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Substrate poll

What kind of substrate do you use!

  • Aspen shaving

    Votes: 57 47.1%

  • Reptibark

    Votes: 24 19.8%

  • Cage Carpet

    Votes: 6 5.0%

  • Sand

    Votes: 2 1.7%

  • Paper towels

    Votes: 15 12.4%

  • Vermiculite (spelling??)

    Votes: 1 0.8%

  • other.... and please tell wich

    Votes: 16 13.2%
  • Total voters
    121
B-J@y

B-J@y

New member
Hi, I was wondering what kind of substrate is used! i use repti bark, and soon i will switch to coconut bark!

I have seen different kind of substrates like aspen shavings, reptibark, cage carpet, sand, paper towels and something like vermiculite?? (don't know the spelling)

I live in the Netherlands and can't picture something with cagecarpet or aspen shavings! so i would like to see some pictures from the substrates pls!

Now here is the poll!
 
I use corn cob and paper towels. They stay on corn cob, but I usually move them to a plastic shoebox with papertowels to feed. I also usually keep newborns on paper towels, usually for about the first six monthes or so atleast.
 
aspen and paper...

aspen for the older snakes and paper towels for the youngsters... :) ---jim
 
corn cob is just that, ground up and dried corn cobs. Most pet stores sell it. Its fairly cheap. It absorbs messes well, unlike some others which just turn in to a mess when water gets spilled, corn cob usually soaks it up, and you just have to remove the damp corn cob in one small area. But you have to be careful, and make sure you actually change all of it from time to time, because some nasty stuff can creep in there if you dont watch out.
 
Repti-bark currently, but considering switching to aspen.

I wouldn't use corn cob because once part of it gets wet it is a prime breeding ground for bacteria. The microscopic corn dust acts the same way that rice would if it was used for a substrate (see the rice substrat thread).
 
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Im not an expert on the matter, so youre probably right, however, i used to work at this huge nature/science center, and the folks who worked there insisted corn cob was the way to go(gave me all kinds of reason, almost none of which i remember.) Anyways, thats pretty much why i started using it. The bacteria problem is one i have seen, or i guess recognized is a better word, but seems to me that bacteria is going to be there one way or the other. Unless maybe you use papertowels and constantly change them, which is what i do with new hatchlings and snakes that appear ill.
 
I think I read on Melissa Kaplan's site that corn cob dries out snakes' dermal tissues. My bio teacher uses corn cob for his snakes and I see them taking baths all the time. And on the package it says "not for reptile use." Oh well they still do all right on it.
I used to use paper towels because it was really easy to spot poop. I switched to aspen because it seemed like he wanted to burrow. He LOVES tunneling around and stays buried under the substrate itself all the time. THe only problem is that I can't see where the poop is right away and the nice smell of the aspen covers up the poopy smell so I can't find the poop unless I shuffle around the aspen. It doesn't feel very nice to stumble across a nice fresh clump of aspen and poop, let me tell you. But I use it because it makes him happy. Anything for my snake! ;) :)
 
I use aspen for all....it's easy to clean and looks nice too.

Good Luck and Happy Herping!
 
corncob

Ok, the heck with all of you, corn cob until the day I die. And because you guys are so wrong, im leaving this forum.

PS. just kidding, changed em all over to aspen last night, couldnt believe the amount of dust built up in the bottom of the tank. THanks.
 
Can anyone tell me what aspen shaving is?! I know Aspen is some sort of a tree, and shavings??? i do have a cleu!! isn't it the same stuff that rabits and hamsters have in there cage?!! can anyone post a pic of there tank with aspen shavings?!??
 
Pic of Aspen

This is the only pic I have with Aspen in it. Usually Pine is used for rodents. I use Pine for my Guinea Pigs, not my snakes. Hope this helps.

:) Alicia
 

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That is Blip my other Creamsicle. I have 2 creams and they are very diff. I bought Blip as a female but she is really a he. He is a really nice snake. Thanks for the compliment.

:) Alicia

ps: That is not his regular home I put him and his hide in there while I was cleaning his home:)
 
thank you Alicia!!!!!!!!

now al i have to do is to find out what aspen is for a tree... the dutch word for it!
 
subsrate??

WOW just checked out the results,use paper towels myself,but not for long,i live in the uk where can i get aspen PLEASE....


STEVE..AKA........snakemanone.
 
Beach Chip or sometimes Hemp

I believe these are the best as Aspen is messy and in the UK you can't get it (beach chip is like the equivelent).
 
For easy use and cleaning, plus being extremely cheap (I get all mine free from my parents), I use newspaper for all my snakes.
 
I have a mixture of bed-a-beast and tiny aspen shavings in the tank. My baby corn blends in perfectly with it. and it's good for it to burrow through too which it likes to do.
 
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