pizzaboy365
New member
I am looking at astroturf and was wondering how easy it is to clean and how well it does with snakes. Also, would a forest bedding do ok? like the dirt/wood chips/ other "foret floor" debris?
-
Hello!
Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.
Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....
Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.
Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.
What is a good substrate?
- Thread starter pizzaboy365
- Start date
starwarsdad
Ye Olde Curmudgeon
robertwallace
Corns Rock
What I found that works great is play sand.I get it at home depot or such.I get the play sand that comes in a 50 pound bag and says it is washed and screened.
Heres my system and I think it works great.When a snake poops,I scoop out all the poop and then I replace the whole with fresh sand.This way the cage is always clean.Plus with sand you can always see when they go poop.My cages are always spotless and look great.
Anyways,this works great for me.
Heres my system and I think it works great.When a snake poops,I scoop out all the poop and then I replace the whole with fresh sand.This way the cage is always clean.Plus with sand you can always see when they go poop.My cages are always spotless and look great.
Anyways,this works great for me.
Ulster-Redneck
New member
never use sand it's a no no.there are plenty of substrates you can use.i suggest you do a search on this site there have been many threads on this subject.good luck with your new set up,but please don't use sand as your substraterobertwallace said:
Agreed!
It is very easy for snakes to get a mouthful of sand.
I learned the hard way many years ago, when a small cornsake ingested some sand while trying to loosen the skin around her head. After she shed she was open mouthed and I could see the sand in her. I was able to remove most from her mouth but she apparently swallowed some causing an impaction. She died with her next meal still in her belly.
Please get rid of the sand.
It is very easy for snakes to get a mouthful of sand.
I learned the hard way many years ago, when a small cornsake ingested some sand while trying to loosen the skin around her head. After she shed she was open mouthed and I could see the sand in her. I was able to remove most from her mouth but she apparently swallowed some causing an impaction. She died with her next meal still in her belly.
Please get rid of the sand.
cornman1979
New member
Agreed never use sand as it's easily digested and take's humidity ou tof the viv.
pizzaboy365 I would recomend eather asphen (my prefered substrate) or the forest bark chips as they are both good substrates, the asphen is my choice though because heat can penatrate easier when using an UTH.
pizzaboy365 I would recomend eather asphen (my prefered substrate) or the forest bark chips as they are both good substrates, the asphen is my choice though because heat can penatrate easier when using an UTH.
WhiteLips
New member
I use aspen for some of my snakes- but do not feed them in their cages (I don't want them ingesting wood chips), for the others I use paper towel (this is clean- no ink) & news paper.
The turf, although nice to look at is a breeding ground for microbes, additionally you would need two pieces one to use while the other is washed & dryed. Sand "might" only be appropriate for a desert species of burrowing snake (sand boa??) Another consideration- many really pretty substrates contain volatile oils which are harmful (pine, etc)
I hope this is helpful!
The turf, although nice to look at is a breeding ground for microbes, additionally you would need two pieces one to use while the other is washed & dryed. Sand "might" only be appropriate for a desert species of burrowing snake (sand boa??) Another consideration- many really pretty substrates contain volatile oils which are harmful (pine, etc)
I hope this is helpful!
robertwallace
Corns Rock
Everybody has ther own opinion,I've used sand for 2o years and have never had a problem.Also my friend and one of the biggest breeders in San Diego has used sand for 4o years without a problem.
robertwallace said:
You got me there, Robert
Back in the 70's and 80's, I used corn cob exclusively in all my tanks and fed the snakes in their cages without any problems.
These days the use of corn cob is a capital offense, I believe LOL
I had a bad experience with sand and it's embedded in my memory
I have to confess I know others that use it also, but I don't think it's a good choice for a newcomer to snakes.
robertwallace
Corns Rock
MBDOrFER,after thinking about it and reading what you said,I have to agree that sand is not for the beginner,unless they have a mentor.I have alot of experience with sand and sometimes the babys don't shed well.SO you have to know what to do then,and that when a mentor comes in handy.The adults do alot better in shedding on sand.
Also,I should of said I don,t feed in my cages on the sand.I take my snakes out and feed them in a plastic shoe box.
You and I are the same age so we have seen and used many things.Thanks for your input.
-------------
Bob
Also,I should of said I don,t feed in my cages on the sand.I take my snakes out and feed them in a plastic shoe box.
You and I are the same age so we have seen and used many things.Thanks for your input.
-------------
Bob
neferandrobin
i love my Maizie!
hi sand-guys...i use bone aid calci sand...it says it dosn't hurt them if ingested(& i don't feed in the cage)...most ppl here have told me the sand is a bad idea...but i had trouble with bark stuff & my previous snake...do you know anything about this kind of sand? :shrugs:
robertwallace
Corns Rock
Hi Nef, I'm not familar with that kind of sand.<sorry>.I use washed and screened play sand.I love sand mainly because i can see when they poop.With my system,I just scoup out the poop and replace with fresh sand.This way my cages are always clean and neat looking.Also they don't smell bad.
------------
Bob
------------
Bob
I also use the bone aid sand, i was told from people on this site that this is also bad because they have found many bearded drangons died from ingesting it. I personally haven't had a problem but when i can afford it will probably go to some thing diffrent just to be on the safe side. I don't like to take chances when it comes to Dayoh he is my baby.
princess
Cornaholic
I use beech chips...
...in my display terrarium and plain brown butcher paper with my hatchlings. I think the beech chips look pretty and make it easy to scoop the poop with the adults, but the littlies do such little poops and so often, that it's just easier to give them a plain substrate and change it totally every 2nd week including a big scrub down of their terrarium.
...in my display terrarium and plain brown butcher paper with my hatchlings. I think the beech chips look pretty and make it easy to scoop the poop with the adults, but the littlies do such little poops and so often, that it's just easier to give them a plain substrate and change it totally every 2nd week including a big scrub down of their terrarium.
cornman1979
New member
princess what type of plant is it that you use in the viv with the anery in and is it a live plant? I am after a live plant for my viv and like the look of that one you have in their.
princess
Cornaholic
There are a few...
The big thing in the middle is a Yucca and the thing you can just see on the right is a Boston Fern. There's also a mini-peace lilly and a flowering Bromeliad. I have a couple of bunches of plastic ivy in there too cos they add some nice greenery and are pretty hard to kill!!! Here's another pic (if it works!!).
The big thing in the middle is a Yucca and the thing you can just see on the right is a Boston Fern. There's also a mini-peace lilly and a flowering Bromeliad. I have a couple of bunches of plastic ivy in there too cos they add some nice greenery and are pretty hard to kill!!! Here's another pic (if it works!!).