Reptile & Amphibian Forums

They are currently on repti-bark, which is nice looking and doesn't seem to be causing any problems but I'm always fiddling.

I was considering switching my gbk to sand and my eastern to stay with reptibark. Contemplating adding moss here and there because he likes to burrow.

Anybody have good/bad experiences with sand?
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1.0 Eastern Kingsnake, Chain (Mars)
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake (Thanatos)

That's the digestible type that supposedly doesn't cause impactions for those who want to know.

I'm also considering a soil type.. just not sure and there's alot of choices out there. It's a display tank, so newspaper isn't my first choice.
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1.0 Eastern Kingsnake, Chain (Mars)
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake (Thanatos)

I am not aware of any digestable sand... If your talking about the product Calci-Sand which claims to be digestable.. It is certainly NOT! If you have to go with a decorative substrate for display purposes clean Soil with no chemicals added may be a better choice. Although, I have never used it, i can't imagine it too be easy to maintain.

~ Mike Russo

Not only is "calcium-sand" responsible for causing impactions, it can unintentionally get into the snake's nose and mouth, and cause problems.

I have used "dirt" for garter snakes for 4 years with no problems, although I'd recommend aspen bedding as the "next best" substrate after newspaper.

Tim

Third Eye

I'd go with aspen bedding and avoid soil and calcium sand by all means. Had a friend that used it, his eastern died from a impaction due to the calcium sand. Soil can hold moisture and bacteria.

Scott

Well, You could go with sand and stuff of the like, just make sure you are able to make sure they are very clean and stuff to prevent bacteria. Do be safe, you could feed the snake on a paper plate or the like to prevent it injesting the sand, but if it is well hydrated I've read that a little sand will do no harm. You just have to make sure that the feeders are dry (f/t) before feeding cause thats when stuff sticks to them. I've read the Barlett's caging book and they say they've never had and animal be impacted by sand. But its your call, I've always kept my snakes on paper and occasionally aspen, but I've kept lizards on sand/dirt before and had no problems what so ever.
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-J.Hill

I use bedding called Cell-Sorb Plus. It's very easy to clean and it’s highly absorbent. I haven't had any problems with it. It’s the best bedding to use in my opinion.

Josh Delaney

Delaney Colubrids

I used reptibark for years when I only had a few snakes. Its pretty good stuff. If you want something even more natural for the eastern I would go with cypress mulch. It never rots/smells and its really absorbent and looks great. Probobly to humid for the GBK unless you dried it somehow

For the GBK I have seen people use a semi fine gravel that looked pretty nice. I wouldn't use sand, even calcium carbonate sand.

Personally I use aspen with all of my snakes. Its cheap, clean, absorbant and they can burough and tunnel in it... if you don't mind the look.

Lately I have been mixing cypress mulch or something similar and mix it with aspen. The cypress hold moisture great so when my "snakes turn blue" I begin to mist once a day or every other day and never have shedding problems. When I did this on aspen alone I still had a problem shed every so often. I dont think the aspen really absorbs much of the water. Visually its not too bad.

Sand for display tanks. Works great for me, never have had a problem in 12yrs of keeping snakes.

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Is that building supply sand?

>>Is that building supply sand?
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I've been out of town.
Yes ,it is a building supply sand. It's used for sandblasting, you can get it at sand and gravel supply,and it's RMC brand, 90 lb Bags

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

>>>>Is that building supply sand?
>>Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I've been out of town.
>> Yes ,it is a building supply sand. It's used for sandblasting, you can get it at sand and gravel supply,and it's RMC brand, 90 lb Bags
>>
>>
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>>R.Bichlers Colubrids
>>http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

I like the looks of that sand. Nice rough grade and doesn't look as dusty.. it was pretty much what I was hoping for. Any special preparation? The reason I want to go with sand for the GBK is it's dry, holds heat well and she's not much of a burrower. I also have a separate tank I feed her in as she's not a picky eater. She also barely burrows so that isn't much of a problem.

For the eastern, the cypress mulch looks like a far better idea, especially if it doesn't rot. If I mix it with reptibark he's already on, it will probably really help with the humidity and give him lots of room to burrow since he spends most of his time underground.
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1.0 Eastern Kingsnake, Chain (Mars)
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake (Thanatos)