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Recommended bedding - NON wood-based

Lolo

Lolo

Surrounded by snakes
I've only used newspaper and paper towels for my other reptiles (ball pythons & leopard geckos), but it seems that corn snakes - especially babies - like to burrow in their substrate. Would you recommend using something besides paper? I know Aspen is the usual "preferred bedding," but I am horribly allergic to anything wood or plant/flower-based... haven't tested the theory with Aspen, but I assume it will irritate my allergies. Or will it?? :confused:

I was thinking of using Carefresh instead, since I keep a bag around for the breeder mice, and it doesn't bother me. Is that a good substrate for corns, or should I just stick with newspaper and/or paper towels? Fyi, this is for my new baby corn snake, who is arriving next Tuesday... he'll be living in a 15qt Sterilite tub with one hide & water dish.
 
Carefresh works well for babies because they can hide in it and makes them feel pretty secure. You can use newspaper or paper towels but they try to go under it so use many layers. I myself use carefresh for my sand boas and its much easier to clean and the snakes seem to really like it, helps with great sheds and I dont have to take the whole tub apart to find them..... which makes them less scared..... because for a baby, if you start taking things apart they get really terrified of the 'monster' that is after them :)
 
Thanks! Sounds like Carefresh is the way to go... do you switch them to newspaper/towels when they're no longer babies? Or do corns like burrowing as adults too?
 
My corns like to burrow as adults too. If you can't use anything wood-based, I'd definitely go with Carefresh (although my experience with CF was... so-so - but that was with a Cal King).

I noted that CF comes in several different colors now (the store I visit has pink, blue, grey and white). Would be interesting to see how some morphs match/clash with the different colors!
 
Carefresh is not a good bedding IMO. The previous baby snakes I have raised I use aspen or shredded newspaper. My grandma gives me about 15 pounds of newspaper every week. I run it through a fine shredder and put in it the cages.
:cool:
David
 
I have found CF to be somewhat dusty. Aspen would be better from that stand point. I use paper for all my snakes, babies included. They need a place to hide and feel secure, but not necessarily burrow.
 
I'm unfamiliar with Carefresh, but I use sheets of newspaper for babies or new arrivals until I'm sure everybody's digestive tract is working well. As stated, be sure to use multiple layers. Be extra careful with heat if you're using newspaper substrate, shredded or sheet. It doesn't absorb or dissipate heat as well as many other substrates do, so the viv can get really hot near the heat source. Be sure there's plenty of room for the snake to move to the cool side for thermoregulation.
 
With our new youngn' we have been using coconut husk and she seems to love it. Its easy for her to burrow in when she'd like too and its east to clean.
 
Thanks for the input everyone! I'll just have to experiment, and see what works best... I do like the idea of shredded newspaper, especially since that would be FREE (I already own a shredder & use free news publications). I also like the thought of using purple or pink Carefresh, as that would make for some cool pictures. LOL! :D

I know Aspen is always recommended first, but I just don't think my allergies can tolerate it... I can barely stand Carefresh, because of the dust issue mentioned above. The mice are in the bathroom where I don't have to smell it/them, but the snakes currently reside in my bedroom - so I really don't want to be sniffling & wheezing all night. Guess I'll try a few different options, and see what is best for me AND the corn.
 
I'd say it depends on the snake. Does yours enjoy being in a hide? If so i'd put one on the warm side and one on the cool side. If you have a snake that likes to bask or climb in plants then i'd say dont waste the hide.
 
MalinoisK9 said:
I'd say it depends on the snake. Does yours enjoy being in a hide? If so i'd put one on the warm side and one on the cool side. If you have a snake that likes to bask or climb in plants then i'd say dont waste the hide.
Click to expand...

He doesn't arrive until next Tuesday, so I don't know what he prefers yet. ;) I'll just put in 2 hides (since I already have them anyway), and will take one out if he doesn't seem to care... I did that with my baby BPs, and they all ended up with one hide. Thanks for the replies!
 
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