Soil Substrate???

robmarli · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2005, 05:10 AM

I currently have a terrarium set up in a 50 Gallon aquarium with a dirt substrate and plants. I have lansdscaped so there is a little knole and room under the dirt for water to settle and feed the plants. I have had smaller snakes in it before and they have done fine. I have a pond set up to hold moisture (the soil does well also) in the enclosure and serve as a bathing place. It holds 70-80 humidity with a screen the top. I have a heat lamp at one end for a warm side (80-85 deg) and the cools side maintains 70-80 deg. temps. I am looking into a larger snake (ball python,) the enclosure itself is of adequite size, but I have not seen any info on housing them on a dirt floor. I do not want to put the animal at risk, but do not want to completely redo all my hard work. Please advise on what you think. I tried to attatch a picture, we will see if it worked. Some, ok most of the plants pictured have been taken out(died). I will have to also add two hiding places. Let me know your thoughts on this please. Thank you.

Robmarli

RevMojo · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2005, 05:14 AM

Dirt's a good way to grow bacteria. I wouldn't recommend it.

unluckyseventeen · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2005, 04:00 PM

You might with up with a big mite and/or bacterial problem. I wouldn't reccomend it as well.

Animals in the wild can handle this stuff because being born and raised in the wild has improved their capability to fite off infections and other things related to bacteria and sickness... etc. Animals in captivity usually can't handle this so throwing them into an environment they aren't ready for isn't the best of ideas.

leerankin · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2005, 05:01 PM

no soil is not a suitable substrate for royal pythons
as said before it is a good hiding place for bacteria
use a safer substrate such as kitchen towel/newspaper if you are thinking of royals
also the bright lighting is a big no no,only red lighting used for viewing at night should be used

robmarli · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2005, 07:27 PM

Thank you for the responses. I will work on getting the enclosure cleaned out today. I will probably go with newspaper for now. The overhead light is just a flourescent it is on a timer and runs a 12/12 light/dark cycle. Is that still too much. I also have a 60W light bulb in a dome to regulate temperature along with heaters underneath. I will probably have to change the set up and work on the heat/humidity when I take the dirt out. Any more advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

unluckyseventeen · #6 (**permalink**) 10-14-2005, 11:00 PM

It just depends on how well you hold heat. You need to keep around a 90/80 gradient on each side (saying that you hold 90 on one side and 80 on the other)... and those obviously varying depending on the type of python or boa you are thinking of getting.

For the most part, live plants are okay. They are good for holding humidity, you just need to do your homework and see which plants are toxic for which snake. However, the snakes rarely care about keeping things pretty, and they will often mash the plants (particularly with bigger/denser snakes like ball pythons and most boas).

Really, I think you should worry about getting the temperatures and humidity regulated before you worry about making things look good. So long as you have a tank that can hold the correct environment without risks of disease or whatever... then yeah.. great. That's all that is important.

Check up on some caresheets for whatever type of snake you are looking into, and make sure you can hold the right kind of environment for a long while before you purchase.

Take it easy man.

unluckyseventeen · #7 (**permalink**) 10-14-2005, 11:04 PM

...I actually spelled fight "fite" up there.

Man, my brain is really broken today.

leerankin · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2005, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robmarli

Thank you for the responses. I will work on getting the enclosure cleaned out today. I will probably go with newspaper for now. The overhead light is just a flourescent it is on a timer and runs a 12/12 light/dark cycle. Is that still too much. I also have a 60W light bulb in a dome to regulate temperature along with heaters underneath. I will probably have to change the set up and work on the heat/humidity when I take the dirt out. Any more advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

flourescent is still bright lighting
best being without it for safety

robmarli · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2005, 02:26 AM

Thanks for the info. I guess I wasn't meaning clean it out to make it look good. I meant to get all the soil out and thoroughly sanatize it before I get the snake (and I am looking onto a ball python.) I have been monitoring the temp and humidity for the past week, and have it at suitable variations for a BP. But I'm sure when I take the soil out and just line with paper I will lose a lot of temp and humidity. I might check into a different substrate. Woud cypress mulch be ok. I think I have read somwhere that that is safe. I know I can get some close by also. I would just have to buy a supply for the winter. That would probably help the humidity, but I will try it for a few days with just a paper lining. Maybe put in a few layers. We get plenty of newspapers a week. Thanks for all the help. I will keep checking back for more. Thanks again. Don't worry about the spelling, mine is bad too. I will take the light off too. The enclosure gets plenty of natural light. I have heard that blacklight works well also, is that an acceptable alternative to red light???

robmarli · #10 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 04:27 AM

Thanks for all the good advice!! I now have my enclosure set up. The pics will hopefully show up. It was a pain in the a** getting all that soil out, but it was workth it. I now have newspaper as substate, and think I am going to stick with it. Have two hide boxes (shoe boxes) and a opaque tupperware container that I am going to test as a hide on a little higher level, but might use as a soak hide. I have my temps and humidity where they shoud be and built a little jungle gym out of some pvc. I have one main water bowl and two smaller ones that seem to help regulate the humidity. I have a 60W black light and a 25Wred light to help maintain temps. I also went with the glass top to hold in and control humirdity. It came with plastic attatchemnts for the back four inches. I have drilled holes in them for air flow and can cover/uncover to help refugate that. I talked to the breeder tonight and we are working out shipping for the snake and some frozen treats. Should get the snake next week. Enjoy the pics ( got one of the snake from the breeders web site). I have learned a lot from this site and will continue to visit. I will post pics when my bp is in her new surroundings. I'm sure I will have more questions, butthing I am failry prepared. Thanks for all the help so far, and all the help I will continie to get.
Robmarli

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