Substrate questions

[fastindirt]

Hi. I have a 6 month old red tail and have been using the Eco Earth coconut substrate with no problems. I was recently told though that the coconut substrate will cause respiritory infections when the snake burrows in it. I never feed the snake in the cage with the substrate. I only feed it in a plastic container. I have a mister so the cage substrate has moist areas and also dry areas. I was told by the same contact the Aspen snake bedding is the way to go. It seems there are alot of opinions but I trust this forum more that the average person at Petco! Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[buck2003]

News paper is the best substrate Full stop IMHO esp for a young boa.

Buck

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[toxic.kitten]

Newspaper or paper towels are the best handy/cheap substrate there is. =)

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[nitram]

nneeewwwwwssppaaapperrrrrrr AWWAAAYYYYY!!!

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[Icicle]

I keep all my snakes on Coconut fiber for the last year or two and never had a case of RI.

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	Respiratory Infection Respiratory Infection

[louise]

i use mulch but recently i heard it can get spores and cause problems.

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[Ophiophilia]

I heard newspapers' ink can be harmful.

Do what works for you. I use eco-earth for my Carpet Python, King Snake, Corn Snake, Geckos, Boa and Pythons. I like it.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[louise]

my DUM and candoia refuse to eat if i use eco earth. i love that stuff and they hate it they wont even go on the ground if i put it in their cages.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by Ophiophilia

I heard newspapers' ink can be harmful.

.....

That has always been my fear (these days people say it is non-toxic soy ink??? but non-toxic for who? humans of course, newspapers are not designed for snakes?!) Wish I could be sure...?
But have also had eco-earth (etc) get moldy? I used to use it for some things...(I used up the rest mixed into potting soil...)
Few of my current snakes need the humidity, esp. as it is very humid where I live...one of my snakes has needed a humidity/box just at shedding time though, for her I use moistened orchid bark, and she likes it! It's available in large or tiny pieces too, but at least it has weight, not just fine particles. (and afterward makes great garden/tree mulch)
Substrates I mostly use are Carefresh, paper towels and shredded clean paper, also indoor/outdoor carpet*. (*can disinfect and wash and re-use for a very long time....but be careful not to feed snakes with fangs/large teeth on it...use a paper plate or something so their teeth don't get caught in the fibers!!!)

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[Ophiophilia]

I wasn't being completely serious about the toxic ink. I was sort of poking fun at the "Well, I heard that "insert substrate of choice" was bad for your "insert reptile" because it "insert whatever it does this time." It's just something I had heard.

I've used several substrates and am finding Eco-earth is the best (for me). So, as I said... Do what works for you. Nothing is always 100% safe.

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[stealthk7gsxr]

i use eco earth for my corn, boa and bp. i love it. they must love it... they all burrow. all have perfect sheds. its odorless. holds humidity well. and makes cleaning very easy. sometimes i feed in their enclosure, sometimes i dont and never had any problems with RI or digestion whatsoever. it works for me.

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

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	Respiratory Infection Respiratory Infection

[SUAD]

I go back and forth between newspaper and various mulches. Some mulches tend to dry out WAY to fast, particularly in a city like San Antone where it's hotter than the devil's anus the day after a 4 Horsemen burger dipped in pure capsacian most of the year. For aesthetics, mulches are the bomb initially, though over time they get a lot of the smaller waste mixed in with them and it looks bad. Newspaper looks like total horse's butt, however, it can be cleaned simple as pie and it's easy as pie to replace. I wouldn't worry about the ink, the ink has been non-toxic for sometime now.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by SUAD

..... I wouldn't worry about the ink, the ink has been non-toxic for sometime now.

Thanks...That's what I thought until it was mentioned above, but I've only recently tried newspaper for two of my snakes, with Carefresh & paper shreds on top of it for traction. I don't much care for the look of it, and it seems too flat to be natural by itself. whatever....

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[Icicle]

My big girl (Sammy's) cage takes 18 gallons of coconut fiber.
that is a little more than 68 liters
good thing I buy it by the bale from a hydroponic store.
and right now this is what I'm using.
American Agriculture - Product Details
the bale is 4.5 cubic feet.

And I still don't have enough for her old cage, as that takes 4 of them small Petco bricks.
I did Bonnie And Clyde's cages and Leia 10 gallon tank on a bale.

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[HERPHAPPY]

I've never seen big bales like that...good thing for you! I can't see you dragging home those little bricklets from Petco, ha ha ha.... So you can pick them up locally then, & not pay shipping? That helps alot!

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[Icicle]

Pretty local only about 50 miles one way.
last time I figured it out those little bricks would of cost over $100 to fill just Sammy's cage.
I don't think they stock that many.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by Icicle

Pretty local only about 50 miles one way.
last time I figured it out those little bricks would of cost over $100 to fill just Sammy's cage.
I don't think they stock that many.

Lucky for you! I love my snakes but $100+ substrate....uh, maybe not?

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[Icicle]

If you like the coco fiber try seeing if there is a hydroponic store around you.
Hydroponics Arkansas - Hydroponics Store Locator - Growshop.com
found two in Arkansas

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[HERPHAPPY]

Thanks, but I really don't use it. And those stores are not close anyway...at least 3 hours drive. If you get tired of the drive you might check with the company to see if they will ship direct to you...I used to do that with Carefresh, 'cause the local stores were iffy about carrying it and they marked it up alot besides! As long as I ordered 5 or more big bales (which was EASY) I got it straight to my door!

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[sFlsniper]

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

and shredded clean paper

thanks for the a great Idea!

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