Substrate!

[SDA]

So it seems to always come up about what substrate to use for a ball python. I thought I would go over the common ones and which ones to avoid.

Basically you are looking for odor absorption, cost, mold resistance, and ability to control humidity.

I will not go over bio active soil mixes and substrates as that is advanced husbandry and you need to know about horticulture and these types of vivariums before attempting them for ball pythons.






So first off these are the substrates to avoid when it comes to ball pythons:


Pine or Cedar Shavings



Why they are bad. Well this one is slightly controversial. Phenols which are aromatic compounds found in certain evergreens have been correlated with toxicity in people and rodents. It has been believed that the oils produced by these woods can harm reptiles as well. If nothing else this bedding is rather abrasive and horrendous for humidity control or mold resistance. So if nothing else just don't use it because its harsh on your snake's belly and is bad for controlling humidity.

Walnut shells (crushed)



Why these are bad? They are like little sandpapers. Plus they are pretty indigestible nut shell material. They can scratch and irritate skin and eyes as well as are not great if ingested. They don't hold humidity at all so they are out for ball pythons.

Sand



This goes without saying. Sand is abrasive, not great at all if ingested and terrible for humidity. Now one use of sand is mixed in bio active soil mixes but that is a different subject.


Sphagnum Moss *



Ok this one is only bad if it is the sole substrate for your snake. Sphagnum Moss is actually very beneficial in bio active mixes as well as supplemental in enclosures for retaining humidity but it is not really advisable as the sole substrate as it is not odor absorbent, can be excessive with retaining moisture and does not hold up well to mold resistance. Add in it can get costly to use as the sole substrate unless you are lucky enough to find a vendor that sells unadulterated moss. On that note... avoid ornamental moss used in floral shops and the like as it is often chemically treated.


Reptile Carpet



No, just no. It's not ideal in any way shape or form. It gets filthy, is hard to clean, is neither sanitary, humidity friendly, or worth mentioning. Just no.




Now less move on to the ok but not the best choices. These can be used but either can be not great for humidity, abrasive, prone to mold, or just not cost effective. Now some of these when mixed with the better substrates can actually make for a great bedding for your snake so don't be scared off by these.



Repti Bark / Douglas Fir



Coconut Husk (not fiber)



Either of these are not in themselves bad bedding (as in you should not use them for health reasons) but they can be rather abrasive on their own and can tend to hold too much moisture if not careful. I don't want to discourage this as people have successfully kept snakes on them and when mixed with other substrates can do wonders but are not really the best to use for a ball python alone. There just are better solutions out there that work as well and are better for your baby's delicate undercarriage

I will say however that coarse coconut husk tends to mold out rather quickly if kept moist and as such isn't ideal.


Aspen




This is a widely used bedding for all types of animals and actually a great option for Colubridae family of snakes. The problem with ball pythons come in is that in glass terrariums with overhead heat this can get really dry and not help at all for retaining humidity. There are people who use this without issue but if you have humidity issues, this one is a substrate to avoid.


Hemp



No, this will not get your snake high! Hemp has been used for many years as livestock bedding and it is wonderful for odor control and absorbing waste but it, like aspen is not the best for humidity control in glass with overhead heating. It is very cheap and holds up well but can be slightly abrasive due to the nature of the cellular structure of hemp stalks. Best kept for hamsters and not ball pythons.





Moving on we come to some of the more recommended substrates. These are closet to meeting the criteria for a happy and healthy ball python.



Coconut Fiber



This is a fantastic substrate, renewable materials, and comes in brick or loose form. They hold humidity very well, are gentle on scales, absorb odors, and are widely available. I won't go into different brands but if mixed up correctly, can do wonders for keeping humidity up in all types of enclosures.


Cypress Mulch



The go to for a lot of snake keepers. Like coconut fiber it is widely available but unlike coco, it is not an easily renewable resource. It is the king of mold resistance, great with odor control and does a good job in humidity control but can require more misting than coco fiber. It is larger in size and can be a tad more abrasive than coco fiber but not enough to deter anyone from using this.



Newspaper, Brown paper/ Butcher Paper, Paper Towels



These are fantastic alternatives to cypress mulch or coco fiber especially in tub setups. These are inexpensive, easy to clean up, and absorbent. They are not good for humidity control of course so really are not for glass setups with overhead heat but for tubs can be the go to substrate for no muss no fuss care. Paper towels are also wonderful for quarantine tanks as the white can visually pick up mites easily for detection.


Corrugated Paper



This is often kept with larger species of snakes in enclosures but can work in tubs as well. It holds up well to larger snakes and is great for clean up. Not the best in glass but if you are looking for something a bit more sturdy than paper alone, this is a great option. Think of cardboard with one side stripped off.








So there you have it. Have other options? Disagree with the recommendations? Have anything to add? Let me know your thoughts.