Ive reading online about caring for a corn snake, but i have a question on the substrate.... Everywere i read it says you can use a few things for substrate.... paper towls seem to be the easiest but i dont think they would look that great. It also says you can use wood chips, but it could be dangerous if they eat any of it. It also said soemthing about astro turf . I was wondering what the more experienced people think is the best to use.
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Substrate
- Thread starter JG89
- Start date
babbaloo99
New member
Hi there. I use woodchips with no problem (aspen), as do many folks. However, if your snake is a hatchling, the reason so many people decide on paper towels is that it is easier to see the snakes poo or any regurgitated meals in case there are any problems (also easy to clean). I think problems from wood chips are more likely if you feed the snake on the substrate (although some people have said they think their snake ingested the chips from burrowing, but I think that is more rare).
The astroturf idea also works but I have read it needs a little more upkeeping as moisture can cause bacteria buildup underneath it. For my new hatchlings, I am going to use paper towels or newspaper until they are a bit bigger, then I'll move them up to wood chips (it is easier to spot clean too, just scoop it up and out).
Another couple options are CareFresh or Cell Absorb found at some pet stores. I even read someone on here that uses alfalfa pellets (like for gerbels/rabbits). If you do a search on "substrate" on here you'll pull up many peoples thoughts/reviews. Cheers.
The astroturf idea also works but I have read it needs a little more upkeeping as moisture can cause bacteria buildup underneath it. For my new hatchlings, I am going to use paper towels or newspaper until they are a bit bigger, then I'll move them up to wood chips (it is easier to spot clean too, just scoop it up and out).
Another couple options are CareFresh or Cell Absorb found at some pet stores. I even read someone on here that uses alfalfa pellets (like for gerbels/rabbits). If you do a search on "substrate" on here you'll pull up many peoples thoughts/reviews. Cheers.
babbaloo99
New member
Many pet stores sell it as reptile carpet. Check it out. Don't forget to buy two so you can use the other one (or newspaper) while you're washing the other one! 
We have used paper towel for young snakes and beech chip for adults for the past two years.
But Ive recently thought about getting rid of all wood chips as although you can spot clean, how do you know if you have got rid of all the contaminated chips? You dont. You can remove all chips surrounding a poo but not be 100% certain. Hence increasing the risk of leaving beech chips with soaked in excrement in the viv. Ive recently discussed this with my vets who agrees with me, so it looks as though the majority of my snakes will be kept on newspaper or paper towel soon, unless I change all the wood chips weekly - fortnightly, which I might consider doing as I have plenty to keep me going. It would seem a shame to not give them something to burrow in as they do appear to enjoy playing around in substrate.
But Ive recently thought about getting rid of all wood chips as although you can spot clean, how do you know if you have got rid of all the contaminated chips? You dont. You can remove all chips surrounding a poo but not be 100% certain. Hence increasing the risk of leaving beech chips with soaked in excrement in the viv. Ive recently discussed this with my vets who agrees with me, so it looks as though the majority of my snakes will be kept on newspaper or paper towel soon, unless I change all the wood chips weekly - fortnightly, which I might consider doing as I have plenty to keep me going. It would seem a shame to not give them something to burrow in as they do appear to enjoy playing around in substrate.
Indoor/Outdoor carpet
I use indoor/outdoor carpet and it is awsome. It works great. It comes is many different colors. I paid about 35 cents a square foot at home depot. It cleans really easy. just pull it out and spray it off with a hose or run it underwater in the sink. I have paper towel and woodchips, and the carpet was hands down the best.
I use indoor/outdoor carpet and it is awsome. It works great. It comes is many different colors. I paid about 35 cents a square foot at home depot. It cleans really easy. just pull it out and spray it off with a hose or run it underwater in the sink. I have paper towel and woodchips, and the carpet was hands down the best.
Bekah
New member
I use ReptiBark and spot clean...replacing with new when I clean soiled area. I take a baggy, cover my hand with it and remove all bark in surrounding area. I try to do a poo-perimeter clean up! And those baggies work like magic!!! Just reach in and grab a handful! I also wipe down bottom of tank with a paper towel where excrement was before replacing with new substrate.
MegF.
That's for sale???
I use aspen, and for a while I had my aztec on paper because she regurged and I started feeding her in her viv to cut down on stress. Now she is eating in a seperate box again, and I've put the aspen back in. I have to say she likes it a lot more than the paper towel, and spends more time out in the viv and less time hiding.