in there and take a good sniff ( I dare you). Reptibark holds moisture well, looks great. Paper towels are my favorite though. Hope that helps, we were using aspen. Spot cleaning very thorough, still stunk. Might as well get the benefits of the reptibark, if your going for looks. Peace, don't go nuts we have this debate to often.

Okay ^^

Pine. Better absorbency than aspen, doesn't mold nearly as easily, decent odor control.

At least in my experience.

I have given this thought...dusty?

[200xth]

I have given this thought...dusty?

Not that I've noticed.

[200xth]

200xth, which is more mold resistant? Pine or cypress?

Also, what brand pine you use? I can get nepco brand but it seems the pieces look huge.

I haven't used a lot of cypress, so I can't really answer that in any useful way.

I'm using Kaytee at the moment. The shavings are definitely not very large. My hatchlings at ~150g were on it without issues.

[Sauzo]

I use aspen. Some stuff is dustier than others. I used to use Zoo Med stuff which was nice but expensive. I use Alphapet aspen from Walmart now and it works fine. Not too dusty and a 20qt bag is only $3. Great since I do full cage cleanings once a month on all my snakes. The only downside to the stuff is it isn't as finely shredded as the Zoo med stuff. I've used Eco Earth, newspaper, paper towels and my 2nd favorite would be paper towels. Eco Earth dries out fast, then becomes really dusty plus if your snakes like to burrow like mine do sometimes, it will get plugged in their nostrils. Never used cypress because its pretty expensive up here and I don't have humidity issues with aspen and have used it for years.

[Sauzo]

I used Cyprus mulch and it was too sharp in my opinion and I used repti bark which was fine and I also have used coco and it got stuck in his nose so now I'm trying shredded aspen


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I liked that stuff but when you need 4 bags of it a month, it gets spendy. Plus it seems like I was unlucky or something but everytime I went to buy 4 bags, no single pet store had 4 bags of it, I had to usually got to 2 or even 3 pet stores sometimes.

[M.P.C]

I use aspen. Some stuff is dustier than others. I used to use Zoo Med stuff which was nice but expensive. I use Alphapet aspen from Walmart now and it works fine. Not too dusty and a 20qt bag is only $3. Great since I do full cage cleanings once a month on all my snakes. The only downside to the stuff is it isn't as finely shredded as the Zoo med stuff. I've used Eco Earth, newspaper, paper towels and my 2nd favorite would be paper towels. Eco Earth dries out fast, then becomes really dusty plus if your snakes like to burrow like mine do sometimes, it will get plugged in their nostrils. Never used cypress because its pretty expensive up here and I don't have humidity issues with aspen and have used it for years.

Where would one find that stuff at walmart... home and garden center or do they keep it in the pet section

[Sauzo]

Where would one find that stuff at walmart... home and garden center or do they keep it in the pet section

Its in the pet section at the Walmarts in my area. Next to the pine bedding, carefresh and stuff like that....pretty much the small animal/pet aisle.

[hungba]

I haven't used a lot of cypress, so I can't really answer that in any useful way.

I'm using Kaytee at the moment. The shavings are definitely not very large. My hatchlings at ~150g were on it without issues.

Does it matter if it says "kiln dried" or would any ole' pine will do?

I will admit that I've avoided pine simply because of people saying that it is toxic etc. Since a lot on this forum have used it for decades I think it must be safe for snakes. Do you know if it is only snakes or is pine safe for other reptiles as well?

Also, all the pine I find in these parts available in bulk are huge pieces, meant for horses. I wonder if that is ok or not?

[M.P.C]

Its in the pet section at the Walmarts in my area. Next to the pine bedding, carefresh and stuff like that....pretty much the small animal/pet aisle.

Thank you