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Substrate

W

wolfman38

New member
I am currently keeping my corn on paper towles for a substrate, but am planning on chaning it the next time I clean his viv out. I was wondering if anyone has any info. on the subsrtate Calci-sand. Has or does anyone use this for a substrate? What would be the advantages and/or disadvantages to using this material as a substrate as opposed to Aspen shavings.

Thanks,
 
I personally don't use sand. I would be worried that it could ultimately cause health problems with shedding, digestion and respiratory function.

Think about their natural habitat. Corns don't originally come from desert areas like other colubribs, they come from the more humid SE U.S. I try to recreate this as much as possible with my husbandry practices. I would stick with wood-based substrates over the sand.
 
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Personally...

...I like the Aspen "Repti Bark" by ZooMed. It seems to help the snake shed, because then can rub on it, and is easy to clean, because you can just remove the chunks with poo on them.

Also, the Aspen does not produce any oils or anything that could be toxic to your animal.
 
Even the aspen shavings were more drying to our first corn, Lava--MIA, and caused shedding problems. Now we are in a pretty dry area, so that is part of it, but the reptile bark does seem less drying. I've also heard that if you were to feed on the sand in the viv, which isn't recommended as you should feed in a separate enclosure, the sand can stick to the mouse and then get swallowed which could result GI problems, like impaction.
 
I have read that about acidental ingestion of the substrate. But from what the company proclaims is that this "sand" really is not sand. It is some sortof calcium "grain". If the reptile did ingest some, it would pass harmlessly through the body. Meanwhile adding Calcium to it's diet. I don't know how true this is, but was wondering anyone had used it. I originally planned on using Aspen shavings, but think that I will go to Reptile Bark now.
 
I have really liked Repti-Bark. Every shed is complete and it is easy to clean. I think you will be more than happy with it.
 
Sand in general is NOT a good idea. Although the makers of Calci-sand say that it's ingestible and such, there have been numerous cases of snakes getting impacted and dying on calci-sand even if the owner didn't feed on the sand.

Also, Calci-sand has a bad habit of dissolving, and sucks up moisture like nothing else (bad for your snake's skin, since if the snake takes a dip and goes onto the sand he'll get a film of dissolved and dried calcium on him which will dry his skin up even more).

Calci-sand is fine for dry creatures, like Leos. I keep my adult Leo's on calci-sand and they eat the stuff and it's fine. The babies I keep on towel since they get easily impacted (especially when those crickets get coated in the sand).

It's like eating dry flour for us humans, try doing that without choking.

-13mur 6
 
i keep my corn on organic cat littler

AGGGHHHH WHAT????

yer i know, unusual in the xtreme but my local dealer uses it and sells it to all his customers and has apparantly never had anyhealth issues either with his stock or his customers pets.
Its made of freeze-dried corn chips which are completely harmless to a snakes skin, digestable if swallowed, easy to clean and utterly odourless. Imagine sweetcorn dried out and you have the idea. Only downside is it does tend to suck up moisture making it a wee bit dry for corns - hence the shedding problems we`ve experienced.
 
hi, what is the name of this organic cat litter as i live in nottingham and i might be able to get hold of some...

thanks

ria
 
I don't know about sand. Have you ever walked on the sand on the beach on a hot summer day? Imagine what your snake would feel like. I usually use aspen substrate but this time I accidently bought fir.
 
I use paper towels for my little ones. Easy to clean and no worries of ingesting anything. My adults I use Aspen. I keep their water tubs closer to the warm side of their tub, where their heat is ,and that helps keep it plenty humid. They always have good clean sheds and great appetites.
 
Yesterday, I changed the paper towel substarte from Ares cage. And replaced it with aspen shavings. But when I put him back in the cage, he went crazy. He would not go into any of his hides, he kept tapping the glass with his nose, and trying to climb to the top of the viv. So, I took him out and replaced the aspen with paper towels, and now his back to his old self. Any ideas on what would cause this? I think that he was not use to the odor of the aspen, and that this is what drove him crazy. Should I try a different substrate like Repti-bark? Or try to acclimate him to the aspen some how? Any suggestions?
 
i wouldnt use sand for any of my reptiles because i used it for my first leopard gecko and it got impacted and died:( so for my snake and my new leo i just use paper towels as a substrate.
 
I use Aspen shavings, they work great.

Also if you mist the enclosure when there sheding, there ussually is nt any problems with shedding.

As far as sand, I believe sand is a bad thing for most reptiles (not all, some do fine on it) I wont even use it with my leos. Ive actually one of my leos get very impacted on it. Was no fun at all and very scary too, but he did make it. thank goodness.

Leo
 
FAO RiaBird

Its called MAZY and i get it from the Pets Cabin on Newark Road in Lincoln. If you`re ever in lincoln its right opposite the Walkers Crisps factory :)
 
maybe

maybe hes just so confused,,,hes still not used to it,,close the light and put him with the aspen and see what happens
 
Corns go nuts in 'new' enviros

I think he was just confused by the smell of the aspen as compared to the paper towel. I personally use Reptile bark and it works great for me. I find when I change it, my guy is pretty busy checking everything out again since all his smells are gone. So I think its normal to expect a bit of odd behaviour when in a 'New' enviroment. Put the aspen back in and he'll get used to it in a day or so. You'll soon see your corn enjoying his movable substrate.

Jeff Robertson
 
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