Best Snake Substrate

[P. Novak]

I currently have been using Cypress mulch for all my snakes, but since it is very hard to locate some in San Jose, CA, I find that I need to switch my substrate(unless someone can point me to some or ship me some). I was thinking of going with newspaper, or some kind of other paper, but it's really not that appealing to me. I'll use it though since it seems the most effective, but first some opinions.

 

[equuskat]

I use Aspen and like it pretty well.

 

[Shrike]

I prefer aspen.

 

[JohnEDove]

IMO, there is no singluar "best snake substrate (regardless of species)"

 

[arachnocat]

I use carefresh and I really like it. It comes in colors now and looks nice, especially white. The only problem is that it absorbs moisture a little too well. Great for cleaning up poops but if the snake is in shed I've found that I have to put a humidity box in there or the snake will have a bad shed. As long as you watch out for that, it's good stuff.

 

[crpy]

For some snakes I like to use indoor/outdoor green carpet, I cut a couple to fit and remove and replace=washes easy peasy. This way I can feed intank and not worry about ingestion of foreign matter.

 

[Mina]

It depends, we use different substrate for different snakes.
My red tail boas are both on newspaper, with large water dishes (big enough for them to soak in).
I use care fresh for the corns so they can burrow, the just give a bigger water dish so they can soak if they want or need to.
Our ball pythons are on coconut substrate, I don't remember what it is called but it is in large cubes, it hold moisture well.

 

[halfwaynowhere]

I use aspen or sani-chips for all of mine, and they seem to be doing well on it. I haven't seen any ingestion of substrate, and the pieces are so small that it doesn't hurt them if they do ingest a bit. Its pretty easy to spot clean, and seems to hold humidity just fine.

 

[crpy]

It depends, we use different substrate for different snakes.
My red tail boas are both on newspaper, with large water dishes (big enough for them to soak in).
I use care fresh for the corns so they can burrow, the just give a bigger water dish so they can soak if they want or need to.
Our ball pythons are on coconut substrate, I don't remember what it is called but it is in large cubes, it hold moisture well.

Yeah I use coco for my corns

 

[ThomasH]

Newspaper is my substrate of choice due to blaitant simplicity. If you want to make a nice naturalistic enclosure, well I understand you're need. They are awesome. I would go with cyprus if you can find a supplier. I also think it adds a naturalistic touch to mix substrates. Anyway, good luck!
TBH

 

[Mushroom Spore]

For some snakes I like to use indoor/outdoor green carpet, I cut a couple to fit and remove and replace=washes easy peasy. This way I can feed intank and not worry about ingestion of foreign matter.

I know a lot of people swear by reptile carpet, but I'll just add that from my own experience using it, I'll never use carpet again except maybe for a feeding tank (except now I use an empty rubbermaid tub instead). It never seemed to quite get clean enough, and I had to take everything out of the tank every single time there was the slightest bit of waste. It was kind of a pain in the butt.

I switched to aspen and never looked back. Being able to feed in-tank was nice, but my BP is willing to eat in a feeding tub/box and seems to enjoy burrowing in the shavings, so that's the best substrate in my case. Plus I can spot-clean with a kitty litter scooper.

 

[bigdog999]

Again there is no cut and dried best substrate. I just switched from repti-bark to aspen. I like it and I think the snakes do too. My boa now thinks he's a worm.

 

[crpy]

I know a lot of people swear by reptile carpet, but I'll just add that from my own experience using it, I'll never use carpet again except maybe for a feeding tank (except now I use an empty rubbermaid tub instead). It never seemed to quite get clean enough, and I had to take everything out of the tank every single time there was the slightest bit of waste. It was kind of a pain in the butt.

I switched to aspen and never looked back. Being able to feed in-tank was nice, but my BP is willing to eat in a feeding tub/box and seems to enjoy burrowing in the shavings, so that's the best substrate in my case. Plus I can spot-clean with a kitty litter scooper.

Yeah ,I think I will be switching to Aspen cause your right lol, Im getting tired of pulling everything out.

 

[equuskat]

Oh, on my tiny baby (month old) Ball Pythons, I'm using paper towels at the moment.

 

[P. Novak]

Awesome thanks for your guys' inputs! Much appreciated! Does anyone in CA, specifically San Jose, know where to get some cypress mulch? Or would anyone want to ship me some? PM me.

 

[dtknow]

Why not aspen? Aspen is more eco friendly too since it grows faster.

 

[ShellsandScales]

Probably shouldn't be feeding in tank. That can generate a feeding response every time you open the cage even if its not feeding time. Tends to increase the chance of being bitten.

 

[reverendsterlin]

I had found a recycled paper product that looked like wood chips in the garden department of one of the bigger chains that I liked really well. Should look, sorry I cannot remember the name and not sorry that I am not going to look through +1000 odd posts I have made to find it, I think I posted on it in 2004.

 

[P. Novak]

Probably shouldn't be feeding in tank. That can generate a feeding response every time you open the cage even if its not feeding time. Tends to increase the chance of being bitten.

I don't know if this was directed towards me, but I never feed in tanks, always in a large plastic bin in a different room.

Anyway, thanks guys, I'll look around!

I know aspen is more eco friendly, but I personally just don't like the way it looks in the cages, I guess I could give it a shot, but I'm trying to go more naturalistic.

If I do decide on Aspen, what's the best brand?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

If I do decide on Aspen, what's the best brand?

I don't think it matters, or at least I haven't noticed a difference. Whatever you find that's got the biggest bag for the best price will probably be fine. The only difference I've ever noticed is that some brands are larger chips and others are smaller and actually look like wood "shavings." There doesn't seem to be any pros or cons to either, my BP burrows happily in both.

The only downside is that it can be dusty when you first open the bag, or when you're using the last shavings from the bottom of the bag. Expect to sneeze a couple times if you've got a sensitive nose.