apollo's mom
New member
Hello! Im new here but I wanted to join to see what everyone else's experiences were. The question I have for now is what is the best bedding for a corn snake? Or at least opinions 
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Bedding
- Thread starter apollo's mom
- Start date
B-J@y
New member
Hi, welcom to this forum!
i've posted a poll a while back over bedding! and in the US the best thing is aspenshavings! and in europe the best thing is beech chips!
there are other beddings like repti-bark! but these are more expensive.... repti bark looks great by the way!
hope you will find what you are looking for!
i've posted a poll a while back over bedding! and in the US the best thing is aspenshavings! and in europe the best thing is beech chips!
there are other beddings like repti-bark! but these are more expensive.... repti bark looks great by the way!
hope you will find what you are looking for!
My snake loves aspen but paper towels are the easiest for me. It's easy to spot to poop so you don't have to hunt around in the bedding and very cheap. I have a compromise with my snake. Half the tank is aspen and the other half is paper towel. I just pray that he poops on the paper towel side so I don't have to go poop hunting.
HomeBreeder
Herphilious Lunacious
no corn-cob?
why no corn-cob?
Is'nt corn-cob the base or single component of "lizard litter"? (ESU product, I think)
How about a substrate I saw the other day.... walnut shells milled to a nearly sand-like consistency.... any opinions?
So far, I get the best responce from aspen because they can submarine in it... one of the best times to watch them, as they slither around and parascope here and there...
^Curtis
why no corn-cob?
Is'nt corn-cob the base or single component of "lizard litter"? (ESU product, I think)
How about a substrate I saw the other day.... walnut shells milled to a nearly sand-like consistency.... any opinions?
So far, I get the best responce from aspen because they can submarine in it... one of the best times to watch them, as they slither around and parascope here and there...
^Curtis
CornsnakeKeeper
Addicted Member
I thought the ground walnut shells is called lizard litter.
I used it before.
Looks like dirt and they like to bed in it.
Too messy for my tastes though.
Plus, too expensive.
I used it before.
Looks like dirt and they like to bed in it.
Too messy for my tastes though.
Plus, too expensive.
Corn cob is VERY BAD if swallowed. It causes impaction I think.
I think I read on Melissa Kaplan's site that it causes "excessive drying of dermal tissues."
Also, this is my personal experience, but it rots very quickly when it gets wet and doesn't cover up the stinkiness of the poop very well. Plus on the package itself it says "Not for reptile use."
I think I read on Melissa Kaplan's site that it causes "excessive drying of dermal tissues."
Also, this is my personal experience, but it rots very quickly when it gets wet and doesn't cover up the stinkiness of the poop very well. Plus on the package itself it says "Not for reptile use."
DustinWaller
New member
Hello
I use indoor/outdoor carpeting for my snakes. And for my scarlet i used echo earth but it got moldy FAST( in lik 4 hours) . I did like the echo earth but if the snakes type does not need moss dont put it in there i would say. To much of a pain. I used corn cob becouse my moms old boyfriend when she was young or somthing,dont want to go there heehe,but they were herpers. Every night they would go in a jeep and drive in the woods and on roads to rescue snakes and capture them. He would catch 2 and let them mate and let the mother and babys go at the same time. And we live in flordia,so many rednecks here and twangers that they see a snake they pull out their rifels and.. well everyone knows twangers and rednecks hate anything that moves. And it sucks becouse my whole dads side are red necks and twangers. Well back to the story,my moms boyfriend kept all of his snakes on ground up corn cob. And he never had anything go wrong with the bedding so she of corse told me to use the corn cob. But sorry for the story,ya i would use carpet if you have some. I found some in the garage . Happy herping
Dustin
I use indoor/outdoor carpeting for my snakes. And for my scarlet i used echo earth but it got moldy FAST( in lik 4 hours) . I did like the echo earth but if the snakes type does not need moss dont put it in there i would say. To much of a pain. I used corn cob becouse my moms old boyfriend when she was young or somthing,dont want to go there heehe,but they were herpers. Every night they would go in a jeep and drive in the woods and on roads to rescue snakes and capture them. He would catch 2 and let them mate and let the mother and babys go at the same time. And we live in flordia,so many rednecks here and twangers that they see a snake they pull out their rifels and.. well everyone knows twangers and rednecks hate anything that moves
. And it sucks becouse my whole dads side are red necks and twangers. Well back to the story,my moms boyfriend kept all of his snakes on ground up corn cob. And he never had anything go wrong with the bedding so she of corse told me to use the corn cob. But sorry for the story,ya i would use carpet if you have some. I found some in the garage . Happy herping Dustin
bedding/substrate
all of this is just in my experience so take it for what you will...
corn cob... provides a superb breeding ground for bacteria and mold because of its ability to absorb moisture. also because of this it has a dessicant nature to the objects (including your snake) around it.
cage carpet... seems to do nothing other than look good. does not absorb odors or fluids AT ALL. underneath the carpet is a prime breeding ground for odors and other kinds of nastiness.
sand, cedar, pine, and coconut should be avoided for possibly serious health concerns. (digestive and respiratory ailments)
repti-bark is acceptable as long as the snake (especially young ones) does not ingest it. the high price is also a factor with many snakes.
probably the best are newspaper, paper towels, or aspen with the emphasis on paper towels and aspen.
good luck... ---jim
all of this is just in my experience so take it for what you will...
corn cob... provides a superb breeding ground for bacteria and mold because of its ability to absorb moisture. also because of this it has a dessicant nature to the objects (including your snake) around it.
cage carpet... seems to do nothing other than look good. does not absorb odors or fluids AT ALL. underneath the carpet is a prime breeding ground for odors and other kinds of nastiness.
sand, cedar, pine, and coconut should be avoided for possibly serious health concerns. (digestive and respiratory ailments)
repti-bark is acceptable as long as the snake (especially young ones) does not ingest it. the high price is also a factor with many snakes.
probably the best are newspaper, paper towels, or aspen with the emphasis on paper towels and aspen.
good luck...
