What is the best substrate for ball pythons?

[MegaFatcat]

I just use paper towel. It works and is easy to replace.

[C2tcardin]

You didn't specify tank set up vs tub but here have been my personal experiences with a few options for either. When I just had 2 snakes in a divided 75 gallon tank I used both aspen and cypress and eventually a mixture of about 50/50 aspen/cypress. Then I switched to racks and mostly used the aspen as the purpose of the cypress was to add color to the tank and really no other reason other than humidity, which everyone said cypress held better. Can't say I actually noticed a difference in humidity between the two. With the tubs the aspen worked fine but as others noted it gets everywhere despite attempts to be very careful, I also found it quite dusty. Now I'm using packing paper that comes in 120 sheet packs for $8 bucks from Lowe's. It's basically unprinted news-paper paper. I really like it it is so much easier to open a tub see they messed and clean it. It's true that there is a chance for smell if you don't stay on top of things but I find this actually has led to me being better about my husbandry and keeping things clean and sanitary.

[tkdlover123]

Thank you all. So is cypress mulch the safest substrate for ball pythons? Or is it safe to mix reptibark and ecoearth (50/50)? I don't really like using newspapers since I want her terrarium to look real.

[KMG]

Thank you all. So is cypress mulch the safest substrate for ball pythons? Or is it safe to mix reptibark and ecoearth (50/50)? I don't really like using newspapers since I want her terrarium to look real.

I will refer back to my first post.

I like to keep naturalistic cages and have found a mixture of cypress, Eco Earth, and ReptiBark is what I prefer.

[tkdlover123]

So it's safe to mix reptibark and ecoearth for my ball python?

[KMG]

I had to type more because "YES" is to short to post.

[tkdlover123]

haha Thank you!

[tkdlover123]

Also reptibarks don't contain mites right? I saw a post in google that told me that reptibarks contain mites...

[KMG]

Some substrate may have wood mites but they are not the same thing as the harmful mites a snake can get.

I have used Eco, Reti, and Forest Floor cypress for years without issue. Just make sure to buy bags that are in good shape.

[SadieJ]

Also reptibarks don't contain mites right? I saw a post in google that told me that reptibarks contain mites...

If you're worried about mites, get th smallest bags & stick them in your freezer for a day...should kill anything in there