Newspaper substrate & saran wrap?

[LadyCrow]

Greetings amigos. Here's yet another question from my endless list:

I have decided on newspaper as substrate for my snake. However, I read something this past weekend that some snakes will burrow (which I know they do), and that if the snake lies on top of the under tank heater (which I hadn't considered but can see how it's possible), it could cause damage to the snake. The site I was on (can't remember the name, unfortunately) recommended that something could be placed on the tank bottom (to cover the heater so the snake won't get hurt).

After all that, my question is this: I want the snake to be warm (obviously), so should I layer enough newspaper so that it won't come into contact w/the glass over the under tank heater? And how much newspaper should be used anyway?

:: scratches head ::

And borrowing an idea from another newbie post, what is the deal w/saran wrap? Not that I'm the most educated individual w/regards to snake husbandry, but in all of the research I've done in the last few months I've never heard of using saran wrap on the top of the tank. I thought that using a large bowl for water/humidity would be enough. (And yes, I've purchased a humidity monitor.)

In thanks for all of your patience in dealing w/my 1298129038 questions,
LC

[Brandon.O]

And how much newspaper should be used anyway?

I have found, that if you put to little in the tank the heating pad will be to hot and if you put to much , not enough heat will go through, i just put enough layers to equal 96 degrees. And my heating pad it on low.

Your right, there isnt much at all said about saran wrap in any caresheets, i guess its just somthing like a home remedy and everybody has found that it works well, you can also use duct tape or contact paper although i have only used saran wrap I hear duct tape and contact paper work just as well

My smaller snake burrows but my larger ones do not, if you have somthing (like a hide) to weigh the newspaper down it may keep them from going under.

Hope this helped you out a little

[Schlyne]

I would not use duct tape. The snake can get stuck to the duct tape and it can cuase serious problems.

The saran wrap is for the top of the tank, and it's used to help hold in humidity.

I can put down 4 layers of newspaper for my colubrid and she will still burrow down to the bottom to hide. You may have to try weighing down the paper, or trying other solutions (such as reptilecarpet..not as cheap..but wash and resuse) to deal with the possibilty of the snake burning itself by lying on the hot glass.

[Smulkin]

Saran/ConTac paper is a good humidity bumping technique when you've committed to the glass tank/screen lid route but thats about it.

I generally double the thickness on the warm side on top of the first layer using an entire section of our pissant little newspaper here (or half a USA Today section). Indeed a lot of the time they will burrow nonetheless - I catch them doing this and I start throwing a different hide in there for them see if they don't like it better. Also on the back end of the tupperware where the heat pad is I have the enclosure jacked up on a little bit of trim to keep the heating pad from being too much in flush contact with the bottom.

I hope that made sense - I am stilla cup away from consciousness.