Sand?

[ashleeworthen]

So I have been told by someone that sandbox sand was a good choice for the bedding of my ball python. Now I'm hearing the oposite and I have noticed some sand on her nose. Should I leave her in the sand or take her out of it?

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[MontyAndMelissa]

Sand isn't good for ball pythons. You should have her on a shredded coconut substrate, or something like that. Sand is too harsh for her belly. Please switch it out asap before it causes more problems!!

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[tbowman]

I'd remove it. I'm not too sure about the negative health implications but I could definitely see there being some. I don't see any benefit in using sand for a bp, only potential risks. I'd switch to one of the more widely used substrates such as aspen or newspaper. I personally use kraft paper and think it's great.

[Daniel.michelle]

sand mixed with topsoil makes a great burrowing substrate, but I've never personally used it for ball pythons, only my lizards. (it works great for them tho.)

[Izzys Keeper]

Please don't tell me a pet store told you that? This is ridiculous. Remove the sand immediately and get her on some kind of shredded wood (aspen, cypress, coconut.) Stay away from pine as some believe it causes respiratory problems. Sand will get under scales, in the nose / heat pits. Sometimes ball pythons miss when they strike prey and she could get a mouthful of non digestible sand. This was very bad advice they gave to you

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[ashleeworthen]

It was my husband's friends wife that told us that. I had a feeling that it was wrong but I wanted to make sure

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[DVirginiana]

I'd change it ASAP. There are potential health risks with it irritating scales, and I could see it causing injury or infection if any got stuck inside her mouth and rubbed a sore or something.

I use cypress mulch for my BP, some people use eco-earth (which gets a bit messy IMO so I only use it for my frogs), some people use paper towels or newspaper, aspen shavings also work fine.

[Eric Alan]

Definitely take her out of it and use something more traditional for BPs.

Sand as a substrate can lead to all sorts of health issues, not the least of which are impaction and sand in their heat pits (they're not physically built to handle it like some other snakes are). In addition, you're likely to have issues with husbandry since sand is a dry insulator (and a pretty darn good one at that). I also wouldn't want to have to keep up on cleaning activities with sand as a substrate - way to messy and too much work, IMO.

Edit: If you haven't already done so, please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the following: Ball Python (Python regius) Caresheet.

[anicatgirl]

Educate her too, the lady who told you this. Heaven forbid she get a BP

[ashleeworthen]

From my understanding she has an older ball python with that in its cage but mine is just a baby

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