How often do you switch substrate?

[zina10]

That depends entirely on the spot cleaning itself.

If done thoroughly and generously, and the rest of the substrate appears and smells clean, keep the good stuff.

I do...BUT I take spot cleaning to the next level. I remove the waste and the surrounding substrate. Then I spray F10 on the bare spot, rub and clean that spot, then cover it with substrate and add more to fill the bare spots.

Sometimes a snake will "smear". On a hide, around it, along walls, etc. Then I clean all those areas and the substrate around it.

You don't have to create a sterile environment, but should keep it clean and smelling fresh/clean. Some snakes are messier then others, too.

It depends on the substrate, as well. Some are better at absorbing then others. For example, when I used Aspen, I would often have to remove SO MUCH of it, that I just dumped the whole tub. It doesn't absorb well and the wet/dirty spot would be huge and even the snake would smell bad, since it often would move through the big wet spot. The tubs also reeked as soon as there was a mess.

Now I use a coco substrate. It keeps the wet spot small and concentrated in one area. So much better for spot cleaning and keeping things clean. It also keeps the smell down. I used to know if there was a mess by walking into that room. (pee or poop) Now I actually have to do a visual inspection.

All that said, if you have a snake with a health problem, ANY health problem whether skin, mouth or respiratory, you should remove any substrate, keep it on paper towels and try come as close to sterile (and keeping things that way) as you can for the entire duration of the problem and for some time after its resolved.