sub strate

[beardie]

ok i posted about this befor but i think u guys told me to get a katee pine but im not sure if u told me to get the aspin any way i got the pine is there any danger to my snake being on that wood?

 

[Heather]

The real danger lies in the oils from cedar. It's been a while since I've been around pine shavings, so cannot recall exactly how strong it is.. you may want to be careful when using strong smelling pine in a tank (especially a storage container type setup) due to the lack of air ventilation. I do know pine causes problems in ferrets, so it's probably not your best wood. I use aspen, you may want to try that when you need a new bag.

 

[blito]

Aspen is generally considered the best substrate for corns.
Personally, i cant get hold of Aspen locally so i use a general purpose corn-cob based lizard litter as a substrate, but cover it with 2 layers of kitchen towel - my snake likes to hide under the towels, which is ok in itself but without the corncob beneath she would be lying directly on the undertank heated glass which wouldnt be good......
as said.. Aspen is best if you can get hold of it, but there are plenty of others options.
to avoid - Ceder is a definate NO, and pine is best avoided if possible....

 

[MegF.]

I am using Habi-Chips right now until I run out. Then I'm going to look around for the Aspen. The habi-chips are kind of fine, but they say they don't cause obstruction. They are also heat treated to make sure there are no pests like mites in there.

 

[rspier]

I use corncob as well, I have heard negative things about drying and possible compaction but have never had any problems. Its very affordable, 15$ for 40lbs. The corncob can be spot cleaned for about a month.

 

[jeromy]

substratum question

Hi. i personally use the calcium sand. i havent seen any problems so far with it. in fact you can spot clean it for up to 6 months. my question is "is the calcium sand compatible with my cornsnake (Bailey)? or is aspen my one and only preferred substratum? thanx jeromy

 

[Skye]

There have been problems associated with using sand as a substrate for snakes that are not sand/desert dwellers. Based on what I have heard and read, I would recommend against sand.

Suitable options include paper towels, newspaper, aspen or cypress shavings and some bark options.

Pine, Cedar and Redwood shavings should be avoided due to the toxicity of the oils they contain.

I use paper towels for young ones and aspen for adults,

Best Wishes, Skye

 

[jeromy]

thank you skye

i do appreciate that. i was going to use it from now on. i guess i will move to aspen next or i will just remain with my pet fresh or mix'em up maybe. thanx again though. jeromy

 

[natural_angel33]

I use newspaper, and the only downfall is you can't spot clean. But it is cheap and easy to get anywhere you are!

 

[LYNNE]

Concerning all of this, I got some new wood chips and the bag said Fir tree bark. I knew not to get pine but now realize that fir is in the pine tree family. Should I get rid of it right away?

 

[MegF.]

Is the bag labled for use with reptiles? My Habi-Chips are specifically for reptiles, and is heat treated to kill any parasites, and is supposed to be safe even if ingested (I still won't feed on it). If it smells strongly of pine, I wouldn't recommend it for sure.

 

[Neumann]

Greetinsg,

I use Forest Bark from Exo Terra. It's made of fir chips and works wonderfully. It looks nice, obsorbs fecal matter and allows the snakes to burrow.

The only downside is that it's sometimes difficult to see the poo if it's been there over night. Otherwise the stuff is great. I change it out completely every 6-8 weeks when I sanitize the cages and furniture.


Cheers,
Jason

 

[LYNNE]

It is Forest Bark. I will continue to use. Thanks for the replies.