best bedding

[caliking]

hi im a newbie ive seen many things used as substrate , ive heard shreded paper and papertowel like loo roll used to wood shavings which im not kneen on, any ideads will be apreciated

 

[TripleDuck]

The best bedding depends on for whom it is best. If you are looking for ease of cleaning, paper towel and newspaper are about as easy as it gets. Just throw it away, wipe out the tank, replace it, and you're finished. I've heard of people using carpet or astro turf... I don't think I'd recommend astro turf, from what I've been reading, but carpet may be ok. people often have two bits.. one in, and then one to replace it when they clean the old carpet.

a wood based bedding material would probably make the snake happier, as corns like to burrow. just make sure the bedding material is not toxic to the snake. aspen is the often suggested (and is what I use). cleaning is not too bad, just scoop out the area where the snake made puckey, and you're good to go. it's a little dusty, so you probably want to let it settle a bit before putting the snake in.

 

[dwyn127]

I like Kaytee Aspen and I've never had a bag that was dusty, not even towards the bottom.

 

[kpsammy]

Shredded aspen is the best for corn snakes!

 

[MerlinsPop]

I keep my four aneries on aspen, but my adult male butter kept seeming to get breathing problems, no matter what brand or chip size I used. Maybe he's more sensitive because of his RI that he had last year, so he's on paper towels. He doesn't seem to mind not being able to burrow, and it's almost as if he enjoys pooping on the fresh towels I put down after cleaning up after his previous poop!

 

[TripleDuck]

I like Kaytee Aspen and I've never had a bag that was dusty, not even towards the bottom.

That's the brand I have too, but so far most of the bags I've opened have been dusty. Even the stuff that's been in the tank now for a month, when I spot clean the puckey, it kicks up a little bit of dust. Maybe it's the manufacturer for this part of the U.S., I don't know.

 

[ComoxCorn]

I use both shredded aspen and aspen shavings. I keep the younger snakes in the shredded aspen. All my snakes like to burrow, so the aspen is perfect.

 

[Saffleur]

It really does depend on what you want...

I prefer shredded Aspen, it's easy to spot clean and it allows my corn to burrow and feel safe.

Some use carefresh which is another loose bedding.

Stay away from wood chips, you'd be surprised what can happen.

Easiest of use is papertowels, no muss no fuss clean up.

I'd not go with either Astroturf or carpet. If you don't clean them properly they are huge pains in the tail. A great breeding ground for bacteria and that is NOT good.

 

[bitsy]

I use paper towel for hatchlings and bark chips for adults.

I've used newspaper for adults in the past, but it was a bit of a pain. There's no such thing as spot cleaning - you have to take out all of the hides etc, to clean up and replace the whole newspaper layer. I've found bark chips much easier. Just remember to feed outside the tank, as the chips can get stuck to food as its eaten, causing impaction. In the US, aspen is the most popular wood-based substrate. In the UK this can be harder to find and bark chips are more common in reptile supply places (although you can buy aspen online and have it delivered).

Also, as stated above, don't use resinous wood products like pine or cedar, which are toxic to Corns.

 

[TripleDuck]

That's the brand I have too, but so far most of the bags I've opened have been dusty. Even the stuff that's been in the tank now for a month, when I spot clean the puckey, it kicks up a little bit of dust. Maybe it's the manufacturer for this part of the U.S., I don't know.

OK, so I looked last night and apparently I'm a liar. It was not Kaytee, but Zoo Med. :^( Guess I need to pay more attention. And get Kaytee next time!

 

[Jimmysan00]

Shredded aspen is the best for corn snakes!

I agree, but you can go to a tractor supply store and get fine shredded aspen for real cheap. I'm talking $8 for a huge bag, 5 times the size i was getting from petco. i think the bag is something like 10-15 cu ft.

 

[strawberry_bunny]

I use newspaper, they cant borrow as such but I put a few sheets down so the can get under and in between the sheets and hide

 

[Jenni2126]

What about the coconut fiber substrate? We bought a few bricks when we bought our corn. She seems to really like it and we can see her sooo good in it. (She's amel.) She burrows way down in it and will stick her little head out. It's so cute.

 

[Cinnamon the Snake]

i had been using aspen shavings, but when i went to the vet, he strongly suggested against using that or sand, etc, b/c of the possibility of snakes ingesting it, which can be fatal. I don't know if it's as serious as he puts it, but I'm switching to reptile carpet, as he had suggested, just to be safe. Just make sure not to feed them in the cage where all the substrate is!!

 

[Saffleur]

What about the coconut fiber substrate? We bought a few bricks when we bought our corn. She seems to really like it and we can see her sooo good in it. (She's amel.) She burrows way down in it and will stick her little head out. It's so cute.

Great stuff too. Some people prefer baking it before making it puff out. Think it's just to make sure it's sterilized.

 

[Saffleur]

i had been using aspen shavings, but when i went to the vet, he strongly suggested against using that or sand, etc, b/c of the possibility of snakes ingesting it, which can be fatal. I don't know if it's as serious as he puts it, but I'm switching to reptile carpet, as he had suggested, just to be safe. Just make sure not to feed them in the cage where all the substrate is!!

If you're going to use that definitely buy more than one piece so you can keep one clean. If not they can breed bacteria like no bodies business.