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mcsplifford

mcsplifford

New member
It seems like everyone gives me different advice when it comes to proper substrate. When I was looking for substrate at first I was told astroturf, then paper towel, then I was told that astroturf was a very bad idea, and that paper towel would be swallowed and cause all kinds of problems. News paper is good apparently, but its dirty and doesn't look very good. Aspen is what everyone here seems to say but where do I get aspen mulch in Newfoundland? Right now I'm using Jungle Earth by Exo Terra is this o.k.?
 
I get aspen at my local pet store. If yours doesn't carry it or can't order it, you might try checking online to see if you can have it shipped to you.

Someone posted not long ago, they'd found aspen in a local feed or hardware store. I seem to recall it was labeled rather generically, so check to be sure it isn't pine or cedar.

Paper toweling shouldn't be a huge problem if you don't use it in the feed tub. I believe the warning about it was another member using it to line the feed tub and having their snake get some with the mouse. But just as a viv liner for living on, it's never been a problem for my new arrivals. I use it for a few weeks to check fecals and be sure there are no mites before putting on aspen.

I'm not as familiar with Jungle Earth. Sorry to be no help there.
:shrugs: I'm sure some others will chime in with substrates I've overlooked.

Good Luck! :wavey:
 
There should be absolutely no problem with paper towel in anything. I feed all mine on paper towels in a feeder box or if they just have paper towel in their enclosures, they are fed there. I haven't heard of anyone having problems injesting paper towel with their food, only substrate. There's nothing wrong with the astro turf, it's just hard to really clean well so most people don't use it. Aspen looks the prettiest and is the easiest to spot poop in. There's nothing wrong with using jungle earth though.
 
Actually, there have been a couple of instances posted on this forum about paper towels being ingested. One was a boa who swallowed an entire paper towel and later died. Another was a cornsnake who swallowed the small bit of paper towel the mouse had been placed on. I haven't heard any more about that situation.

However, feeding a cornsnake on an entire paper towel shouldn't be a problem. I feed one of mine on paper towel in her Viv from time to time.
 
It was desertanimal's hatchling that swallowed paper towel :wavey: Thanks to her getting a really good vet involved it survived. I feed in a plain tub that I can wash out afterwards
 
I don't think my corns could ingest an entire huge piece of paper towel if it's in one piece. I did hear about a boa that ingested a towel (material). Evidently the rabbit that was being fed to it was entangled in the towel and it ate both. It survived though.
 
So if I am feeding my snake in a plastic tub but I'm not suppose to touch the snake for 2 days after feeding, should I leave him in the tub? and if so do I need a heater on that as well?
 
You're fine to gently tranfer him from feeding tub back to his normal tank, as soon as he's finished swallowing.

"Handling" in this situation, means any period of prolonged contact. A quick and gentle move from tub to tank won't be a problem.
 
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