hybrids vs. nonhybrids

Originally Posted by Midnght

It's ground english walnut shell.
Thanks for the info but I'm happy with my substrate and have not had any issues with it to date.

Don't be afraid to listen to an experienced keeper like Jim (tricksterpup). I would never use ground walnut shell for substrate. Having no issues to date doesn't mean much. I drove with bald tires for months without incident, but replacing them was a good idea. I hope you never feed a snake on that stuff...

Originally Posted by Roy Munson

Don't be afraid to listen to an experienced keeper like Jim (tricksterpup). I would never use ground walnut shell for substrate. Having no issues to date doesn't mean much. I drove with bald tires for months without incident, but replacing them was a good idea. I hope you never feed a snake on that stuff...

Yes I do feed them on it. I mean sure maybe my 15 year old corn was one in a million considering the averag life spane is reported from 10-20 years based on where you look or read. But all the snakes I've owned to date have never had any problems, respritory, regurging, etc.

Don't get me wrong I'm not knocking any advice. But unless i'm doing something really wrong, I have had far less issues with my snakes than I've read about here or other places Roy.

Cannibalism sure, stupid attempt to house snakes. An escape now and then who hasn't. But no other issues what so ever, never need to help with shedding or dangling food, mites, impaction, what ever.

The boa had mites when I got him he was on bark. Not my doing but cleared up.

So don't know what else to say. It's not broke I see no reason to fix it, right? If you have a something that works why adopt something different and risk problems?

[b]But we should get this back on topic though and perhaps move to a new thread to discuss my snake handling non best practices. }:>)[/b/]

Honestly, Midnight, you really should listen to these people.
Just because you've never had a problem, doesn't mean you never will.
Most people use aspen. I use newspaper.
I wanted something that couldn't be injested, and my snakes like to use the pages as hides, usually ignoring the hides I provide for them.
I would think that your substrate is harsh on the snakes skin, and can cause alot of damage if injested. Please reconsider......

The people on here not only have decades of experiance keeping these snakes, they are truly passionate about the species. One of the members here has written "the" book on corns, and was one of the very first people to breed this species. Some of us can offer you advice that could make the lives of your snakes better!

Originally Posted by Midnght

So don't know what else to say. It's not broke I see no reason to fix it, right? If you have a something that works why adopt something different and risk problems?

Well, I also like to say that it isn't a problem until it's a problem.

[b]But we should get this back on topic though and perhaps move to a new thread to discuss my snake handling non best practices. }:>)[/b/]

Don't worry; I'm a moderator here. I'll be the one to decide when things go too far off-topic.

^^^
Yup, he's "The Munsonator"

Originally Posted by Roy Munson

Well, I also like to say that it isn't a problem until it's a problem.



Don't worry; I'm a moderator here. I'll be the one to decide when things go too far off-topic.

I know but we kind'a hijacked it. }:>)
Maybe seperate into two posts?

Originally Posted by starsevol

Honestly, Midnight, you really should listen to these people.
Just because you've never had a problem, doesn't mean you never will.
Most people use aspen. I use newspaper.
I wanted something that couldn't be injested, and my snakes like to use the pages as hides, usually ignoring the hides I provide for them.
I would think that your substrate is harsh on the snakes skin, and can cause alot of damage if injested. Please reconsider......

The people on here not only have decades of experiance keeping these snakes, they are truly passionate about the species. One of the members here has written "the" book on corns, and was one of the very first people to breed this species. Some of us can offer you advice that could make the lives of your snakes better!

You don't have to like what I use for substrate heck, you'll be even more upset to know it's a blend. 15 lbs calci sand mixed into 50 lbs ground english walnut shell.

The lives of my snakes are quite good and healthy you cna get as upset as you wish but still as things are perhaps a step back shoudl be taken to see what i'm doing right and see if that's why so called bad substrate or disliked is working?

15 years is a long life never had a regurge, never had shed issues, never had disease, never had them not want to eat, the list goes on.

Can you honestly say the same?

If what I use doesn't work for you well that's fine. But it works for me and to say the lives of my snakes are not good is rather insulting don't you think?

I'm sure you're not trying to be and just trying to be helpful. But while being helpful you're making it very much yours and their way is best and that's clearly not the case or iId be doing it that way. }:>)

Originally Posted by Midnght

I know but we kind'a hijacked it. }:>)
Maybe seperate into two posts?

Well, you're probably right. But it happens all the time. I don't want to split this thread just so we can have a "Midnght bashing" thread!

My first corn died of impaction from feeding on corn-cob substrate, so I'm sort of leery of feeding on particulate or shredded substrate.

Originally Posted by Midnght

You don't have to like what I use for substrate heck, you'll be even more upset to know it's a blend. 15 lbs calci sand mixed into 50 lbs ground english walnut shell.

The lives of my snakes are quite good and healthy you cna get as upset as you wish but still as things are perhaps a step back shoudl be taken to see what i'm doing right and see if that's why so called bad substrate or disliked is working?

15 years is a long life never had a regurge, never had shed issues, never had disease, never had them not want to eat, the list goes on.

Can you honestly say the same?

If what I use doesn't work for you well that's fine. But it works for me and to say the lives of my snakes are not good is rather insulting don't you think?

I'm sure you're not trying to be and just trying to be helpful. But while being helpful you're making it very much yours and their way is best and that's clearly not the case or iId be doing it that way. }:>)

I'm not upset, but people who know ALOT more than I do, don't use what you use. And I tend to listen to people who know ALOT more than I do....you should do the same. I'm a newbie compared to alot of people on this forum. I've only been keeping snakes for 13 years (cali king, rosy boas, ball pythons, garter, desert kings, a grayband king, and corns).

I'm saying that by listening, you could make the lives of your snakes BETTER. Funny how your pride seems to get in the way of doing what's best for the lives that depend on you....

It's ground english walnut shell.
Thanks for the info but I'm happy with my substrate and have not had any issues with it to date.

When I was the foreman of a woodshop, we had farmers etc... that would come in and haul away all of our wood shavings and chips. One thing they steered very clear of was any walnut we had. Apparently when the horse would urinate on the walnut it would react with a chemical in the chips that would then be transferred to the horses bloodstream, via the hooves, and sicken or kill it....Just an FYI! I don't plan on experimenting with any of my snakes substrates.