large, smooth rocks as substrate?

[Morphie]

What do you guys think? Could I use something like large, smooth rocks or flat marbles as substrate and get away with it? My bet is it's a clean alternative to aspen, plus it's reusable. I only have to worry that they wouldn't be comfy, but i could put some softer stuff down in the hide area and give plenty of places to climb (every ball i've had who has had the chance to climb has seemed to really enjoy doing so).

I eagerly await opinions!

[dr del]

Hi,

Well my main problem with stones as a substrate is urates and poop.

Anything liquid just runs straight through to the bottom of the tank and sits there.

It also tends to scuff up their scales somewhat from the little I have seen.

Just my 2c.


dr del

[ChrisBowsman]

I think it might work over newspaper or paper towels, but yeah, you're gonna have a heck of a mess underneath.

[SteelerFreak89]

Agreed. If you want to use rocks, you might as well use newspaper.

[Morphie]

Agreed. If you want to use rocks, you might as well use newspaper.

newspaper is fine (as in that's what i used) but it's ugly- the rocks could obscure the newspaper, and they could work together? (this is for a display tank, btw)

The snake would still have it's cage cleaned regularly.

[TheMissingLink]

How do they help with the humidity?

[SteelerFreak89]

newspaper is fine (as in that's what i used) but it's ugly- the rocks could obscure the newspaper, and they could work together? (this is for a display tank, btw)

The snake would still have it's cage cleaned regularly.

True. I used cypress mulch and loved it until I the stores stopped carrying it and now I use the coconut husk bricks. I buy the 3 brick packs for 7 bucks and I use half a brick for a 20 gal. It lasts me a while. They both look great for a natural viv.

[starmom]

I use indented Kraft paper (http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_...ed+Kraft+Paper)
and I think it looks fine in my reptile cages because of its color. I would hate to clean each rock off- ugh!!

[missi182]

That sounds like it would work if there is something underneith as others have said as long as its regularily cleaned. You could just throw all the rocks in a bucket and some hot water to clean em up. I have stones in one corner of my tank but not the whole thing. Hope it works for ya

[bender29]

True. I used cypress mulch and loved it until I the stores stopped carrying it and now I use the coconut husk bricks. I buy the 3 brick packs for 7 bucks and I use half a brick for a 20 gal. It lasts me a while. They both look great for a natural viv.

I noticed all the stores around here stopped carrying unblended cypress mulch also. I have no idea why, but all they sell (5-6 different stores) is now some blended kind. Where do you buy your coconut husk bricks? I'm going to have to start using that for my BRB to keep up proper humidity since I'm almost out of cypress mulch.

OP, like everyone else has said, the biggest problem will be keeping proper maintenance measures for the stones/marbles. I could see that be very tiring to clean after awhile.