substrate question

[Bogertophis]

Agree...when dealing with mites, you want to line the cage with flat white paper towels so you can SEE if your treatment is working...you don't want to give them
more places to hide. (it's typical of snakes to soak for relief of the mites biting them...when you get rid of mites, your snake probably won't be soaking in bowl)

Once done with mites, I like paper towels for substrate because it's absorbent & offers traction...newspaper (& similar paper) absorbs poorly & is slippery for snakes
so I've never used it. Paper (any kind) is neutral with respect to humidity. I've mostly used paper towels alone for substrate with baby snakes I've raised, and you
can also shred & fluff them, snakes love to hide in that and it's soft. BTW, I'm talking about snakes in general...I have a variety but no Dumerils.

Once snakes occupy larger cages, I line the cage with one layer of paper towels, then cover with a mix of Carefresh & my own clean paper shreds (from shredding
my own mail & such). Very absorbent, great traction, & the paper towels make it easy to roll up & toss for cleaning when soiled. (Carefresh is hydroscopic, & also
heavier & clumpy, so the mix of my shredded paper adds lightness & recycles too.) Again, this may or may not apply to Dumerils, just discussing how I use paper.

Mites can KILL a snake...especially a baby snake...mites suck blood & even though they're tiny, they multiply exponentially & dehydrate a snake quicker than you
might expect. It's important that you get rid of the mites first, & fast. It's more important than feeding...please don't put off treating & getting rid of them, it's a
serious health risk to your snake & they are also thought to be disease vectors.

If this is your first snake (?) it's typical for a snake to refuse food when going into a shed cycle. Don't worry about feeding, most won't eat anyway then &
that is normal. After some days, your snake will "go clear" (appear normal, as if she has shed) right BEFORE they actually shed. Most of us raise the humidity
in their cage at that time to help the snake have a better shed. Yours will surely need extra humidity at that time, as the mites are also causing dehydration.