Snake issues settling

[varanio]

Carefresh can be bad, mainly because of the amount of dust comes with it. I've personally had it get into snakes' mouths and nostrils.

Pine shavings I've heard is too aromatic, but never read anything concrete about it being bad. Personally, I'd rather stick to aspen just to be safe.

Alfalfa pellets are pretty nasty because they mold so easily. Plus, its not as easy to burrow into.

I think we've discussed the walnut litter before. I know folks who have great success with it and some people who have horrible luck with it.

When it comes down to it, its hard to beat the price of aspen in most cases. I know here in the U.S. at either Lowe's or Home Depot (even Walmart sometimes), you can get a 25 lb bag of organic cypress mulch for under $6 and a 50 lb bag of fine sand for under $4. So if I have any really tropical species or desert species, I head to Lowe's.

I dont know what its called as I dont breed snakes, but if thats what it is then he needs to know about it, he has tons of cages with the stuff.

Cypress mulch has splinters, that could get in between the scales of larger snakes and penetrate inside causing infection. Thats just what I heard, I by no means use it with my monitors, and Im not a snake person, but I could see it happening. My spelling might be off im on a phone, @ work but I hope you all can understand what I am saying. I looked at my other post and started laughing ...... local feed stores sell the shavings for alot cheaper and more bulk than zoo med ..... small bag for 25.99 yuck !!!!

 

[rxracer]

i dont know, im using eco-earth... any negatives to using it??

 

[loconorc]

Eco-earth is great for species that like to cover themselves, but aspen is IMO much better for true burrowers or semi-burrowers. Eco-earth works fine for my crested, and aspen works great with my hognose. I have stated this before, I think quality of substrate should be judged on how the animal uses it, now how hard it is to clean up. Is an extra 5 seconds out of you day really that bad that you have to compromise the animals well being?

 

[elevatethis]

i dont know, im using eco-earth... any negatives to using it??

Probably just that its messy, and tends to "hide" a lot of the urine and feces that a snake puts out. I think that a lot of people who use Eco-Earth or other coconut husk substrate don't change it out as often as they should.

I personally think that Aspen is a great substrate for snakes. Something about the way they can coil up and burrow down into it lends itself to a safer and less stressed animal.

I currently use unprinted newsprint for my ball pythons, although I use aspen shavings for the baby rack when I have hatchlings. I wouldn't want to use aspen or other loose substrate for the adults for no reason other than the fact that it would make a huge mess when I clean tubs.

I like using Aspen in the small tubs because it absorbs a lot of fluid, and if a baby knocks its water bowl over, the baby doesn't have to sit in standing water in the smaller tub in between cleanings.

 

[malawi haps]

I would also agree aspen is probibly one of the best substrates out their to use .I also agree cypress may not be the best .Not currently but last fall after the katrina clean up alot of the old cypress trees that were ravaged by the storm were being turned in to cypress mulch and for some reason or another termites were getting mixed in with the mulch .It was being sold at hd and lowes for really cheap . After the termites were found they recalled it .So just fyi on the cypress.

 

[davo]

For me newspaper tops it with aspen aspen as well. Wood chipping are alright also.