---jim
apollo's mom
New member
thanks for the info
thanks for all the info its nice to see what other people's preferences are. i may have to check out the aspen.
thanks for all the info
its nice to see what other people's preferences are. i may have to check out the aspen.Doctor Mike
New member
Aspen shavings are best for everyday use, safe, unlikely to impact the snake, best simulation of a forest floor allowing for burrowing, ideal characteristics for maintain proper humidity and sanitation. Plain white, no-chemical, no-scent paper towels are best for a "hospital tank" if you need to accurately observe the timing of defecation or regurgitation if you think you're snake is ill, or if your snake is new and you're getting to know it's cycles. Granted that they aren't as attractive as aspen chips, but if absolute safety and observability of excretions are paramount, then paper towels are the way to go. Nearly everything else has substantial disadvantages.
Never feed your snake on anything with loose particles, even aspen. The particles will stick to the food and get swallowed, possibly causing impaction. Always feed on plain white paper towel in a separate plastic box.
Aspen is non-toxic unlike other woods like pine and cedar, and is least likely to cause impaction from a snake merely living in it without feeding on it.
SAND, INCLUDING CALCI-SAND MADE FOR DESERT SNAKES LIKE RATTLESNAKES, SHOULD BE AVOIDED LIKE THE PLAGUE. EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEED ON THE SAND, IT WILL GET IN THE MOUTH AND CLOACA AND CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH IMPACTION, NOT TO MENTION ITS DEHYDRATING AND ABRASIVE EFFECTS. USING CALCI-SAND IS A COMMON MISTAKE FOR NEW SNAKE OWNERS.
As-pen whatever I need to keep my snakes healthy and happy,
Doctor Mike
Never feed your snake on anything with loose particles, even aspen. The particles will stick to the food and get swallowed, possibly causing impaction. Always feed on plain white paper towel in a separate plastic box.
Aspen is non-toxic unlike other woods like pine and cedar, and is least likely to cause impaction from a snake merely living in it without feeding on it.
SAND, INCLUDING CALCI-SAND MADE FOR DESERT SNAKES LIKE RATTLESNAKES, SHOULD BE AVOIDED LIKE THE PLAGUE. EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEED ON THE SAND, IT WILL GET IN THE MOUTH AND CLOACA AND CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH IMPACTION, NOT TO MENTION ITS DEHYDRATING AND ABRASIVE EFFECTS. USING CALCI-SAND IS A COMMON MISTAKE FOR NEW SNAKE OWNERS.
As-pen whatever I need to keep my snakes healthy and happy,
Doctor Mike
A breeder friend recommended cypress mulch to me. He has been using it for many years with no problems and has hundreds of snakes. It is available at Home Depot for $2 for 2 cubic feet. In comparison Repti-Bark is $10 for 8 quarts. Make sure you don't mistakenly get pine or eucalytus mulch. THOSE ARE BAD!!!
Peter
Peter
SilverTongue
Friend Of Gaia
That is funny cuz everywhere i read Cypriss is poisiones to them. I am just gonna get some indoor/outdoor carpet
Cedar is poisonous...I've never read anything about cypress being poisonous. Anyone else have any comments on this. I'm going by the recommendation of an experienced breeder with lots of snakes. Cypress is aromatic, but not resinous from what I gather. That is why pine and eucalyptus mulches are not to be used.
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SilverTongue
Friend Of Gaia
You are right SORRY i just went to look it up to be sure. Sorry
DustinWaller
New member
Ya thats what i use,indoor outdoor carpet.
DeadSkinMask
New member
Easy and it only cost you 50 cents!
I have used aspen, however I did not like it. Aspen is way too messy, and is hard to clean as well being a favorite place for you snake to hide (and if they are small and in a big tank.. well you get the idea, they are hard to find!). The best thing, though not the most pleasing to the eye, is newspaper. Incredibly cheap, and if you live in an area where the newpaper is more akin to a book then 1 single newspaper could last you months. 50 cents for months of easy to remove and replace bedding = thumbs up in my book. Just my 2 cents.
I have used aspen, however I did not like it. Aspen is way too messy, and is hard to clean as well being a favorite place for you snake to hide (and if they are small and in a big tank.. well you get the idea, they are hard to find!). The best thing, though not the most pleasing to the eye, is newspaper. Incredibly cheap, and if you live in an area where the newpaper is more akin to a book then 1 single newspaper could last you months. 50 cents for months of easy to remove and replace bedding = thumbs up in my book. Just my 2 cents.