I keep my royal and a handful of other species on ReptiChip (MicroChip for smaller animals).
There is a fair amount of anecdotal evidence that herps kept on loose coco fiber experience what looks like digestive impaction at a far higher rate than on other fine substrates. I've lost two geckos in the past with symptoms consistent with impaction that were on it and after a good period of time with a different substrate (Zilla Jungle Mix, which is peat based) have not had the issue repeat itself. It is suspected that while any substrate can be and will be ingested, coco fiber simply doesn't get excreted effectively. Whether this is an issue in royal pythons I don't know.
Personally, I think the water holding qualities of loose coco fiber are poor compared to other substrates. It goes from wet to dry more quickly than I like; a gradual drying out is better, I think. It is dusty in dry conditions, and seems to be too eager to grow mold in more damp conditions.
ReptiChip is great for species that have fairly specific environmental moisture needs -- moisture access without wet substrate contact; a fairly narrow range of preferred moisture levels -- as it allows for some self-regulation: a thicker layer of chips can be pretty damp on the bottom and fairly close to dry on the top, and the snake can either lay on top of the substrate or "wriggle in" to get a little more moisture.
This is better, IMO, than simply having a dry side and a moist side since the snake also needs to thermoregulate, so there needs to be four zones, but it also likely has a preferred sort of hide so that multiplies the number of microhabitat combinations needed.
Reply With Quote